Wild Stewards

People love visiting zoos for the mixture of experiences they offer. The zoo is a place for fun and excitement, education and conservation messages, and a great time spent with friends and family. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) claims at least 180 million people visit a zoo annually. That means more people visit zoos yearly than all NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB sporting events combined annually.[1] 

Even though zoos have educational and conservational aspects, what messages do kids leave with? Signage is often too difficult to read, poorly placed, and not exciting enough for kids. Kids today want to have fun and be constantly entertained. They quickly dart from one zoo animal to the next taking no time to stop and learn about what they see. Riding carousels and trains and eating dipping dots is usually what they want, not learning about animals. With this in mind, how can you get kids to slow down and learn something from your zoo visit? 

*This list is not intended for you to implement every suggestion but to help give you some ideas. Feel free to pick and choose what works best for you and your kids!

 

#1) Look at the zoo website before your visit

I know this might sound obvious but how many of us take the time to do this before a visit? Sometimes the simplest things can have the largest impact. Today, zoos are striving to become leaders in animal education and conservation. A zoo’s website should, if done well, reflect this vision. 

Many zoo websites have educational facts, worksheets, or tools to enhance your visit. Calendars should also be viewed before your visit. They will give you times for keeper chats, animal presentations, shows, or encounters, as well as when experiences (such as feedings) are open. Some zoos even have Apps that can be downloaded to see maps, calendars, food locations, and much more! Planning out your zoo day beforehand allows you to experience the many things zoos have to offer you.

Ideas:

*Before visiting the zoo, have your kids look at the calendar with you. Let each kid pick out some things that interest them to do or see.

*If you are ok spending a little more money, most zoos will provide behind-the-scenes tours or interactions with animals. While they can be a little pricy, they are unique opportunities to meet animals up close and interact with zoo staff. A zoo website will provide this information and allow you to register online before your visit. Be aware that depending on the experience, there can be restrictions on age, group size, and other limitations. 

#2) Take the time to watch a show or presentation if possible

Before I unpack this one, I hope to give some clarity. Each zoo can call these “shows” different names such as presentations, encounters, or experiences. Sometimes zoos will provide multiple style types and they usually change seasonally as well as annually. Show types can vary and be more like a show that is scripted or more factual-led presentations. So for my purposes, I will differentiate the two based on what most zoos offer. 

Scripted animal shows are a fun and educational experience! Our entire family enjoys these shows and watch them during every zoo visit we can. Shows are catered to larger audiences, especially kids, with dynamic presenters, great animal training, and unique animal experiences. Zoos work hard to create shows that will hold kids’ attention with creative and fun themes and cleverly woven educational facts. The show’s theme has a specific focus that holds an educational and conservational message. Keep in mind that these shows are often only offered during the summer or busy months. The show themes are chosen yearly, for most large city zoos, so every year will be new and exciting. 

Animal presentations can also be educational and fun. Presentations are more factual-based and can be great places to learn. Animals are shown, usually individually, while presenters provide facts and information. This is a great place to see many animals that often live behind the scenes at the zoo. Animals are rotated and changed so you never know what you might see. Animal presentations also might allow kids to see animals up close or even touch them at times. Presentations can also have specific themes or focuses. No two presentations are the same. As well as rotating animals they will often rotate different speakers. Keep in mind that these presentations can also be offered seasonal and weather dependent.

Ideas:

*Set aside time to take in a show or presentation

*After watching the show ask your kids what they learned, what the message was about, and what animals they saw. Having them share what they saw and learned helps cement the experience into their long-term memory. Ask them what animal was their favorite and why. 

#3) Help your kids to think observationally

Definition of observation (condensed): [2]

noun

1. an act or instance of noticing or perceiving.
2. an act or instance of regarding attentively or watching.
3. the faculty or habit of observing or noticing.
4. something that is learned in the course of observing things:
5. a remark, comment, or statement based on what one has noticed or observed.

 

Have you ever been to a zoo with a child? If you have ever had the privilege, you understand they don’t watch animals for long. As soon as they find the animal, they are off to see the next. When working doing animal outreach, regardless of what animal was out or how engaging it was, the most popular question was, “What’s next?” Kids today need constant entertainment. But how can a zoo experience be educational unless kids learn to slow down and take time to observe and understand what’s around them? We need to teach kids, and ourselves, how to slow down. It’s a skill lacking in most of our lives, including mine. Developing good observational habits and skills must be taught and practiced. Thinking observationally has roots in creative and critical thinking.

Being present, mindful, and slowing down is the key to making good observations. Observations help us connect what we see with what we are experiencing and how it all fits together. Observational learning is a form of indirect learning, learning by watching. It is the process of taking what is noticed, processing it, storing the information, and drawing meaning so you can understand and then share what is learned. It will enrich our lives and our learning by developing in us deep attention, curiosity, and creativity. This type of learning helps one connect with the environment, people, and even animals around you.

Ideas:

*Make a game to help kids become observant by connecting with their senses. Take turns talking about what everyone sees, hears, and smells! 

*A good game to play is an I Spy game at animal habitats. Have each kid take turns being the leader to lead the game.

*Being observant means you are aware of what’s going on. Ask kids to narrate what’s happening around them. Just ask them, “Tell me what you see.” Encourage kids to give as many details as they can and prompt them when needed.

*If you visit the zoo often, have kids start a zoo journal. A journal allows them to take what they noticed and observed and write it down. Some kids are less verbal and process better with time and through writing. As a volunteer at the Seattle Aquarium, we were required to write at least a page entry in our journals at the end of the day. In the journal, we could say what we did, what we learned, ideas we had, or any questions. A staff member would later read all our entries and answer our questions with a different colored pen. It was a great way to learn and communicate with the staff. (See also #6)

#4) Slow down and ask good questions

 

Thinking observationally goes hand in hand with knowing how to ask good questions. Questioning the world around you is foundational to good science. Asking your kids good open-ended questions can spark curiosity to last a lifetime. Curiosity, all the “why” questions, trains our minds to start thinking and prompts us to search for answers. 

Connecting with kids through questioning can often be harder than you might think! Kids are great at thinking and asking self-focused questions such as “What’s for dinner?” Or “Are we there yet?” They are also great at asking non-relevant “questions” that are not questions at all. Have you ever asked a young kid if they had questions about a topic you were sharing? They probably quickly raised their hand to tell you a personal story about an unrelated topic. Kids can struggle with how to combine what they are seeing and experiencing with what they are thinking. They don’t often have enough information to understand how to connect the two. Asking kids questions about what they are experiencing can help you guide kids to connect these two things. 

It is challenging to create an environment where kids can learn to connect and understand what’s around them through questioning. Questioning starts a conversation and for conversation to happen the environment needs to be healthy and welcoming. It can take time and work for kids to feel safe to open up. You might need to give encouragement, respect, attention, connection, and a positive environment to create this healthy setting. Once kids understand how to communicate through questioning it will lead to the path toward learning. 

Ideas:

*Turn the table on your kids and ask them the “why” questions for a change. If you don’t know what to ask, simply ask them to describe what they see. To get started, you can use the 5 H questions, who, what, when, where, and why. Start with just one or two simple questions depending on their age and maturity. Don’t make it too hard, the questions can be easy for younger kids such as “How many animals can you count?”

*Use or direct kids to the habitat signage if you need some ideas or if their questioning leads to something you don’t know. This is a great way to help kids learn they can find the answers to their questions if they look.

*Encourage kids to ask YOU questions and answer them openly and honestly. Never respond with vague answers, blow them off, or by answering a question you don’t truly have an answer for. It’s ok to say “Great question, I don’t know the answer.” Then offer to look it up or write it down to look up later. Honesty goes a long way to developing healthy communication. By the way, Kids are smarter and more perceptive than we often give them credit for, they will probably call your bluff.

*It is a great idea to bring along a small notepad for kids, depending on age, to write down any questions they have to be able to find answers later. This is especially helpful if your day at the zoo is a homeschool field trip. Afterward, you can have them look up and find the answers to their questions either together or independently. 

Ideas of good questions to ask:

questions to ask kids PDF 

#5) Let your kids set the pace and be the leaders

A fun way for kids to learn at the zoo is to allow them to be leaders. Many different skills and character builders can be developed when we are put in charge. A zoo is a wonderful place for kids to practice and apply leadership skills. Being a leader can help install confidence in kids. Letting kids set the pace and lead allows them to have control of their environment. This control helps teach kids to be accountable and responsible for their decisions. Allowing kids to make choices builds their confidence. If there is more than one kid, this is also great practice for working together as a team. Most zoos are safe places to allow kids some freedom to take charge. 

You might be surprised by what you can learn from a kid when you see the zoo from their perspective. But keep in mind that kids might struggle to be a leader. They might not know how or buckle at the weight of responsibility or pressure. They might whine and say, “I don’t know how.” But it’s ok for kids to struggle a little! Encourage and praise them and give them the confidence they need to grow. While you might be tempted to step in and help, kids need to learn to make decisions. Allow them some freedom to learn from the consequences of their choices within reason. 

Ideas:

*Give them the zoo map and let them figure out the way. Map reading is not a skill many kids have today. So hand them the map and see what happens. Let them lead and pick which paths to take using their maps as their guides. Let them discover and notice additional signage leading the way (being observant). It’s okay if they choose a wrong turn or a different path. Mistakes are a great way to learn! 

*Give them a specific goal. An idea of a goal would be to pick an animal and see if they can get you there. Make the goal harder and see if they can get you there by the quickest route or by taking the fewest turns. Ask them where the nearest bathroom is. A memorable goal is to have them figure out where ice cream would be and reward them for finding it!

*Letting kids be your tour guide is another practical way to put them in charge. It will be up to them to lead the way, find the animal, and tell you what it is. If they can read, let them use the animal signage to correctly identify the animal(s). If they are older, you can even have them tell you where the animal can be found (geographically) and one interesting fact. 

#6) Take time to observe an animal and record data

A big part of caring properly for animals is learning to observe and record what you observe. Just like point #3, which was thinking observationally, recording those observations is a very needed skill to acquire and practice. Firstly, recording what you see helps develop and form stronger memories. Stronger memories allow us to connect and learn better from our experiences. Secondly, time spent observing and recording allows kids to develop a growth mindset. Growth mindsets are developed when people believe their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. They believe their brains and talent are just the start and not the end. It allows kids to go deeper in their thought and creates not only a love of learning but resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Keep in mind that growth mindsets can be hard to develop, especially for kids. Kids might give a lot of pushback and whine if you tell them to sit and watch an animal for 10 minutes and record what they see. Be very careful and mindful to set small attainable goals and then slowly build in expectations. So set realistic expectations and remain persistent and consistent, it will pay off.

There has been a big push for the zoo community as a whole to start recording actual observational data. Just like many professions time can be an issue and the zoo is no exception. Observations are vital though to know animals better and are required to give animals the best care possible. Many questions can only be answered through observations. Animal observations were an important component of my zoo school, at the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program in Moorpark, California. 

Ideas:

*Spending time observing an animal does not need to be complex and over-complicated. It can be as simple as picking an animal(s) and watching it for a set amount of time. Record what you observe however best suits your child with checkboxes, record what the animal does, or just write down any observation or thought within a set time. 

*An ethogram is one of the tools used to record behavioral data on animals. There are many ways to go about creating an ethogram. But basically, you set up increments of time and record what the animal is doing at those set times. Then using that data you can learn more about the animals’ behaviors, how it spends their time, and when. It doesn’t have to be complex or even long. 

* Nature journaling is a great way to observe! Observations are foundational to nature journaling. It is the process of discovering the natural world through combining science, art, and writing. Bring a journal and something to draw with and let them be creative. 

#7) Make your kids a worksheet, checklist, or scavenger hunt

With a quick online search, you can find many free worksheets, checklists, or scavenger hunts for kids to complete at your local zoo. These worksheets can easily be printed off beforehand and incorporated during your zoo trip. Having a worksheet for kids is a practical way to help kids integrate skills, such as observation, in a fun way. They also can help kids develop and practice team-building skills. If you have multiple kids, encourage them to work together instead of turning it into a competition. Worksheets have endless possibilities and can be catered to your kids’ learning needs, ages, and maturity. 

Some zoos have worksheets and activities on their website. So if you checked out your zoo’s website, idea #1, you hopefully already found something. But unfortunately, many zoos do not provide these free resources. If I’m being honest, I don’t understand why this is. A key component of the mission of most zoos is a focus on education. They readily provide zoo camps or workshops but nothing for self-guided supplements such as coloring sheets, checklists, or scavenger hunts. It would be a great idea for zoos to have an optional worksheet for kids that, if filled out and returned, gave them a small prize. Homeschool moms, such as myself, would love that. 

Ideas:

*Find and print worksheets beforehand. You can print off one sheet per kid or print only one and make it a group activity. Make sure to bring something to write with and something to write on, such as a clipboard.

*Don’t limit yourself if you can’t find something that works for you online. It might take a little work but don’t be afraid of creating one yourself. The options are almost limitless. Have them find colors, different shapes, and geography, or see how many animals they can find with the letters of the alphabet.

*Create a picture scavenger hunt. Make a list of things they need to find and let them take pictures. 

 

Let me know what you think in the comments below! Do you have an idea of how to make your next zoo trip more educational for kids?

[1] https://www.aza.org/partnerships-visitor-demographics?locale=en

[2] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/observation