PreK - Kindergartern
Wild Tails
Stomp like a bison, howl like a wolf and practice your beaver tail slap! Students will enjoy watching their classmates as they wear fun animal tails and act out behaviors necessary for survival.

New! Wild Side Stories
Students will discover some of the world's amazing animals as they listen to a fun wildlife story, see and touch animal biofacts, and come face to face with a live animal ambassador. Themes include Wildlife in Winter with Bear Snores On, by Karma Wilson and Animal Homes with A House for a Hermit Crab, by Eric Carle.

1st - 5th Grades
Animal Sounds and Signals
Grades 3-5 will discover some of the ways that animals communicate and why communication is important for their survival. Students will listen to real animal sounds and play a sound identification game. See the Wild Tails program description for 1st and 2nd grades.

Bug-a-Rama
What makes bugs different from other animals? Students will find out about insect body parts, watch a classmate dress up as a beetle, sing a song and meet a real bug in person.

Creative Creatures: Creative Homes
Animals are industrious, resourceful and even artistic in the pursuits of just the right kinds of shelter. Students will learn a little about nature's growers, builders and decorators and the adaptations they use to make their homes.

Creature Classification
Why and how do scientists classify animals? Learn once and for all the characteristics that scientists use to classify the five vertebrate groups, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Students will use their sorting and comparing skills as to identify a mystery animal.

Creatures of the Night
Find out how nocturnal animals use their super senses to live their lives in the dark. A bat costume and close examination of bat and owl biofacts will help students understand what it's like to live the night life.

Fabulous Food Chains (3rd-5th Grades)
Predators and prey and scavengers, oh my! Students will participate in a food chain vocabulary-building activity they won't soon forget, followed by hands on animal skull observation, data collection and reporting.

Finding Out About Forests
Younger students will compare temperate and tropical forests and the wildlife that call them home. Older students will observe and compare forest wildlife adaptations and discuss human impact on these valuable resources.

Investigating Invertebrates
Most of the world's animals are spineless, but that doesn't mean they aren't spectacular. Explore these fascinating animals and compare their unusual characteristics to our own. A hissing cockroach or tarantula will come along to help your students open their eyes to animals they might otherwise find frightening.

Little Bugs: Big Jobs
Insects may be small but they are hugely important to life on Earth. Find out what makes a bug an insect and how these creepy-crawly little animals accomplish big things in our ecosystem. Students will watch a classmate transform into a beetle and discuss how some insects are helpful to people.

Vanishing Species (4th-5th Grades)
Students are encouraged to discuss the causes of species endangerment and to consider what they can do to help protect wildlife and their habitats. This program also includes a thought-provoking small-group activity and hands-on investigation of confiscated and donated wildlife products.

New! Wild for Water
You can drink it, swim in it, bathe in it or just use it to cool off. Water makes life possible, but animals can't turn on the faucet. Students will soak up some of the surprising ways animals get and use water in the wild and learn something they can do to protect water for wildlife.

Zoo Crew
Students learn the four basic needs of all animals (water, food, shelter and space) and what it takes to create animal exhibits that meet those needs, plus the special needs of certain species. Students work in teams to design and build their own zoo exhibit.

6th Grade - College Level
Polar Bears and Climate Change
These incredible marine mammals are superbly adapted to live along the rocky and icy shores of the Arctic Ocean. However, increasing temperatures have led to decreases in bear populations due to a variety of factors that will be discussed during this program. Students will be encouraged to consider making a personal behavior change that will lessen their own impact on global climate change. Students will also examine polar bear skull and claw models and a piece of real polar bear fur.

Skulls 101
Some animals have teeth for grinding up plants while others sport teeth adapted for tearing the flesh of their prey. Still others have a little of both! Students will test their scientific observation skills as they classify and identify real skulls and skull models.

Vanishing Species (6th-8th Grades)
Students are encouraged to discuss the causes of species endangerment and consider what they can do to help protect wildlife and their habitats. This program also includes a thought-provoking small group activity and hands-on investigation of confiscated wildlife products.

Zoos: Working for the World's Wildlife (9th-College)
Discover how zoos serve as sanctuaries and conservation advocates for global species. Highlighted projects include endangered species breeding programs and education efforts both at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and around the world.

Zoological Careers
Students will gather information about what it takes to work with wildlife in a zoological setting. We'll discuss the skills, education and experience required to enter this competitive field, and talk about what a typical work day is like at a zoo and aquarium.

Tacoma 4th Grade Teachers!

The Zoo is offering the "Qwest for Wildlife" FREE classroom outreach to all the 4th grade classrooms in the Tacoma Public Schools again this year!

Please call to schedule your school's programs, 253-591-5333, as soon as possible. Program dates fill quickly and we want to visit your classroom while you are working on life science with your students.

During this program a Zoo instructor will lead each 4th grade classroom in a structured lesson on food chains, a hands-on inquiry-based activity using real animal skulls and an encounter with an animal from the Zoo.