These lesson plans will support children develop their:

• Listening
• Dance and movement
• Communication, language and storytelling
• Understanding of animals and biology

They link to the national curriculum in the following areas: Science, English and Dance. 

Supporting the requirement for children to:

• Develop an understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them.

By setting an ‘audible’ paradigm, the podcast will help children to work scientifically, following practical scientific methods, such as:

• asking simple questions and getting simple and yet scientifically accurate answers
• using their observation skills to gain an understanding of an animals' nature

Particularly relating to animals, the children will learn to identify the animals according to their species characteristics, describe and name simple anatomy and body parts, classify animals on the basis of their food, learn about their provenance, moving patterns and natural habitats.

Whilst learning about the animals, children will expand their vocabulary. They will be encouraged to discuss new word meanings and consolidate the ones they already know. They will become acquainted with uncommon terms, which make part of the scientific/zoological vocabulary. They will be invited to recognise from a list, the words that apply to a certain animal, and those which are irrelevant. Entertaining word games will help them to recognise the spelling of new and already known words. Listening to the podcast will motivate them to link what they hear and read to their own experiences, and then through the resource pack activities they will be challenged to write short sentences, sequence them to form short narratives, read outloud what they have written and then discuss it in class.

Supporting the development of dance as part of the requirement for children to:

• perform dances using simple movement patterns.
  Each podcast allows children to explore the dynamics of movement and dance, using animal movement as a start point. It encourages them not only to mimic or copy the animal but rather to use their imagination to personally interpret and recreate the movement. The podcast emphasises on accessibility, inviting children of all abilities to explore alternative ways of moving in a way that feels enjoyable and comfortable to each mover’s physical capacity.

The unique Audiomoves at the zoo podcast recordings are designed to encourage children to move, dance and use their imaginations, whilst learning about animals.

Each recording lasts around 15 minutes and comprises two parts. Part A is a Q&A between a zookeeper and primary school children, and contains key zoological facts and interesting trivia about each animal. Part B is a physical exploration of the animal’s movement. Part B is carefully structured to gently introduce a range of movements and accessible alternative options, inviting children to move the way they want, inspired by the animal, turning animal movement into an imaginative dance. Each session ends with a cool down where the children focus on their breathing, notice the sensations in their bodies, and reflect on how the session made them feel.