Submitted by Tricia Harnett on Mon, 06/04/2020 - 10:02
A new ‘Open Your Window Bingo’ game has been launched by the University Museum of Zoology. The game has been designed PhD student Kate Howlett as part of a new Museum blog – created to encourage people of all ages to discover and learn about animals and nature, whilst they are stuck at home.
Open Your Window Bingo can easily be played by all ages, encouraging them to spot wildlife from their window, or in their garden, if they have one. Each animal spotted is worth points, and the rarer the animal, the more points – giving a competitive element if there is more than one player. There are 64 animals or plants to find, split into 4 categories; Birds, Butterflies, Plants and Extras.
The game is just one aspect of a new blog set up by the Museum’s Learning and Outreach Officer, Dr Roz Wade; ‘ As people are staying at home, we felt there was an opportunity to uncover the animals living right on their doorstep: birds, butterflies and other insects, and mammals which may have gone unnoticed before. This blog encourages people to share animal stories and presents a host of crafts and makes to do at home. I hope that people will join with the Museum of Zoology team and share the wonders of the animal world.’
The blog offers a range of hands on activities and information for all age groups, including the Puggle Club for the under 5s, plus Crafty Creatures and Wildlife From Your Window suitable for all ages. The blog will also tell stories of researchers working on the conservation of animals related to the Museum’s collections. Nature Classroom and Our Changing Planet – a selection of resources based around the curriculum for primary and secondary school pupils respectively, will be launched when the school term restarts after Easter.
Professor Rebecca Kilner, Director of the Museum of Zoology said ‘We have never had a better opportunity to really examine the wildlife that is living close to us. Why not escape the confines of your domestic world for a few minutes each day by getting to know the animals that are literally on your doorstep?’
To download your copy of Open Your Window Bingo and to see all the activities on the blog go to www.museumofzoologyblog.com
#OpenYourWindowBingo
Further details about each section of the Museum of Zoology blog:
Wildlife from your Window: Over the coming months, the team at the Museum of Zoology will be sharing information about some of the wonderful animals you can see in your garden and from your window. We also have hints and tips on how to encourage more wildlife without having to leave home.
Nature Classroom: The natural world is an amazing place. Join us as we explore it from home. Here we will be posting animal profiles, hands on activities and more, uncovering the secrets of skeletons, the evolution of animal life, and the way animals and plants live together. Ideal for children aged 5-11.
Launching at the start of Summer term 2020.
Our Changing Planet: Humans are having a huge impact on living things and their habitats. We have altered landscapes, accelerated climate change, and pushed species to the edge. Here we explore our evolving planet with resources linked to current research, links to conservation efforts, and more. Ideal for students aged 11-16. Launching at the start of Summer term 2020.
Puggle Club: Puggle Club is our new Early Years page. Each week we’ll post stories, makes and activities suitable for under 5s, and discover animals from around the world with our Animal Alphabet.
Crafty Creatures: Get creative and keep boredom at bay with these makes, puzzles and games inspired by animals. From owl masks and puffin mobiles to building beetles and butterfly collages, crosswords to word searches, there will be plenty of ideas for crafty fun at home.
Research Stories Find out about research relating to the collections of the Museum of Zoology, and the people working to better understand and protect the natural world.
About the Museum:
The University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge is temporarily closed due to the current social measures, however it is one of the largest and most important natural history collections in the UK, with an extraordinarily rich history dating back to 1814. In 2018 the Museum reopened after a five-year, £4.1million redevelopment – including nearly £2 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund – to reveal thousands of incredible specimens from across the animal kingdom, including whales, elephants, a giraffe, giant ground sloth, insects, corals as well as items collected by Charles Darwin.
Notes for editors
1. For more information please email Tricia Harnett, Marketing Assistant: pjh202@cam.ac.uk.
2. Images: please check copyright information on www.museumofzoologyblog.com or contact pjh202@cam.ac.uk
3. The Museum is closed at the moment. Usually it is open to the public every day except Mondays. (Tues to Sat: 10am to 4.30pm. Sun: 12noon to 4.30pm). Admission is free.
4. For more information about the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, please visit: www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk
5. The Museum on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ZoologyMuseum and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ZoologyMuseumCambridge/
6. The University Museum of Zoology is embedded within the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge www.zoo.cam.ac.uk
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, we inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.HeritageFund.org.uk.
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University of Cambridge Museums is a consortium of the eight University Museums and the Botanic Garden, supported by Arts Council England. The consortium includes: Fitzwilliam Museum, Kettle's Yard, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Museum of Zoology, Museum of Classical Archaeology, Whipple Museum of the History of Science, The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences and The Polar Museum. The University's collections are a world-class resource for researchers, students and members of the public representing the country’s highest concentration of internationally important collections, all within walking distance of the City Centre. www.museums.cam.ac.uk
