For some students, a school trip is the first visit to a zoo. For others, it will be the only visit. In an era when zoos are committed to more than entertainment — today, these places are powerhouses of experiential education and inquiry-based learning — a zoo is too valuable a resource to dismiss, particularly when an attraction does these things as well as Zoo Atlanta does.
Real educators
Given the size of its animal collection, a field trip to the zoo with an excited crowd of students can be a daunting prospect for teachers and chaperones, especially with only a few hours allotted for time away from school. Not only that, but educators are now expected to justify field trips as teaching opportunities that clearly correlate to Standards covered in class. “It’ll be fun” may have served 20 years ago, but won’t fly so well in Georgia schools today.
Fortunately, with a little advance planning, there are numerous ways to cover all bases at all grade levels — without circumnavigating the system. It’s important to remember that the people behind the programs at Zoo Atlanta are also educators, with the added bonus of being able to demystify and organize a zoo trip so that it becomes an off-site learning experience rich in the study of science, conservation and appreciation for the natural world.
Real time
Newly on exhibit in spring 2011, Po the giant panda cub is sure to skyrocket to the top of the priority list for any zoo visit this year. Students won’t want to leave without seeing the zoo’s newest star, so why not infuse a field trip with facts highlighting the behavior and adaptations that make his species special? Believe it or not, this insanely endearing little creature is more than just cute: he’s a powerful ambassador for an endangered species, and that makes him one of the savviest educators in the U.S.
All field trips are geared toward education, but affordable Field Trip Program add-ons enhance a standard visit with an instructor-led presentation and curriculum designed expressly for varying grade levels.
“Panda and Pals Parade” is created for kindergartners. At the opposite end of the age spectrum, “The Mating Game” introduces ninth through 12th-graders to higher concepts of zoo management, species survival planning and conservation.
Delivered in advance, grade-specific program packets serve to enhance the learning experience both before and after the visit.
Focus and organization are critical to making the most of a tight time frame. Conceived with the schedule-challenged in mind, zoo tours enlist the assistance of an experienced guide who knows the park’s anchor attractions. Even better, a Behind-the-Scenes Tour adds a trip through the Animal Nutrition Kitchen, with a chance to learn from expert dieticians about the discerning tastes of the zoo’s more than 1, 500 residents.
The rave reviews of the latter option have proven beyond doubt that while students love seeing the animals, they also love seeing what’s in the fridge.
Real adventure
For a truly unforgettable educational experience, the intrepid teacher should pack an overnight bag. Designed for students ages six and up, Group NightCrawlers provide exclusive tours, personal encounters with animal ambassadors, and hands-on activities aligned with Georgia Performance Standards. Reservations include continental breakfast and accommodations in comfortably climate-controlled facilities.
Like other zoo education programs, these nocturnal adventures are packaged with grade-appropriate curriculum.
“Panda Pals” for first and second graders is an excellent starter NightCrawler; “Careers and Conservation” for 10th and 12th graders is advantageous for high schoolers ready for meatier discussions on endangered species and the environment, in addition to meaningful insights for students with their hearts set on zoological careers.
Real wildlife
Not every class has the time or the budget to hit the road. Luckily, the zoo can. Ready to travel anywhere within a 60-mile radius of Zoo Atlanta, the ZooMobile outreach program takes on the familiar surroundings of your classroom to create an instant date with the exotic.
No guest is more welcome in a science classroom than a live animal. Trained educators deliver compact 45-minute programs focused on a variety of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects. In most cases, students are allowed to touch the animals; in all cases, they’re afforded a closer view than any that’s possible outside the wild.
Get real
Biology and ecology have always been critical parts of any student’s curriculum, but at no time have these subjects been more important than they are now. Conservation, preservation of endangered wildlife and stewardship of nature are now in the hands of young people currently sitting in elementary and high school classrooms. Without personal appreciation, today’s youth face growing up in an environment not where animals and ecosystems need saving, but where species and habitats are lost.
As one of the state’s largest living laboratories, Zoo Atlanta is a vital resource for students of all ages. Time runs short, budgets get cut, and attention spans run low. Those challenges are real. But Georgia needs future generations who are willing to protect not just our own state’s natural heritage, but the vanishing biodiversity of an increasingly fragile planet. That’s real, too.