





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.
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:
To help navigate to resources that will link to various language topics, please look at the Planning & Learning Map:
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:
Click on the items in the contents lists below.
Although topic is aimed at upper primary level, the following 3 games could be introduced to lower primary:
This project is supported by the Junior Award Scheme for Schools - JASS and can be used as part of the scheme.
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.
Colour Story
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:
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:
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:
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:
This pack covers a broad range of activities in science, art, history and culture.
The S1-S2 pack consist of:
This is an advanced endangered species pack which includes a Mandarin case study for qualification level.
The Secondary Endangered Species pack consists of:
Teacher training video on how to play
*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:
Click on the items in the contents lists below.
There are two virtual sessions available for P1-P3 (contact srobb@rzss.org.uk to book):
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.
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.
Also see the Panda Folders section for other resources available for download and printing.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Links to other culture and related games:
Also see the China/Scotland section for other resources available for download and printing.
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.
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 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.ukImportant 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.
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.
Either download and print the card version or play the interactive game:
StampIT also provides resources to assist with the Mandarin language. Visit their Mandarin section. There is also a RZSS and StampIT China language competition.
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:
Click on the + sign to hear the name in Mandarin and Spanish along with some facts about the animals.
1. giant panda habitat game
2. giant anteater habitat game
3. Habitat, distribution and range maps
4. ¡Bienvenidos al zoo de Edimburgo!
This game was designed by the 2021-2022 S4 Spanish Employability Group, Musselburgh Grammar School, East Lothian, Scotland.
5. 欢迎来到爱丁堡动物园
Mandarin version of the Musselburgh Grammar School game.
It is best if you work through all the other activities before taking this quiz.
Sounds are incorporated in the various online games where appropriate.
The files below contain a complete set of the sound files.
Collating together some of the facts which can be learnt through the panda packs and other resources on this website.
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.
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.
For further information about the threats facing the animals within the endangered game:
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.
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.
Work through this presentation before you do the threats presentation.
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.
Conservation related words and their definitions along with the Mandarin translations and sound files.
Additional teaching notes on Chinese characters.