Vertebrates Workshop

To get the most out of The Vertebrates Workshop at the Zoo, we suggest studying the following aspects at school before the visit:

To understand the students’ interests and increase motivation about the animals:

• Look at x-rays and name the principal bones.
• Make a mural in class where you write down and/or draw the things that the students want to know about vertebrates.
• Put a box in the classroom where students can place the questions they may have at any time and later study them. 
• Collect books, stories, songs, photos, cards, worksheets or other materials about the animals that the children can obtain.
  
• Bring in videos, CDs or other materials on electronic supports about these animals. 
  
• Visit the animal files on the website for the Barcelona Zoo.

To observe animals:

• Take a field trip to observe animals, looking for spoor, prints, burrows, excrements, listening to birdsong, as well as collecting feathers and abandoned nests, so that students can deduct the presence of vertebrates in our natural environment.
• Ask students who have a pet and vertebrate to prepare, individually or in groups, an explanation about this animal to present to their classmates with the help of photographs or the animal itself. 
  

As specific objectives:

• Learn about the differences between vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as the representation and distribution of these animals in nature.
• Discover the main classes of vertebrates.  
  
• Learn about the existence of endangered animals on every continent.
• Identify the principal parts of vertebrates' skeletons.
  
• Knowledge of the existence of aquatic, land and flying vertebrates.