Zootropolis:

the case of the missing mammals

Primary: Teachers’ Notes
These activities are designed to be used with Zootropolis: The Case of the Missing
Mammals Activity Pack and accompanying PowerPoint presentation available to
download from https://www.intofilm.org/resources/1152.

Into Film © 2016. All rights reserved. Disney © (2016) All rights reserved.
 Zootropolis – About this film

The city of Zootropolis has long been one where animals of all shapes
and sizes have lived in harmony. But when rabbit Judy Hopps joins the
police force, she realises maintaining law and order on these streets is
not as easy as it seems. This wild adventure combines all of Disney’s
stunning animation, memorable characters and heartfelt messages into
one hilarious and colourful treat.

About this resource Accessing film

This educational cross-curricular resource based
on Disney’s Zootropolis includes a selection of
activities that have been designed for teachers
to cherry-pick in their classrooms. You can
download the accompanying Zootropolis: The
Case of the Missing Mammals PowerPoint
presentation and accompanying Activity Booklet
with exclusive embedded clips from the film from
https://www.intofilm.org/resources/1152.
This resource consists of three activities and an
accompanying booklet with worksheets. Each
activity has an extension task that you that you
can use to extend the session, challenge your
more able pupils or as a homework task.
Safeguarding
We advise that you ensure the content is
appropriate for your pupils by viewing the clips
in the accompanying PowerPoint presentation
before delivering these activities in class. We also
recommend you view content on external links
in advance of sharing these with pupils, as we are
unable to accept responsibility for content, which
may change, move or become unavailable without
1 our knowledge.
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 Basic training
Activity outline:
1. Give out the Powers of observation training worksheet located in the
accompanying activity booklet and explain to pupils that they have to
pass this task as their training to become police cadets in the Zootropolis
Police Academy. Their task is to carefully watch the clip ‘Arriving’ on slide
3 {00:11:54-00:12:38} of the presentation and using their powers of
observation, identify and list as many animals as possible. Let the pupils
watch the clip at least twice to give them the opportunity to identify as
many animals as possible.
2. Ask pupils to total up the number of animals spotted. You then could ask
pupils to partner up and to help confirm any animals that they missed or
were unsure of.
3. Pupils should then share theirs answers as a class and feedback their
observations to create a class list.
4. In pairs or small groups ask pupils to decide what all the animals have in
common (they are all mammals.) Then recap on the definition of mammals
and their differences to other living things.
Extension activity:
Watch the clip again and ask pupils how the city of Zootropolis has been
designed in order to accommodate the wide range of mammals from
giraffes to hamsters.

2
2

Disney © (2016) All rights reserved. Into Film © 2016. All rights reserved.
First assignment
Activity outline:
1. Watch the clip ‘The elephant in the room’ on slide 6 {00:14:20-
00:15:26}, before explaining that pupils will have to create a missing
poster for one of the 14 missing animals. Allow pupils to watch the
clip a few times to let them pick their missing animal.
2. Handout the Missing poster guidance and Missing poster
template on pages 2 – 3 of the accompanying activity booklet to
the class. Let pupils know they can research the characteristics,
appearance, habitat and habits of their mammal on the Zootropolis
website and on any science websites that you can recommend.
Any additional information can be added to the ‘Other information’
section.
3. Pupils create their missing poster adding as much information
as possible so that the residents of Zootropolis can inform the
Zootropolis Police Department if they see anything suspicious.
Extension activity:
Ask pupils to research the food chain for their missing animal. Does
it have any predators? Could any of the prey have been involved
in the kidnapping? Pupils could act out their interrogation scenes
between the police officer and the suspect from the food chain.
These could be recorded on tablets, digital cameras or video
cameras for Zootropolis Police Department evidence.

Into Film © 2016. All rights reserved.

 Press conference
Activity outline:
1. Watch the clip ‘The elephant in the room’ on slide 6 {00:14:20-00:15:26} and
handout the Press conference guidance to the class.
2. Explain that as the case is still open they must continue their work of raising the
awareness of the missing animals to the residents of Zootropolis. To do this they all
need to prepare a statement for one missing animal. These statements will be filmed
for the press conference that is being held in Zootropolis later today. They need to
consider the what, why, where and how of the case.
3. Pupils should then rehearse their speeches before the filming, this could be done as
a peer assessment activity in pairs. Remind pupils that to make sure their listeners are
interested and remember the information they must:
• Speak clearly
• Keep eye contact
• Use interesting language, particularly adjectives
• Keep it under a minute
Extension activity:
In small groups, pupils should decide why they think the animals have gone missing
and decide what they think has happened. Pupils can then discuss the theories as a
whole class and even vote on who is the most likely culprit.

Disney © (2016) All rights reserved. Into Film © 2016. All rights reserved.