Life in the savanna is all connected! Step into the African savanna with Chester Zoo and discover what happens when plants, herbivores, and predators all depend on one another to survive. Meet some of the animals that make this ecosystem their home and uncover the important role each plays in keeping the food web in balance.
Start by following energy as it moves through a food chain — from plants to the animals that eat them and on to predators. Then investigate what happens when one part of the chain changes. What might happen to the rest of the ecosystem if an animal disappears? And why are predators so important to a healthy savanna?
Use real African wildlife to explore these connections, build your own food chains, and think like a zoologist as you investigate the interdependence of life on the savanna. By the end, you'll see that in a healthy ecosystem, every living thing has a role to play.
Don't miss the food chain cards that go with this lesson!
Discover the Heart of Africa! From sweeping savannas and deserts to forests, mountains, and mighty rivers, Africa is home to an incredible variety of landscapes — and an equally incredible variety of wildlife. Travel across the continent with Chester Zoo to explore some of its most fascinating habitats and discover how geography shapes the animals and people who live there.
Explore the countries and landscapes that make up Africa, identify different habitats, and see what makes each one unique. Then zoom in on the savanna to investigate its climate and discover what life is like in one of the world's most iconic ecosystems.
But the savanna is changing. Learn how shifts in climate are affecting this landscape and the wildlife that depends on it, and discover ways people can help protect these important habitats. Along the way, you'll build your geography skills while seeing Africa — and its wildlife — in a whole new way
Don't miss the geography worksheets that go with this lesson!
Math meets wildlife conservation! How do you know if a population of animals is growing or shrinking? And how can numbers help protect species in the wild? Join Chester Zoo to explore the African savanna and discover how conservationists use data to understand what is happening to wildlife populations.
Meet some of the animals that call the savanna home, then find out how Chester Zoo and its conservation partners monitor animals such as northern giraffes. You'll see how cameras, trackers, and other methods can help scientists gather information about animals in the wild — and why collecting accurate data matters.
Then become a conservation data detective! Work with real wildlife population data to spot trends and turn numbers into bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts. You'll investigate what different kinds of graphs can tell us and consider why scientists and conservation organizations need to communicate their findings clearly.
Finally, take what you've learned beyond the numbers. Use data to think about how people can make choices that help wildlife, collect information from your own class, and turn your findings into a message that could inspire others to take action.
Don't miss the graph worksheets that go with this lesson!
You’ve probably heard your parents (and everybody else) complain about insurance. And that’s fair, it’s expensive! Especially when it comes to electric cars, whose owners often pay higher more for insurance than drivers of more conventional cars. But why is that? Why are people being punished for trying to use less gas? Why does the cruel world continue to forsake us?!
Well, researchers investigated exactly that… the insurance thing, not the greater, overarching “cruel world” question. The team at a testing lab staged a crash at just 10 kilometers (or about 5 miles) per hour. Not exactly the crash that’d have you gripping your seat in a nail-biter of an action movie, but important for research. From the outside, the damage looked minor, but underneath, the high-voltage charging port had moved and some of its components had broken.
The problem was that the damaged charging components formed part of a much larger unit. So, instead of replacing one small broken piece, technicians would need to replace the charger and some of its cabling. One component alone was priced in the thousands, and leaving it out would render the car pretty useless.
It’s great that modern electric vehicles already have to meet high safety standards, but the concern is how expensive and difficult they can be to repair after relatively minor accidents. Experts say manufacturers need to design future EVs with repair in mind, protecting expensive components and making individual parts easier to replace. Seems easy enough… right?
Explore the search for life beyond Earth in this Kahoot about Mars, scientific discovery, and one of humanity's biggest questions. From evidence of ancient water to clues hidden in the planet's surface, discover why scientists believe Mars may once have had the conditions needed to support life.
This Kahoot explores Martian geology, the role of water in sustaining life, and the tools scientists use to investigate distant worlds while uncovering what researchers look for when searching for signs of life beyond Earth.
Watch the videos about Mars linked below, then take the Kahoot and see how much you know about the Red Planet and the ongoing search for life in our Solar System.
The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) is investigating attacks on birds of prey, also called raptors. Raptors hunt and feed on other animals, but even though they're near the top of the food chain, one of their biggest threats is humans.
There have been reports of raptors found dead in suspicious circumstances or caught in illegal traps. Investigators are reviewing footage from cameras near some traps to help identify who's responsible. The traps themselves are legal when used correctly, and any animal that isn't the intended target must be released unharmed. But footage has shown some people mistreating or killing these protected birds instead.
Investigators believe money is behind some of the attacks. Raptors sometimes hunt game birds, which people also hunt for sport or profit. By illegally removing birds of prey, some people may be trying to leave more game birds available for shooting. Officials are struggling to find ways to reduce these attacks — fines and prosecution haven't been very effective so far. Some campaigners want stronger licensing rules for trap use, while others argue that would be hard to enforce and might not stop illegal attacks either.
In late May, Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded during a routine engine test. No one was hurt. But the explosion badly damaged the launch pad, and that's a serious problem.
New Glenn had flown once before, in a test flight in January 2025. Now the next flight is delayed by months. That delay affects more than just Blue Origin — it pushes back NASA's entire Moon program.
Here's the plan that's now on hold: a robotic lander was set to touch down near the Moon's south pole later this year, scouting the best site for a future Moon base. A crewed mission would follow in 2027. Then two more astronaut landings. Then, in 2028, construction would begin on the base itself.
Each step in that timeline now needs to move back.
Not all the news is bad. While Blue Origin investigates what went wrong, rival company SpaceX successfully launched its own rocket, a Falcon 9. One setback hasn't slowed the space industry down.
In How Food Changes Your Blood, Dr. Michael Mosley investigates how what we eat directly affects the composition of our blood. By comparing blood samples before and after eating and analyzing them with advanced tools, learn how sugar, fats, and other compounds circulate through the body. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Wonderful World of Blood, in which Dr. Michael Mosley carries out six experiments on his own blood, from starving it of oxygen to injecting it with snake venom.
Explore the fascinating world of deserts and discover how plants, animals, and people adapt to survive in some of the hottest and driest places on Earth. From towering cacti and clever nocturnal animals to sudden sandstorms and scarce water sources, students will learn how life continues to thrive in these extreme environments.
This Kahoot investigates the unique features of desert ecosystems, including climate, habitats, food chains, and the special adaptations that help living things conserve water and stay cool. Students will also explore how deserts change over time and why these harsh landscapes are an important part of our planet’s natural systems.
Watch the related BBC videos (below), then invite your Grade 3–8 students to test their knowledge and uncover the surprising diversity and resilience of life in the desert.
Turn your classroom into a global exploration hub! This country report template invites students in Grades 3–8 to become curious investigators — uncovering what makes each country unique and sharing their discoveries in creative ways.
Designed with flexibility in mind, the resource includes two approachable formats:
- Snapshot Style: A lively, visual option that’s perfect for quick learning or younger students. Learners can sketch, label, and highlight key features — like flags, landmarks, foods, and traditions — while building confidence with short responses.
- Explorer Style: A more in-depth format for students ready to dig deeper. It guides learners through topics such as geography, wildlife, culture, and history, helping them organize ideas and develop clear, informative writing.
Best of all, this template pairs seamlessly with BBC videos — bringing countries to life through real-world sights, sounds, and stories. Students can watch, wonder, and then weave what they’ve learned into their own reports.
Quick Teacher Tips: Use country studies as a springboard into wider learning across subjects:
- Geography: Map skills, climate zones, landforms, and ecosystems
- Language Arts: Informational writing, summarizing, note-taking, and presenting
- History: Key events, timelines, and how the past shapes the present
- Math: Population comparisons, distances, currency conversions
- Arts & Culture: Traditional patterns, music, celebrations, and food
- Current Events: Tie in informational reading and media literacy by exploring what’s happening in that country today in an age-appropriate way.
This video playlist brings together 10 fascinating clips from the BBC’s Got Science? series, where everyday questions lead to surprising scientific discoveries. Students explore what’s really happening in the body and brain — from what your brain is doing during sleep paralysis to what it truly means to be “left-brained” or “right-brained.” They’ll investigate what happens when the body becomes dehydrated, how cold temperatures and high altitudes affect how we function, and the unexpected ways our bodies trick us every single day. Packed with “What! Really?” moments, this weird-but-wonderful playlist helps learners connect real science to daily life in unforgettable ways. Get ready to see the familiar become fascinating.
In this activity, students will step into the boots of Antarctic research scientists as they uncover the secrets of penguin life! They’ll start by sharing what they already know about Antarctica before "traveling" there through a BBC Frozen Planet video, which will let them experience the continent up close. Then, each student will select a penguin species to research and they will use a BBC video from Seven Worlds, One Planet or Frozen Planet to gather their observations. Students will synthesize their notes as they create a research journal page, and they will then wrap up by discussing what new questions they’re curious to investigate next!
Life in the savanna is all connected! Step into the African savanna with Chester Zoo and discover what happens when plants, herbivores, and predators all depend on one another to survive. Meet some of the animals that make this ecosystem their home and uncover the important role each plays in keeping the food web in balance.
Start by following energy as it moves through a food chain — from plants to the animals that eat them and on to predators. Then investigate what happens when one part of the chain changes. What might happen to the rest of the ecosystem if an animal disappears? And why are predators so important to a healthy savanna?
Use real African wildlife to explore these connections, build your own food chains, and think like a zoologist as you investigate the interdependence of life on the savanna. By the end, you'll see that in a healthy ecosystem, every living thing has a role to play.
Don't miss the food chain cards that go with this lesson!
Discover the Heart of Africa! From sweeping savannas and deserts to forests, mountains, and mighty rivers, Africa is home to an incredible variety of landscapes — and an equally incredible variety of wildlife. Travel across the continent with Chester Zoo to explore some of its most fascinating habitats and discover how geography shapes the animals and people who live there.
Explore the countries and landscapes that make up Africa, identify different habitats, and see what makes each one unique. Then zoom in on the savanna to investigate its climate and discover what life is like in one of the world's most iconic ecosystems.
But the savanna is changing. Learn how shifts in climate are affecting this landscape and the wildlife that depends on it, and discover ways people can help protect these important habitats. Along the way, you'll build your geography skills while seeing Africa — and its wildlife — in a whole new way
Don't miss the geography worksheets that go with this lesson!
Math meets wildlife conservation! How do you know if a population of animals is growing or shrinking? And how can numbers help protect species in the wild? Join Chester Zoo to explore the African savanna and discover how conservationists use data to understand what is happening to wildlife populations.
Meet some of the animals that call the savanna home, then find out how Chester Zoo and its conservation partners monitor animals such as northern giraffes. You'll see how cameras, trackers, and other methods can help scientists gather information about animals in the wild — and why collecting accurate data matters.
Then become a conservation data detective! Work with real wildlife population data to spot trends and turn numbers into bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts. You'll investigate what different kinds of graphs can tell us and consider why scientists and conservation organizations need to communicate their findings clearly.
Finally, take what you've learned beyond the numbers. Use data to think about how people can make choices that help wildlife, collect information from your own class, and turn your findings into a message that could inspire others to take action.
Don't miss the graph worksheets that go with this lesson!
You’ve probably heard your parents (and everybody else) complain about insurance. And that’s fair, it’s expensive! Especially when it comes to electric cars, whose owners often pay higher more for insurance than drivers of more conventional cars. But why is that? Why are people being punished for trying to use less gas? Why does the cruel world continue to forsake us?!
Well, researchers investigated exactly that… the insurance thing, not the greater, overarching “cruel world” question. The team at a testing lab staged a crash at just 10 kilometers (or about 5 miles) per hour. Not exactly the crash that’d have you gripping your seat in a nail-biter of an action movie, but important for research. From the outside, the damage looked minor, but underneath, the high-voltage charging port had moved and some of its components had broken.
The problem was that the damaged charging components formed part of a much larger unit. So, instead of replacing one small broken piece, technicians would need to replace the charger and some of its cabling. One component alone was priced in the thousands, and leaving it out would render the car pretty useless.
It’s great that modern electric vehicles already have to meet high safety standards, but the concern is how expensive and difficult they can be to repair after relatively minor accidents. Experts say manufacturers need to design future EVs with repair in mind, protecting expensive components and making individual parts easier to replace. Seems easy enough… right?
Explore the search for life beyond Earth in this Kahoot about Mars, scientific discovery, and one of humanity's biggest questions. From evidence of ancient water to clues hidden in the planet's surface, discover why scientists believe Mars may once have had the conditions needed to support life.
This Kahoot explores Martian geology, the role of water in sustaining life, and the tools scientists use to investigate distant worlds while uncovering what researchers look for when searching for signs of life beyond Earth.
Watch the videos about Mars linked below, then take the Kahoot and see how much you know about the Red Planet and the ongoing search for life in our Solar System.
The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) is investigating attacks on birds of prey, also called raptors. Raptors hunt and feed on other animals, but even though they're near the top of the food chain, one of their biggest threats is humans.
There have been reports of raptors found dead in suspicious circumstances or caught in illegal traps. Investigators are reviewing footage from cameras near some traps to help identify who's responsible. The traps themselves are legal when used correctly, and any animal that isn't the intended target must be released unharmed. But footage has shown some people mistreating or killing these protected birds instead.
Investigators believe money is behind some of the attacks. Raptors sometimes hunt game birds, which people also hunt for sport or profit. By illegally removing birds of prey, some people may be trying to leave more game birds available for shooting. Officials are struggling to find ways to reduce these attacks — fines and prosecution haven't been very effective so far. Some campaigners want stronger licensing rules for trap use, while others argue that would be hard to enforce and might not stop illegal attacks either.
In late May, Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded during a routine engine test. No one was hurt. But the explosion badly damaged the launch pad, and that's a serious problem.
New Glenn had flown once before, in a test flight in January 2025. Now the next flight is delayed by months. That delay affects more than just Blue Origin — it pushes back NASA's entire Moon program.
Here's the plan that's now on hold: a robotic lander was set to touch down near the Moon's south pole later this year, scouting the best site for a future Moon base. A crewed mission would follow in 2027. Then two more astronaut landings. Then, in 2028, construction would begin on the base itself.
Each step in that timeline now needs to move back.
Not all the news is bad. While Blue Origin investigates what went wrong, rival company SpaceX successfully launched its own rocket, a Falcon 9. One setback hasn't slowed the space industry down.
In How Food Changes Your Blood, Dr. Michael Mosley investigates how what we eat directly affects the composition of our blood. By comparing blood samples before and after eating and analyzing them with advanced tools, learn how sugar, fats, and other compounds circulate through the body. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Wonderful World of Blood, in which Dr. Michael Mosley carries out six experiments on his own blood, from starving it of oxygen to injecting it with snake venom.
Explore the fascinating world of deserts and discover how plants, animals, and people adapt to survive in some of the hottest and driest places on Earth. From towering cacti and clever nocturnal animals to sudden sandstorms and scarce water sources, students will learn how life continues to thrive in these extreme environments.
This Kahoot investigates the unique features of desert ecosystems, including climate, habitats, food chains, and the special adaptations that help living things conserve water and stay cool. Students will also explore how deserts change over time and why these harsh landscapes are an important part of our planet’s natural systems.
Watch the related BBC videos (below), then invite your Grade 3–8 students to test their knowledge and uncover the surprising diversity and resilience of life in the desert.
Turn your classroom into a global exploration hub! This country report template invites students in Grades 3–8 to become curious investigators — uncovering what makes each country unique and sharing their discoveries in creative ways.
Designed with flexibility in mind, the resource includes two approachable formats:
- Snapshot Style: A lively, visual option that’s perfect for quick learning or younger students. Learners can sketch, label, and highlight key features — like flags, landmarks, foods, and traditions — while building confidence with short responses.
- Explorer Style: A more in-depth format for students ready to dig deeper. It guides learners through topics such as geography, wildlife, culture, and history, helping them organize ideas and develop clear, informative writing.
Best of all, this template pairs seamlessly with BBC videos — bringing countries to life through real-world sights, sounds, and stories. Students can watch, wonder, and then weave what they’ve learned into their own reports.
Quick Teacher Tips: Use country studies as a springboard into wider learning across subjects:
- Geography: Map skills, climate zones, landforms, and ecosystems
- Language Arts: Informational writing, summarizing, note-taking, and presenting
- History: Key events, timelines, and how the past shapes the present
- Math: Population comparisons, distances, currency conversions
- Arts & Culture: Traditional patterns, music, celebrations, and food
- Current Events: Tie in informational reading and media literacy by exploring what’s happening in that country today in an age-appropriate way.
This video playlist brings together 10 fascinating clips from the BBC’s Got Science? series, where everyday questions lead to surprising scientific discoveries. Students explore what’s really happening in the body and brain — from what your brain is doing during sleep paralysis to what it truly means to be “left-brained” or “right-brained.” They’ll investigate what happens when the body becomes dehydrated, how cold temperatures and high altitudes affect how we function, and the unexpected ways our bodies trick us every single day. Packed with “What! Really?” moments, this weird-but-wonderful playlist helps learners connect real science to daily life in unforgettable ways. Get ready to see the familiar become fascinating.
In this activity, students will step into the boots of Antarctic research scientists as they uncover the secrets of penguin life! They’ll start by sharing what they already know about Antarctica before "traveling" there through a BBC Frozen Planet video, which will let them experience the continent up close. Then, each student will select a penguin species to research and they will use a BBC video from Seven Worlds, One Planet or Frozen Planet to gather their observations. Students will synthesize their notes as they create a research journal page, and they will then wrap up by discussing what new questions they’re curious to investigate next!