RZSS: Beyond the Panda

Beyond the Panda
Beyond the Panda

Welcome to the FREE Beyond the Panda online learning resources exploring China, its language, culture, geography, giant pandas and other Chinese wildlife. Beyond the Panda is also a science specialist Confucius Classroom and all materials link to Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes in science, topical science, social studies, language and literacy.

With thanks to our friends:
- For other free language resources in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese and Gaelic, please see 'Science in the Language Class'
  
  free courses and sessions available:
  
  5 week course (P4-P7): Four weeks live virtual sessions and one in-person outreach visit. Details in 'P4-P7 course' below.
  
  Giants (P4-P7): live virtual session. Details in 'Giants' below.
  There may be some availability for P1-P3 sessions and outreach. Contact srobb@rzss.org.uk
  
  To help navigate to resources that will link to various language topics, please look at the Planning & Learning Map:
- Planning & Learning Map File

China/Scotland Pack
A comparison project between China and Scotland aimed at P4-P7 level which looks at the similarities and differences between the habitats and animals of each country. The game also includes cultural items from China and Scotland.

Partnered with JASS, this can fulfil part of the 'Me and My World' section. This can further involve actions to help save endangered animals, for example: making bird feeders, bug hotels, raising money for RZSS projects in the wild.

The resources are available in two formats:
- materials to download and print - (all materials are free to download but there is also the option to order professionally printed packs at cost price)
- online resources with interactive games.
Click on the items in the contents lists below.

The China/Scotland P4-P7 pack consists of:
- pupil workbook File
- China habitat map File
- Scotland habitat map File
- gameboard File
- game cards File
- how to play & answers to game File
- workbook answer booklet File
- China/Scotland sound files Folder
- Interactive online games:
  
  Amur tiger and Scottish wildcat
  Sea eagles
  Chinese cobra and Scottish adder
  Chinese salamander and great crested newt
  Dragon and Loch Ness Monster
  China: Name the habitats
  Scotland: Name the habitats
  Chinese habitats with Chinese characters
  Chinese habitat flashcards
  Habitat definitions
  China/Scotland game
- Photos of animals compared in pack File
- Photos of skulls of animals compared in pack File
- Photos of skulls in pack - relative size File
- China/Scotland Skull Quiz Interactive Content
- Chinese animal fact files
- RZSS Chinese animals fact files
- Chinese mammal fact files Interactive Content
- Chinese bird fact files Interactive Content
- Chinese reptiles fact files Interactive Content
- Chinese amphibian fact files Interactive Content
- Chinese fish fact files Interactive Content
- P1-P3 activities for this topic
  Although topic is aimed at upper primary level, the following 3 games could be introduced to lower primary:
- China/Scotland Game - Level 1 Interactive Content
- China: Name the habitats
  
  Scotland: Name the habitats
- This project is supported by the Junior Award Scheme for Schools - JASS and can be used as part of the scheme.
Nursery Resources

These are character recognition activity stories. It is not expected that the children will understand the full Chinese sentences. The story books contain large pictures to help the children either count the items or see the colours. The number and colour cards are for the children to point to the correct characters and it is suggested that each child have a card while the story is being read.

Number Story
P1 - P3 Panda Pack
This pack covers a range of activities to learn about the giant panda, simple classification of vertebrate animals and to reinforce Mandarin numbers and colours.
Resources are available in different formats:
- materials to download and print for group activities - click on the items listed below
- individual workbooks for printing - see Panda Folders (level 1)
- online resources with interactive games (no printing required) - at present, for P1-P3 level, there are not many interactive games. More will be developed in due course. However, do have a look at the many online games developed for upper primary, some of which may be useful. You will find these in Panda Folders and in Virtual session resources
Some of the boards within this pack have been split into two. This is to enable printing at A3 (or A4) but to create an A2 (or A3) poster by joining the two sections. For these files there is also the option to download the single page.
The P1-P3 pack consists of:
P4 - P7 Panda Pack
This pack covers a range of activities to learn about the giant panda, including the history of giant panda conservation, classification of vertebrate animals, habitats and regions of China.
Resources are available in different formats:
- materials to download and print for group activities - click on the items listed below
- individual workbooks for printing - see Panda Folders (level 2)
- online resources with interactive games (no printing required) - both in Panda Folders (level 2) and Virtual session resources
Some of the boards within this pack have been split into two. This is to enable printing at A3 (or A4) but to create an A2 (or A3) poster by joining the two sections. For these files there is also the option to download as a single page.
The P4-P7 pack consists of:
S1 - S2 Panda Pack

This pack covers a broad range of activities in science, art, history and culture.
The S1-S2 pack consist of:
Secondary Endangered Species

This is an advanced endangered species pack which includes a Mandarin case study for qualification level.
The Secondary Endangered Species pack consists of:
Panda Folders
*Virtual sessions available linked to this topic

These packs have similar content to the P1-P3 (Level 1) and P4-P7 (Level 2) panda packs but have been designed as individual pupil workbooks instead of the group game activities which were in the panda packs. The panda folder is designed to be printed in booklet format, providing a double page spread for the maps and diagrams. If you cannot print in booklet format, the double spread pages are also provided as full pictures. Virtual sessions are available linked to both levels. Please email srobb@rzss.org.uk for details.

The resources are available in two formats:
- materials to download and print - (all materials are free to download but there is also the option to order professionally printed packs at cost price)
- online resources with interactive games.
Click on the items in the contents lists below.
- Panda Folders Level 1
- panda folder 1 File
- panda workbook 1 File
- panda workbook 1 - ANSWERS File
- panda habitat game (full picture) File
- Chinese animals (full picture) File
- panda senses (full picture) File
- giant panda senses matching game (download and print game)
- level 1 - all sound files Folder
- giant panda body parts sound files (linked to virtual session) Folder
- There are two virtual sessions available for P1-P3 (contact srobb@rzss.org.uk to book):
  Intro to the giant panda - Discover some facts about the giant panda & the red panda. Learn to recognise the Chinese characters for numbers 1-6 and the characters for big & small.
  I can see, hear, smell, taste & touch - Sandie will demonstrate the parts of the body we use for our senses and we will learn how to say and recognise the characters for these in Mandarin Chinese. Discover the giant panda senses and which ones are very important for survival.
  Interactive online games linked to the P1-P3 virtual sessions:
- The giant panda & the red panda Interactive Content
- Panda senses & body parts (online game) Interactive Content
- Sound files for P1-P3 virtual sessions Folder
- Panda Folders Level 2
- panda folder 2 File
- panda workbook 2 File
- panda workbook 2 - ANSWERS File
- panda game (full picture) File
- giant panda life-cylce (full picture) File
- habitats with characters (full picture) File
- China habitat map - current distribution (full pictures)
- China habitat map - historic distribution (full pictures)
- level 2 - all sound files Folder
- sound files linked to 'The giant panda' virtual session Folder
- A virtual session entitled 'The giant panda' is available. Discover the science and mysteries of the giant panda while exploring some basic Mandarin language. An interactive session where Sandie uses skulls and other models to demonstrate.
  Interactive online games linked to the Level 2 pack and virtual session:
  The giant panda's hand
  
  The giant panda's teeth
  
  Bamboo & the giant panda's distribution
  
  The giant panda and babies
P4-P7 course

free 5 week course

Beyond the Panda offers a 5 week progressive programme for upper primary level which may also be of interest to lower secondary. The programme consists of four weeks live virtual sessions and one in-person outreach visit. Available throughout Scotland and north of England.

Bookings now open for the new 5 week programme. Please contact srobb@rzss.org.uk for booking and further details.

Partnered with and to enable safe delivery of our programme through established educational platforms. For Scotland through the schools Glow network. For other areas, delivered via Vscene.

Sound files are from native Chinese teachers through our partners at

Follow-on online and interactive resources for the programme are listed below. Please also see the Panda Folders and the China/Scotland sections with additional materials to download and print relating to these sessions.

Please also see the CfE links and a list of key objectives.

You can also refer to the planning and learning map which provides links to all games for the different language topics.
- 5 week programme key objectives File
- CfE links File
- planning and learning map
- 1. The giant panda
  Also see the Panda Folders section for other resources available for download and printing.
- The giant panda's hand Interactive Content
- The giant panda's teeth Interactive Content
- The giant panda and babies Interactive Content
- Counting giant panda babies- liǎng 两 & measure words Interactive Content
- Bamboo & the giant panda's distribution Interactive Content
- The giant panda sound files (linked to virtual session)
- 2. Sorting animals
- Sorting animals Interactive Content
- Sorting animals in Chinese Interactive Content
- Sentences In Mandarin: e.g The pika is a mammal Interactive Content
- Sorting animals sound files Folder
- This session will also include a comparison and look at adaptations of some animals from China and Scotland. All the follow-on resources for these are included in the China/Scotland section below.
- 3. Chinese Endangered Species
  
  Link to the IUCN red list
- Chinese endangered species Interactive Content
- China Endangered Animals Quiz Interactive Content
- Sentences in Mandarin: e.g. 'The Amur tiger lives in...' Interactive Content
- China Endangered Species sound files Folder
- Threats and solutions Interactive Content
- Threats in Chinese characters game Interactive Content
- Threats sound files Folder
- This session will also include an introduction to habitats of China and Chinese characters. All the follow-on resources for these are included in the China/Scotland section below.
  For further study regarding Chinese Endangered Species and climate change please see Eco Learning Programme section in Beyond the Panda.
- 4. Chinese culture & A panda history
  The session starts with a Chinese tea ceremony and there is a surprising connection to the giant panda!
  Through the panda history board game you can learn about differences in opinions and conservation research over history and the importance of zoos today.
- Sichuan tea ceremony booklet
  
  Photo gallery of tea ceremony
- A panda history
  
  This board game looks at the history of the giant panda from discovery in 1869 to the arrival of giant pandas at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo in 2011:
  
  panda/bamboo timeline game board
  
  panda/bamboo timeline cards (designed for double-sided printing; question on one side/answer on back)
  
  how to play (included in the full Panda Pack Teacher Notes - pg 9)
  
  Links to other culture and related games:
  
  Chinese etiquette game
  Chinese etiquette game (online version)
- Countries & Nationalities Interactive Content
- Chinese Zodiac game Interactive Content
- 5. China/Scotland
  Also see the China/Scotland section for other resources available for download and printing.
- Amur tiger and Scottish wildcat Interactive Content
- Sea eagles Interactive Content
- Chinese cobra and Scottish adder Interactive Content
- Chinese salamander and great crested newt Interactive Content
- Dragon and Loch Ness Monster Interactive Content
- China: Name the habitats Interactive Content
- Scotland: Name the habitats Interactive Content
- Chinese habitats with Chinese characters Interactive Content
- Chinese habitat flashcards Interactive Content
- Habitat definitions Interactive Content
- China/Scotland Game Interactive Content
- Summary Quiz
  The quiz has questions from all the sessions relating to the science. There is a + sign to enlarge some of the pictures.
  Introduction is an online book to read and listen to the Mandarin introduction learned from this course along with a matching game.
  Introduction sound files also available for download.
- Course quiz - science Interactive Content
- Introduction - online book & activity Interactive Content
- Introduction sound files
- Competitions & Challenges
  StampIT has a 'Language of Stamps' series. Within this there are many Mandarin language activities and games.
  There is also a language competition in partnership with RZSS.
Zoo Fun with Mandarin

Zoo Fun with Mandarin is our FREE family Mandarin language course.

This unique course introduces you and your family to the Mandarin language and Chinese characters while also learning about some Chinese animals and their habitats. Designed for 8 year olds right through to adults and children must be accompanied by an adult. The course is a series of three, one hour live virtual sessions spread across three days.
Currently there are no dates set for the next course. We try to have two opportunities per year and these are usually during summer holidays. Look out for dates.
For further information, contact srobb@rzss.org.uk
- Zoo Fun with Mandarin
  Important note: The course notes are designed to accompany the live virtual sessions led by the course teacher and therefore do not contain all the background teaching and information.
- course notes File
- Session 1. Let's count the animals
- Numbers 1-10 File
- Number matching (characters only) Interactive Content
- Let's count Interactive Content
- Let's count the animals Interactive Content
- Number story
  Matching number game (print out)
- Chinese habitats with Chinese characters
  
  China's animals and habitats
- Video - Chinese characters for mountains, trees, forest and rain URL
- Days of the week Interactive Content
- Months and years Interactive Content
- Session 2 - Let's introduce ourselves
- Let's introduce ourselves Interactive Content
- I, you, he, she, they, we... Interactive Content
- Useful expressions Interactive Content
- The giant panda's hand
  The giant panda's teeth (note: also contains some advance language about teeth)
- China habitat map - historic giant panda distribution File
- China habitat map - current giant panda distribution File
- Session 3 - Looking more closely at characters
- panda game
  Chinese Zodiac game
  StampIT's ancient animal characters matching game
- Video - some Chinese animal characters & how to say them URL
- Additional information
  
  Countries & Nationalities
- RZSS, Edinburgh Zoo & Highland Wildlife Park Interactive Content
More games
- Ancient character game
  
  A fun matching game looking at ancient and modern simplified Chinese characters. There are four sets which are identical but with different colours should you wish to split the class into different groups.
- ancient characters game (red set) File
- ancient characters game (blue set) File
- ancient characters game (green set) File
- ancient characters game (yellow set) File
- Chinese building blocks & radicals
- character building blocks - notes File
- Chinese building blocks set 1 File
- Chinese building blocks set 2 File
- Dinosaur bingo game
- dinosaur bingo cards File
- dinosaur bingo calling cards File
- dinosaur bingo game translations File
- Colourful pandas
- colourful pandas colouring worksheet File
- Etiquette games
  
  Either download and print the card version or play the interactive game:
  
  Chinese etiquette game_card version
- Chinese etiquette game_online version Interactive Content
- StampIT also provides resources to assist with the Mandarin language. Visit their Mandarin section. There is also a RZSS and StampIT China language competition.
Giants
Giants compares two very different animals from two very different areas of the world and looks at two very different languages. Learn more about the giant anteater from South America and the giant panda from China. The programme covers some basic vocabulary in both Mandarin and Spanish. There is a free live virtual session along with many other follow-on resources including sound files.
The Mandarin sound files are from students studying at our partners Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu.

The Spanish sound files are from students at Musselburgh Grammar, East Lothian, Scotland. The students have also designed a fantastic game about a tour around RZSS Edinburgh Zoo - ¡Bienvenidos al zoo de Edimburgo! and the Mandarin version 欢迎来到爱丁堡动物园。
Bookings are now open for the virtual session - contact srobb@rzss.org.uk

This session is suitable for upper primary currently studying only Spanish or only Mandarin or both. See CfE links
For other Spanish resources please see RZSS Science in the Language Class
- The materials are available in two formats with both Mandarin and Spanish versions where appropriate:
  
  interactive online games
  
  games and resources to download and print
  
  Click on the items in the contents lists below.
  Interactive online games:
- giant panda_Mandarin:
  
  The giant panda's hand_Mandarin
  The giant panda's teeth_Mandarin
- The giant panda & China_Mandarin Interactive Content
- giant panda_Spanish:
- The giant panda's hand_Spanish Interactive Content
- The giant panda's teeth_Spanish Interactive Content
- The giant panda & China_Spanish Interactive Content
- giant anteater_Mandarin:
- The giant anteater hand_Mandarin Interactive Content
- The giant anteater mouth _Mandarin Interactive Content
- The giant anteater & South America_Mandarin Interactive Content
- giant anteater_Spanish:
- The giant anteater hand_Spanish Interactive Content
- The giant anteater mouth _Spanish Interactive Content
- The giant anteater & South America_Spanish Interactive Content
- Babies:
  
  The giant panda and babies
- The giant anteater and babies Interactive Content
- Fact Files
  Click on the + sign to hear the name in Mandarin and Spanish along with some facts about the animals.
- Bears Interactive Content
- Xenarthra - a group of animals which includes anteaters, sloths and armadillos Interactive Content
- giant panda senses Interactive Content
- giant anteater senses Interactive Content
- Colour games
- 红色 // roja / rojo Interactive Content
- 橙色 // naranja Interactive Content
- 黄色 // amarilla / amarillo Interactive Content
- 棕色 // marrón Interactive Content
- 黑色 // negra / negro and 白色 // blanca / blanco Interactive Content
- Colour sentences_Mandarin Interactive Content
- Colour sentences_Spanish Interactive Content
- Games and resources to download and print:
- 1. giant panda habitat game
- giant panda habitat game board File
- giant panda spinner & hexagons File
- giant panda habitat game_NOTES File
- 2. giant anteater habitat game
- giant anteater habitat game board File
- giant anteater spinner & hexagons File
- giant anteater habitat game_NOTES File
- 3. Habitat, distribution and range maps
  
  giant panda historic distribution map
  
  giant panda current distribution map
- China habitat map File
- giant anteater range map File
- South American habitat map File
- 4. ¡Bienvenidos al zoo de Edimburgo!
  This game was designed by the 2021-2022 S4 Spanish Employability Group, Musselburgh Grammar School, East Lothian, Scotland.
- ¡Bienvenidos al zoo de Edimburgo! - gameboard File
- ¡Bienvenidos al zoo de Edimburgo! - game cards (double-sided cards) File
- ¡Bienvenidos al zoo de Edimburgo! - ANSWERS File
- 5. 欢迎来到爱丁堡动物园
  Mandarin version of the Musselburgh Grammar School game.
- 欢迎来到爱丁堡动物园 gameboard_Mandarin version File
- 欢迎来到爱丁堡动物园 game cards_Mandarin version (double-sided cards) File
- 欢迎来到爱丁堡动物园 ANSWERS_Mandarin version File
- Summary Quiz
  It is best if you work through all the other activities before taking this quiz.
- Comparison of giant panda and giant anteater Interactive Content
- Sound files
  Sounds are incorporated in the various online games where appropriate.
  The files below contain a complete set of the sound files.
- Spanish sound files
- Mandarin sound files
- CfE links
- Giants CfE links File
Other Resources

Sichuan booklets
- Sichuan tea ceremony booklet File
- Sichuan tea ceremony photo gallery Page
- Sichuan face changing booklet File
- Giant panda fact file
  
  Collating together some of the facts which can be learnt through the panda packs and other resources on this website.
- The giant panda fact file Page
- Sandie's visit to Chengdu - photo gallery
- Chengdu Panda Research Centre Page
- More pandas Page
- Dujiangyan Panda Valley Page
- Sichuan Opera Page
- Sugar Painting Page
Eco-Learning Programme
There are many different threats facing animals across the world. For example: habitat loss, over-hunting, pollution, invasive species, illegal pet trade, over-exploitation and hybridisation. Climate change is also a main threat to all animals. Habitat loss, pollution, over-exploitation are main contributors to climate change.
Various resources have been collated from Beyond the Panda to create a series of lessons around Chinese endangered species, mainly focusing on four main threats: habitat loss, over-hunting, pollution and climate change.
This programme is part of the Confucius Institute for Scotland's Schools Eco-Learning Programme (ELP). The programme is a partnership between CISS, Keep Scotland Beautiful and RZSS Beyond the Panda. A detailed pack will be available from CISS in due course.
- 1. Endangered Species Game
  This game focuses on four Chinese endangered animals and their four main threats: giant panda and habitat loss; Amur tiger and over-hunting; Steller's sea eagle and pollution; bharal and climate change.
- endangered species gameboard File
- animal fact files
- solutions matching game File
- solutions game (online version) Interactive Content
- endangered species sound files Folder
- endangered species - how to play & answers File
- animal distribution maps File
  The China habitat maps showing the distribution of the four animals in the endangered game.
- For further information about the threats facing the animals within the endangered game:
  
  Amur tiger (within the China/Scotland pack and also includes comparison to the Scottish wildcat)
  
  Steller's sea eagle (within the China/Scotland pack and also includes comparison to the white tailed sea eagle)
  
  giant panda historic distribution (within the P4-P7 Panda Pack)
  
  giant panda current distribution (within the P4-P7 Panda Pack - looking at both maps shows the habitat loss)
  
  giant panda habitat game board (within the P1-P3 Panda Pack)
  
  giant panda spinner & hexagon cards (cards to go with the game board - this demonstrates how the habitat has been fragmented)
- bharal threat Interactive Content
- 2. China/Scotland comparison
  
  A comparison project between China and Scotland which looks at the similarities and differences between the habitats and animals of each country.
  
  The resources are available in two formats.
  
  Interactive online games:
  
  Amur tiger and Scottish wildcat
  
  Sea eagles
  
  Chinese cobra and Scottish adder
  
  Chinese salamander and great crested newt
  
  Dragon and Loch Ness Monster
  
  China: Name the habitats
  
  Scotland: Name the habitats
  
  Chinese habitats with Chinese characters
  
  Chinese habitat flashcards
  
  Habitat definitions
  
  China/Scotland game
  
  Photos of animals compared in pack
  
  Resources to download and print:
  
  China/Scotland workbook
  
  China/Scotland answers
  
  Cultural gameboard
  
  Cultural game cards
  
  Cultural game - how to play & answers
  
  China habitat map
  
  Scotland habitat map
  
  China/Scotland sound files
- 3. Chinese character recognition presentations
  The Mandarin language often uses words that simply describe the meaning. Sometimes it can be a useful way to learn Mandarin words by recognising each individual character and its meaning.
  The earliest form of Chinese writing is from around 4000 years ago. Simple drawings were found on animal bones. The Chinese characters have changed over time but we can sometimes use the ancient drawings to help us see pictures within the modern characters.
  It is best to work through the habitats presentation before attempting the threats presentation.
- 1. Chinese Characters - habitats presentation Interactive Content
  Work through this presentation before you do the threats presentation.
- 2. Chinese Characters - threats presentation Interactive Content
  Work through this presentation after you have done the habitats presentation. There is some knowledge from the habitats presentation that you need to know to complete the threats activities.
- 4. Definitions
  Conservation related words and their definitions along with the Mandarin translations and sound files.
- Definitions Interactive Content
- 5. Chinese Characters
  Additional teaching notes on Chinese characters.
- Chinese Characters Interactive Content
- Additional related activities
- Animals and habitats gam e - an interactive online game featuring some other Chinese endangered animals