Pond Dipping and Outdoor Habitats

Dip nets in the Horniman’s pond and explore outdoor habitats on our wild Nature Trail. Use scientific equipment to collect animals and first-hand observation to learn more about them. Reconnect with nature and enhance Science curriculum learning.

This session will run outdoors on the Horniman’s Nature trail and will go ahead unless in the event of extreme weather. Please ensure your pupils are dressed appropriately for the weather.

In the event of extreme weather, the session will be replaced with our indoor taxidermy-based session Animals and their Habitats for years 1-3 and Animal Classification for years 4-6.

The Nature Trail and pond are about a 10-15 minute walk from our Museum building, along an unpaved path. Please let us know when booking if any of the children in your class have physical access needs, so we can make arrangements for step-free access to the trail.

Learning Objectives

Years 1-3

• Safely and ethically use equipment to sample and observe wildlife.
• Use an ID guide to try to identify animals.
• Explore how animals living in the local environment are suited to their habitat.

Years 4-6

• Explore animals living in local habitats.
• Use an ID guide to identify animals.
• Use first-hand observation to group animals according to their physical features.

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 uneffected.

We will be opening a new, free temporary exhibition about the natural world, animals and their habitats, in September 2024.