12-13 years old: Exhibition program Animals through time

Animals through the ages

Sponges, cnidaria, mollusks, worms, arthropods, echinoderms and vertebrates have been alive through the ages. At Naturalis, you'll learn how to classify animals and find out why this is useful. Journey across time past animals of the modern era, Ice age giants and dinosaurs and investigate fossils from the dino era, animal hides, shells and much more. Gather as many animals for classification as you can!

Dutch only

This program is currently offered only in Dutch. If you are interested in this program, simply book your visit online and fill out the request form (Dutch).

To the form

Everything you need to know
in a row

  • Exhibition program
  • Year 1 (12–13 years old)
  • Length: 90 minutes
  • Number of pupils: no more than 144
  • Areas: the "Life", "Dinosaur age", "Ice age" and "Seduction" galleries
  • The school supplies: one supervisor for every 20 pupils/students
  • Naturalis supplies: two educational assistants
  • Objective: Pupils understand why we classify animals and get to grips with classifying living and extinct animals
  • Keywords: classification, hides, eggs, skeletons, fossils, fun

Course of the program
at the museum

The program consists of two parts. The schedule given below is an indication only.

0-20 minutes: Reception area
An education assistant will be on hand to welcome the class in the reception area. The reception area offers enough room for multiple classes from different schools. There is an interactive introduction with mounted animals, music and quiz questions. Pupils are provided with an explanation of the assignment. An agreement will be made with you about a time and location for the group to meet up after the program has ended. The assistant will go ahead and give you the gifts to hand out afterwards. Pupils will explore the museum in pairs.

20-85 minutes: Life, Dino Era, Ice Age, Seduction
Pupils will have a chance to visit four galleries. In each gallery, they will look at the animals and arrange animal stickers on their collector’s sheet. Pupils will also visit the learning cabinet in each gallery. Here, they will be given objects such as real animal hides, bones and fossils to see and/or hold. They will also receive “research assignments”, which they can complete to earn extra stickers.

85-90 minutes: Pupils assemble
The pupils assemble and meet up with their own teacher after the museum visit. This will occur at the location agreed in advance, for example in the Atrium. They hand in the assignment to earn a prize. Each pupil will receive a pen containing a rolled-up “cheat sheet” for the Classification theme.

Booking info
prepare your visit

Everything you need to know about practical matters such as parking, lockers and house rules.

Booking info 

Youth in the museum