Zoo Explorers

Programs

The recommended grade level for each program is listed below. However, if you think a different program may be better suited to your students, you can consult with staff about your options. High school field trips can also be accommodated upon request. Contact info is shared toward the bottom of this page.

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Animal Identification

Recommended Grade Level: PreK
Can you find a bird? What about a mammal? In this program, little ones are encouraged to focus on the body coverings of animals to identify different animal groups. Using critical thinking and motor skills, students will identify a variety of animal groups as they hold and flip through specialized early childhood field guides!

Animal Observations

Recommended Grade Level: Kindergarten
From flying and climbing to eating and resting, animals exhibit many different behaviors. By observing the animals at the zoo, students will identify many of these behaviors and learn why they’re necessary for survival.

Animal Classification

Recommended Grade Level: 1
Furry or scaly, feathered or smooth—there are plenty of animal coverings to explore! Students will learn how scientists classify animals based on how they look and live. After observing similarities and differences between species at the zoo, students will classify many animals themselves.

Animal Habitats

Recommended Grade Level: 2
There’s no place like home, whether that’s in the water or up in a tree. Students will discover that there are many types of habitats and that each habitat is home to different types of animals. As students explore the zoo, they’ll learn what habitats have in common—and how they differ.

Animal Adaptations

Recommended Grade Level: 3
Why do polar bears have thick fur? Why do giraffes have long necks? By observing animals at the zoo, students will learn why species adapt based on the environment and how their physical characteristics give them a survival advantage.

Structures and Senses

Recommended Grade Level: 4
Horns, fur, and tails, oh my! Animals use their external structures and senses to survive. As students explore the zoo, they will learn why these characteristics provide a survival advantage by recording discoveries and drawing conclusions.

Ecosystem Interactions

Recommended Grade Level: 5
Ecosystems rely on a healthy balance of producers and consumers. As students explore the zoo, they will identify animal diets, record data, and draw conclusions about what they saw.

Design a Habitat

Recommended Grade Level: 5-8
What goes into designing a brand-new home for an animal at the zoo? Students will explore animal care and welfare, and how those concepts were applied in the construction of the new lion habitat at the Pepper Family Wildlife Center. Students will use data to make decisions about their own lion habitat design.

Animal Behavior

Recommended Grade Level: 6–12
Scientists study and compare animal behaviors to provide high-quality care at the zoo and better conserve species in the wild. Students will observe different species at the zoo, collect data using an interactive ethology (animal-behavior) tool, and analyze and discuss their findings with their classmates and the zoo facilitator.

Urban Biodiversity

Recommended Grade Level: 6–12
Black-crowned night herons, gray squirrels, and American bullfrogs—these are just some of the urban wildlife species living in Chicago. In this program, students will use an interactive field guide to explore Lincoln Park Zoo’s Nature Boardwalk identify local species, and learn how biodiversity studies helps scientists understand the urban environment.