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Zoo!

black bear

Rain gave way to beautiful weather on Friday, and a friend invited us on an outing to the zoo. All three kids found the animals fascinating – Lily even skipped her morning nap, she was so absorbed. They were especially excited to see this bear climbing.

flamingoes

We decided to look up why flamingoes stand on only one foot when we got home. It turns out that scientists don’t know for sure, but it looks like it could be to regulate body temperature, and possibly prevent parasitic infections and fungal growth. Which I say is just a detailed explanation of my in-zoo guess that they do it to give one foot a chance to dry out.

There are so many zoo extension activities that can be done! Here are a few that I want to try:

  • Learn more about specific animals seen at the zoo (general biology)
  • Sort animals seen by geographic location and discuss reasons they might live in those places, such as local temperatures, terrain, and vegetation (geography)
  • Divide animals into groups based on what they look like, how they move, what they eat, or where they live (sorting, classification, critical thinking)
  • Get a zoo map in advance, let your child plan their path and then have them navigate their way through the zoo (map-reading, planning, and observation skills)
  • Talk about the connection between the way animals are designed and the foods they eat and the places they live (anatomy, critical thinking)
  • Learn how to sign the animals you see – many US libraries have a copy of the Zoo Train Signing Time DVD, which is a fun place to start. (language)

All of these can be done before a zoo trip or once we get home from the zoo. This is a nice way to continue the experience – especially since the drive to the zoo is long enough that we don’t go frequently. For in-zoo activities, I love Valerie’s Zoo Journal idea at the Frugal Family Fun Blog, although I plan to wait until my kids are a bit older to try it.

MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.

11 thoughts on “Zoo!”

  1. Elisa | blissfulE

    Hurrah for the zoo! We love our local and it’s interesting that the kids enjoy different aspects each time. I love how your learning extensions make the most of the times when you can make it to the zoo.

    The bear climbing is fantastic – I’m sure your kids will remember that for some time to come!
    .-= Elisa | blissfulE´s last blog ..virgin peach bellinis =-.

  2. What a great list of zoo-related activities to do. I love your guess about the foot drying out, lol. :) How neat to see the bear actually climbing; your zoo looks like an awesome place to go, no wonder they were fascinated!

  3. We enjoy going to the zoo. I have found that Abby asks lots of questions at the zoo and learns a lot, without me having to make a plan.
    .-= Jenny´s last blog ..Happy Easter =-.

  4. Your zoo extension ideas are super!

    As you know, we LOVE the zoo! Ours has such awesome classes and we try to take advantage of them as often as we can.

    You got some great pictures, and I’m glad you all enjoyed your zoo trip too.
    .-= Susana´s last blog ..Easter Day Fun & Happy Birthday Dad! =-.

  5. We miss our zoo trips and still argue on whether to renew our membership this year. It’s, after all, quite a long trip to go to SF zoo. So far it’s been mostly observation – Anna has never been an animal person, so she enjoys watching, but is not really interested in animal lives.
    .-= Natalie´s last blog ..Toys My Child Is Really Playing With – Playmobil =-.

  6. I love the zoo. We finally bought a membership this year and I can’t wait to use it. My daughters love exploring the zoo. Sometimes that means just running from exhibit to exhibit, other times it means really paying attention to certain animals. Each trip is a new adventure.
    .-= Quadmama´s last blog ..Easter and Multiples =-.

  7. Which zoo?? Daphne has been begging to go see lions. We went to the Franklin Park zoo last year and I was unimpressed. I’ve heard Southwick is better.
    .-= Andrea´s last blog ..Worth $1.98 =-.

  8. Oh man, that sounds like fun. I so look forward to taking my kids to the zoo someday, but it’ll be a while before it’s worth it to make the trip to Calgary or the coast. Sometimes, living in the middle of nowhere has its tradeoffs.
    Love how you nailed the flamingo question!
    .-= Megan @ Meanwhile, back at the ranch´s last blog ..Quick Tip =-.

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