KS2 SCIENCE · IN SCHOOL OR DIGITAL
Bring animal classification and adaptations to life
A structured, curriculum-aligned workshop combining high-quality teaching with close observation of remarkable live animals.
Created and delivered by Scaly Safari founders, Allen & Cerries
Together, we combine qualified teaching and curriculum-development expertise with extensive hands-on animal care, education and public-engagement experience.
QTS qualified · 12 years’ classroom experience · Enhanced DBS checked · £10 million specialist insurance
Trusted by primary schools across England and Wales
Our animal classification and adaptations lesson is designed to support KS2 science learning through real-life demonstrations with mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates.
Aligned with the National Curriculum, this workshop helps primary school students understand how animals are grouped and how they survive in the wild - and is available as both an in-school workshop and a ready-to-teach digital lesson.
KS2 Links
Grouping and classifying
Using classification keys
Adaptations and survival
Evolution foundations
Scientific vocabulary & enquiry skills
Designed for real classrooms
This workshop was created by Scaly Safari founders Allen and Cerries. Allen has QTS and 12 years’ experience teaching GCSE and A-level students, as well as leading the development of computer-science learning materials for Welsh Government and Raspberry Pi.
Together, we’ve combined professional teaching and curriculum-development expertise with extensive hands-on animal knowledge to create a lesson that is engaging, structured and genuinely useful to teachers.
Pupils will explore how animals are grouped and classified (looking at vertebrates and invertebrates), and then learning to identify key groups such as mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, birds and fish. They’ll compare similarities and differences between animals, including warm-blooded and cold-blooded species, exoskeletons and endoskeletons, body coverings, and different ways animals are born.
Through close observation of live animals, pupils will also learn what adaptations are and why they matter, exploring real examples of camouflage, defence mechanisms, heat-sensing, movement, climbing, and habitat suitability.
Alongside scientific knowledge, sessions develop observation and questioning skills, encourage teamwork, and foster respect for animals and the natural world, using simple, age-appropriate scientific vocabulary throughout.
In-Person Workshops
We bring a carefully-curated selection of our incredible animals to your classroom to learn all about classification and adaptations. You and your students will get up-close with these fascinating creatures, to witness their behaviours and survival techniques first-hand.
MAINLAND UK
These workshops are available for schools in England and Wales.
LIVE ANIMALS
We’ll bring live animals for children to interact with.
DBS-CHECKED
We hold enhanced DBS certificates, available on request.
£10M INSURED
We hold specialist public liability insurance up to £10 million.
Science brought to life with live animal interaction
The animals we’ll bring to your school are species that many children won’t even see at the zoo (and if they do, they certainly wouldn’t be able to touch or hold them).
During an in-person workshop, we give children the opportunity to interact with the animals (and handle them, where appropriate). They’ll be able to feel the soft prickly spines of a tenrec from Madagascar, experience the sensation of the muscle movements of a snake, and see the hairy legs of one of the largest tarantula species in the world, up-close.
In addition to learning about our unusual species, an in-person workshop also builds confidence - helping students overcome their fears in a calm and controlled environment.
Includes supporting materials
To help support your pupils, we’ll provide digital copies of the following:
8-page workbook
Adaptation matching exercise
Fill in the missing words exercise (cloze questions)
Full sentence exercises
Guess the adaptation exercise
Reflection from the lesson exercise
Wordsearch
Animal colouring sheets
Practical information for schools
We bring everything required to deliver the workshop and adapt each session to your pupils, timetable and available space.
Group size
Up to approximately 30 pupils can attend each workshop. Smaller groups allow more time for questions, close observation and appropriate animal interaction, so schools may choose multiple sessions for a richer experience.
Suitable spaces
We can work in a classroom or school hall. Pupils need somewhere suitable to sit, and we require space for our six-foot display table, access to electricity and nearby handwashing facilities. We bring our own equipment and extension cables.
Setup and scheduling
We normally arrive approximately 30 minutes before the first workshop. Where possible, we recommend 15 minutes between sessions to reset the presentation, check the animals and prepare for the next group, although we can accommodate back-to-back classes.
Adapted to your pupils
The workshop can be delivered across the primary age range. We adjust our vocabulary, explanations and questioning to suit pupils’ age, ability and existing knowledge.
ALN/SEND experience
We have delivered sessions in specialist ALN/SEND schools and regularly adapt workshops for individual pupils. We work at each child’s pace, without pressure to touch or hold an animal. Observing from a comfortable distance is an equally valuable way to participate.
Optional, welfare-led interaction
Handling is always optional for pupils and depends on the individual animal’s welfare, behaviour and comfort on the day.
Pricing & Availability
Our in-person Classification & Adaptations workshops are one hour in length, and up to three can be booked in any one day - so that multiple classes can enjoy this incredible opportunity. Discounts are available for booking multiple workshops on the same day.
There is a surcharge for travel beyond 10 miles of our base in Rhyl. We’ll confirm the exact travel contribution along with availability.
1 WORKSHOP | £215
2 WORKSHOPS | £395
(block saving £35)
3 WORKSHOPS | £495
(block saving £150)
Digital Lesson
A complete animal science lesson, ready when you are.
Bring Scaly Safari into your classroom wherever you are in the UK. This complete, ready-to-teach digital workshop combines structured teaching, original animal footage and supporting pupil activities—with minimal preparation required.
Designed around KS2 science curriculum links and adaptable for younger primary pupils, it can be reused across multiple classes within the purchasing school.
COMPLETE LESSON
Structured presentation featuring original animal footage and clear teaching explanations.
WHOLE-SCHOOL LICENCE
Purchase once and reuse across multiple classes within the purchasing school.
CURRICULUM ALIGNED
Designed around KS2 science links and adaptable for younger primary pupils.
MINIMAL PREPARATION
Includes the presentation and supporting pupil activities, ready for teachers to deliver.
Delivered digitally to your learners, by us
This workshop is a complete, ready-to-teach lesson designed to support your science curriculum.
It includes a structured slideshow incorporating short video clips of classification of animals as well as adaptations such as defence, camouflage, movement, communication, and sensing. A student workbook, colouring sheets and a word search are also included.
Everything has been designed to help you deliver an engaging and effective lesson with minimal preparation.
Includes supporting materials
To help support your pupils, we’ll provide digital copies of the following:
8-page workbook
Adaptation matching exercise
Fill in the missing words exercise (cloze questions)
Full sentence exercises
Guess the adaptation exercise
Reflection from the lesson exercise
Wordsearch
Animal colouring sheets
