Animals: Pond, River and Sea
Along the way, we’ll meet some amazing aquatic creatures, from a frog to a fish, learn about their amazing bodies, and even sing about them.
Travel to the Amazon rainforest, bravely touch a stuffed caiman and learn about colour and camouflage. At the seaside, listen to the waves, feel sea spray on your face and go diving in search of aquatic creatures.
When we return, dress as your favourite animal from our journey and explore the amazing objects hidden around the room: touch a real shark’s jaw; feel an enormous Nile crocodile’s scaly skin; and see a frog’s skeleton up-close.
The cost of the session also includes timed access to the Aquarium (please note – this is not private access) outside the session.
The Horniman is the perfect place to explore your topic further. Explore our Aquarium for aquatic creatures from frogs to jellyfish to corals (free entry included with the session rate), explore live mammals and birds living in our free Animal Walk (open from 12.30pm), plants and wildlife across our 16 acres of Gardens, or the relationship between animals the ocean in our World Gallery.
This session is not suitable for under 3’s. Accompanying adults are very welcome, but we may restrict access to the taught session to a maximum of 10 adults.
Please be aware that the Aquarium is popular on Tuesday mornings so you may wish to book this session at quieter times of the week.
Learning Objectives
- Children will be able to name and identify a range of aquatic animals
- Children will be able to identify different features of different aquatic animals (such as scaly skin, a shell etc.)
- Children will respond appropriately to a story, anticipating key events and listening attentively
“The tutor was fantastic – she engaged all the children and the session was perfect for all the nursery children.”
Please note that our Natural History Gallery is now closed as part of a major 2-year redevelopment, Nature + Love. The rest of our Galleries, displays and Gardens will be open as usual, with plenty across the site to support your topic (from our free Animal Walk, to our World Gallery). Our schools workshops are unaffected.
We will be opening a new, free temporary exhibition about the natural world, animals and their habitats, in September 2024.
Workshop information
How to book
Booking a taught session includes a welcome briefing on arrival, timed access to a lunch space, cloakroom facilities and access to toilets for the exclusive use of school groups.
Contact us to make a booking:
schools@horniman.ac.uk
020 8291 8686
When you contact us please have ready:
– the name of the taught session you would like to book or topic you are studying,
-1st/2nd/3rd choice of date and preferred session time,
– the number of pupils and adults attending.
Costs
Entrance to the Horniman Museum and Gardens is free of charge. Taught sessions and access to some exhibitions are charged for. We invoice after your visit.
The following charges apply:
Mainstream State schools: £90 including VAT, £75 excluding VAT
Private/independent schools: £129.60 including VAT, £108 excluding VAT
SEND schools and groups: £45 including VAT, £37.25 excluding VAT
We offer a bursary scheme for schools that meet a set criteria.
Planning your visit
See the School Trips page for other essential information including our risk assessment.
We are open from 10am-5.30pm, 7 days a week. Entrance to the Museum and Gardens is free of charge but must be booked in advance by emailing schools@horniman.ac.uk.
We offer reduced educational rates for our Aquarium, Butterfly House, and Temporary exhibition. See the School Trips page for further information.
Charges apply to all children aged 3 years and over, and all accompanying teachers and adults, unless they are specific 1:1 carers.