Understanding the Irish National Curricilum (NC) Framework
Education
As part of our commitment to conservation through education we actively work towards developing learning opportunities for varied age groups, interest groups and curricular overlaps.
Plan your classes with the National Reptile Zoo! Learning through inquiry and sensory processes is central to all our programs.
subjects, strands, skills and learning goals that overlap with NRZ Workshops
PRIMARY
Each subject has predefined strands which are broad topics. Within a strand are strand-units, skills and concepts that are relevant to the subject.
JUNIOR CYCLE
Using your selected subjects as the entry point, we address various skill elements corresponding to the 8 key skills that form the foundation of the JC years.
SENIOR CYCLE
Based on the subjects you want addressed, we incorporate various skill elements that are nested under the 5 foundational key skills.
All our workshops can be conducted in any one of these formats!
Primary Options
Discovery Walk
Content
- A guided tour through the zoo
- An encounter with 4 creatures
- Animal behaviour
- Contextual ecology
Concepts
- Observation
- Exploration
- Inquiry
- Diversity
For the Love
of Snocks
Content
- Living & non-living things
- Why do people fear snakes?
- Reptiles in the wild
- Make your own ‘snock’
Concepts
- Being curious
- Reflecting & reasoning
- Understanding relationships
- Creative expression
Superpowers
Content
- Colour & texture in reptiles
- Adaptation & superpowers
- Create your own creature
Concepts
- Observation & expression
- Making comparisons
- Linking form function
- Creative expression
Junior Cycle Options
Here Be Dragons
Concepts
- Animal interaction & care
- Animal classification & evolution
- Concepts in conservation
- Reptilian habitats & ecology
Content
- Being curious
- Reflecting & evaluating
- Seeing patterns & relationships
- Respecting difference
Habitat Design
Concepts
- Animal identification
- Morphology & adaptation
- Habits & habitats
- Design & planning
Content
- Making comparisons
- Thinking creatively & critically
- Expressing ideas mathematically
- Thinking imaginatively
- Working with others
SCALE-ING
(SERIES : 3 SESSIONS)
Concepts
- Reptiles in the global context
- Conservation or preservation
- Research methods
- Design your own project
Content
- Investigating & reasoning
- Organising information
- Estimating & predicting
- Implementing ideas
- Presenting information
Senior Cycle Options
Reptile Diaries
Concepts
- Animal interaction & care
- Taxonomy & anatomy
- Concepts in ecology
- Reptilian behaviour & ecology
Content
- Accessing information
- Classifying, ordering information
- Seeing patterns & relationships
- Engaging in dialogue
Build a Habitat
Concepts
- Animal identification
- Morphology & adaptation
- Habits & habitats
- Design & planning
Content
- Thinking creatively & critically
- Examining evidence
- Assessing information
- Analysing problems and decisions
- Thinking imaginatively
SCALE-ING
SERIES : 3 SESSIONS)
Concepts
- Reptiles in the global context
- Science & society
- Meet an expert in the field
- Design your own project
Content
- Investigating & reasoning
- Estimating & predicting
- Discussing & Debating
- Challenging assumptions
- Expressing opinions, speculating