Twilight Zone Life Processes Activity
Explorer Trail
Teachers’ Information
KS1
Introduction:
Indoor science activity in the Fruit Bat Forest exhibit
Fruit Bat Forest houses three bat species, together with several other species.
The exhibit is immersive and set at low light levels.
The activity encourages pupils to observe animals and relate the life processes
(move, feed, grow, use their senses and reproduce) to the Twilight Zone animals.
Curriculum Links:
KS1 Science: Sc2, Life processes and living things
Resources required in the Zoo:
Twilight Zone information sheet, pen and paper to make a note of your pupils’
observations and the dot to dot sheets and pencils if using as a lunchtime
activity.
Location in the Zoo:
Fruit Bat Forest
There is always a member of Chester Zoo staff in Fruit Bat Forest.
Any questions or queries that teachers or pupils may have can be
addressed by this member of staff.
Useful tips
All school groups visiting Fruit Bat Forest must be accompanied by
a teacher.
To make the most of your experience in Fruit Bat Forest move
slowly and quietly, so that your eyes become accustomed to the
lower light levels. Pupils may be nervous or anxious about the
bats, as there are many myths surrounding bats. Remember to
take your time in the first part of Fruit Bat Forest to look at the other
species. A good place to gather before entering the free-flight area
is by the windows on the left hand side in the entrance cave. Here
you can look through the windows to see some of the bats and let
your eyes become accustomed to the dark before entering the freeflight area.
When visiting Fruit Bat Forest please do not use:
 Flash photography
 Torches
 Mobile phone lights
Please keep food and drink inside a bag.
Twilight Zone Life Processes Activity
Explorer Trail
Teachers’ Information
KS1
Things to do in school beforehand:
Download and pint out information sheet and have a read through it. This sheet
will give you lots of information about the animals that you will encounter in Fruit
Bat Forest. Remember there is always a member of Chester Zoo staff who will
be happy to answer any other questions that come up.
Download/print/copy enough dot to dot sheets for your class.
Introduce life processes to your class. There is a taught KS1 Life Processes
session available at the Zoo. Booking for this session is essential. If you attend
one of these sessions no prior subject introduction is required.
What to do in the Zoo:
Before entering set your class their challenge – to see how many life processes
they can spot while going through Fruit Bat Forest Remind them to keep their
eyes peeled, ears flapping and noses working as after their trip they will be filling
in the missing parts of some of the animals they have encountered in part 2 of
this explorer trail, the dot to dot challenge.
Some things to look/smell/listen out for…..
 Cockroaches climbing
 Cockroaches using antennae to find food
 White cockroaches – they’ve just shed (growing)
 Turkish Spiny Mice running, jumping
 Baby Turkish Spiny Mice
 Turkish Spiny Mice breathing; look for their noses twitching and their sides
moving
 Bats flying
 Bats eating
 Bat poo (guano)-have a good sniff as you walk through the exhibit
 Baby bats (ask the member of staff in the Twilight Zone, they will know if
there are any and where they are)
 Fish swimming
 Fish with no eyes - how do they find their way around?
 Fish gills for breathing
Things to do in school afterwards:
Complete the dot to dot sheets (if not done in the Zoo) and make them into a
nocturnal mobile. Research diurnal species and make a matching diurnal
mobile.