Lincoln Park Zoo

Educator's Resources

Lincoln Park Zoo educators have developed research-based curriculum materials to help support your visit to the zoo and extend the experience back into the classroom. We hope you find them helpful!

Zoo Links Curriculum Guide: The Zoo and You
Field trips are a great way for students to experience science beyond the classroom walls. This free curriculum guide, The Zoo and You, contains information about the zoo and our animals, detailed lesson plans and helpful hints to make your field trip the best it can be. Don’t feel you need to do all the activities for a field trip to be a success. Even one activity can enhance your experience!

Zoo Tracks
There’s a lot to see at Lincoln Park Zoo! To help guide your visit, we’ve created a number of thematic self-guided tours, Zoo Tracks, that are tied to the classroom curriculum and state science standards. Each Zoo Track highlights five animals at the zoo, providing background thematic information and suggesting questions to prompt active student discussion during your visit. Though designed for grades K–5, Zoo Tracks topics and questions are easily adaptable for other grade levels.

Everybody Eats
Meet the Family
Animals Alike and Different
Built to Survive
From Farm to You
Sharing Space
Urban Wildlife Watching
Check back periodically for new installments of Zoo Tracks!

Let us know what you think! After using Zoo Tracks, please take this survey... we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Zoo Tracks are made available through the generous support of The Albert Pick, Jr. Fund.

Species Safari
Sometimes teachers are looking for a simple activity to use within a single exhibit space. Younger students can use the colorful Species Safari field guides to guide their experience as they match the animals they encounter with the colorful photos on their guide. Older students will enjoy sharing their answers to the open-ended questions with their peers.

Species Safari: Regenstein African Journey
This safari focuses on animals that are a little easier to find.

Species Safari: Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House
This safari will require more-careful observation in order to spot highlighted animals.

Teacher Workshops
Nature in the City
August 10 and 11
8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Fee: $20

Learn how to bring ecology investigations into the K–5 classroom. From gull gazing to insect investigations, discover how your schoolyard, Lincoln Park Zoo and the zoo’s new Nature Boardwalk can enhance classroom instruction.

This course will provide teachers with lessons and planning tools related to ecology and animal behavior. Teachers will learn how to bridge concepts presented in an outdoor setting with those encountered in the classroom.

Participants will receive free curriculum materials to help them create interdisciplinary, inquiry-based lessons in the classroom.

Parking and meals are included in course fees.

For more details, or to register, e-mail educationprograms@lpzoo.org or call 312-742-2056.