Week 1
Lesson 1
Good Vs. Bad Zoos
Our first session will introduce the factors that make a zoo "good" or "bad." We will learn about the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and how they certify zoos based on animal care, conservation, and education.
Lesson 2
Exhibits & Enrichment
Let's explore zoo exhibits! We will investigate how an animal's needs determines how its exhibit will be designed. We will explore enrichment and how it is incorporated into exhibit design. We will discuss where animals go at night or in a storm, how they stay cool or warm, and how we make sure they stay where they're supposed to be!
Lesson 3
Breeding Programs & Animal Transports
Why do zoos move animals from one zoo to another? And how do they move animals like lions or rhinos? Let's find out! In lesson 2, we will investigate how animals are moved between zoos and the surprising factors zookeepers must consider. We will learn about the Species Survival Plan breeding programs and who gets to decide which animal goes where!
Lesson 4
Conservation & Education
In our final lesson, we will discuss the important roles zoos have in conservation and wildlife education. We will explore the many ways zoos support wildlife conservation, such as with captive breeding programs and rehabilitation programs. We will discuss the importance of education in the role of conservation and the methods zoos use to teach people of all ages about wildlife.