zoo curriculum sheet (cats, primates, insects)

This zoo curriculum sheet for preK - K was one I created for use with our last visit to the zoo. It covers three main concepts in addition to a few smaller ones:

* What it means to use camouflage as a defense mechanism.
* What a carnivore eats.
* How to tell the difference of monkey vs. ape.

We found it most interesting to cover only 5 exhibits in depth rather than attempt to cover the whole zoo. We definitely learned more this way. I mapped out our route starting at the gibbon island at our local zoo & then progressed to the next closest exhibit.

I packed pocket prizes to hand out for each correct answer. This was just to create interest in the "game" since it was the first time we'd done it. After a few times, pocket prizes will probably be phased out.

I also offered cash prizes (well, spare change) for each follow-up question answered correctly. Sassy could then spend the money inside the gift shop as a closing activity.

We enjoyed an ice cream cone while we answered the follow-up questions. The other questions were asked when we were directly in front of the animal.

GIBBONS

Do gibbons have tails?

RED PANDA

Where do red pandas live, in the water or in the trees?

JAPANESE MACAQUE

The Japanese Macaque has thick, thick fur -- as thick as a coat! Do you think that’s because they live somewhere really freezing cold or really hot?

BOBCAT

Bobcats live in America. Where do we live? So is a bobcat an animal we might see on a hike near us?

FISHING CAT

All cats are hunters or carnivores. That means that unless they are somebody’s pet, they mostly kill and eat other animals for food. What type of animal do you think a fishing cat might hunt and eat?

OCELOT

Like we talked about, all cats are carnivores or hunters -- meaning that they kill and eat other animals for food. Most of the time, they choose animals that are smaller than they are because most cats hunt all by themselves. What kinds of animals do you think the ocelot might eat? (Follow up -- Elephants? Mice? Zebras? Insects? Squirrels?)

GIANT WALKING STICK

Camouflage is when an animal blends right in so that other animals who might want to eat it won’t see it. It’s a good way to hide! Does this insect look like something else? What do you think it might be camouflaged as?

AMAZON POSTMAN BUTTERFLY

Instead of camouflaging itself, God made this butterfly so bright that animals that might eat it are scared of it. What colors are the butterfly? What colors do you think are scaring the animals away from eating it?

GORILLAS

Do gorillas have tails?

COLOBUS MONKEY

Does the colobus monkey have a tail? What does he use it for?

ASIAN ELEPHANT

What kind of sound does an Asian Elephant make?

MEXICAN WOLF

This wolf is called “el lobo” in its country. That is Spanish for “wolf.” What animal does the wolf look like? Do you they might be similar? Let’s read a story about it. (Companion book -- "The First Dog" by Jan Brett. Note: on a not-too-busy day, the wolf den makes a great place to sit & read the story.)

FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS (END OF VISIT):

Is a gibbon a monkey or an ape? (clue: does it have a tail?)

Is a gorilla a monkey or an ape? (clue: does it have a tail?)

What do carnivores eat for food? (clue: remember the CATS exhibit)

If you wanted to camouflage yourself in the woods, what color might you wear? (clue: remember the GIANT WALKING STICK)

What kind of animal that we saw today is called “el lobo” in Spanish? (MEXICAN WOLF)