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Schools

 

AnchorTeachers

Assembly Program

Field Research
Looking for Self-Guided Field Trips? Click here. 

 Classroom Presentations at the Zoo

Enhance your Zoo visit with a class! With each Adventure Class, excluding Pre-K, you will receive an activity to perform with your class to gear them up for an exhilarating visit. After you’ve taken the class you will receive a post-activity and assessment to use when you get back to your classroom. These standard-based, interactive lessons also include animal artifacts and live animals. 

 

Adventure Class Topics                                                         ($12 per person for Adventure Classes)             

Habitats (Grades K-3, 5)                                           
Many Kinds of Animals (Grades K-3)                
Survival Gear (Grades 2-5)                                        
Texas Animals (Grades K-5)                                     
Feeding Frenzy (Grades 1-5)                                           
King Philip’s Class (Grades 6-7, 9-12)                       
Master Survivalists (Grades 7-12)
 

Auditorium Presentations at the Zoo

This exciting, interactive program introduces you to several live animals. In this 30 minute presentation you and your students help classify animals by what they eat for dinner. Are you up to the challenge?! 

 

Assembly Program                                                    ($8 per person for Assembly Programs)
VERSUS: A Wild Challenge!

 
This program is aligned with the following Science TEKS: 1st– 5th grade: 10.A, 1st and 2nd grade: 9.C, 3rd – 5th grade: 9.B
 
 
Please note that these prices (Adventure Class and Assembly Program)  include admission to the Zoo for each student.  All programs are aligned with the State and National Standards.  Registration forms must be submitted at least three weeks prior to your visit date.

 

Target Title I Programs -Funds are no longer available at this time

Through the generosity of Target, the Houston Zoo is offering scholarships for free programming to qualifying Title I schools in the Houston area.  The scholarship includes a class in the Houston Zoo's Brown Education Center, admission to the Houston Zoo for the participating students, as well as transportation if needed.  To be considered for the scholarship, teachers must send an email to education@houstonzoo.org containing the following: a completed application, and if applicable a W-9 form from the transportation company used by your school, and an invoice with the transportation price listed.
 
There are limited funds available. Incomplete applications or applications missing transportation documents will not be considered. Spaces are not guaranteed until you receive a notification by email that you have been selected to receive the Target Title I Scholarship. 
 
 

Self-Guided Field Trips

Zoo admission is free for organized school groups located within the corporate limits of the City of Houston. Eligible dates are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. for students up to age nineteen.  Field trip reservations are taken September - May of each school year. Day cares, pre-schools, after school programs, head starts, home schools, summer camps and colleges are not eligible for the free school program.  Bus drivers transporting school field trips will be required to purchase a ticket to enter the Zoo.
 
Looking for an on-grounds activity to do with your students? Take a look at our Creature Quests! 
 
Please note that the following dates have been booked to capacity for school visits:
All April dates have been booked to capacity. We still have plenty of avaliability in May. Please check our list of blocked dates before submitting your registration form:
 May 2nd, May 3rd, May 8th, May 9th, May 10th, May 15th, May 16th, May 17th,May 21st, May 22nd, May 23rd, May 24th.
As additional dates are booked we will update the website.
 
 
Please allow 2 - 3 business days to recieve a confirmation from the Houston Zoo.                
 
 

Students as Field Researchers

Join the Houston Zoo and The Nature Conservancy for a day of interactive activities where students complete actual field research activities and learn more about the native species in the Houston-Galveston area. Up to 60 students in grades K-12 use hands-on techniques and tools to explore prairie and coastal ecology.  Each group participates in three of the following activities that reinforce a number of TEKS objectives:
 
Seining for marine life                                                  Insect sweeping
Identifying coastal birds                                               Water quality testing
Identifying native plants                                               Identifying tracks and scat
 
Time of year, weather conditions, student ages and numbers will determine which activities will be completed.
 
PLEASE NOTE:  This is an active field research day—students will get dirty and wet. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that can be worn in the water, or bring a change of clothes. A ratio of 1 chaperone for every 20 students is required.

Registration Information

Applications for the 2012 Fall Semester will be available online this summer.  
 
This program is FREE of charge.  Due to the high demand for this program, all dates will be awarded on a lottery system. All applications that are not selected will be kept on file and contacted in the case of cancellations.
 
Homeschoolers: Please check the home school website for more information on applying.

Policies

Click the following link for policies, including directions to the preserve:
Introduction to Field Research is generously sponsored by Shell
 
 
                  

Other Fun Stuff...

         

Outreach & ZooMobiles       Overnights for Schools!


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Interested in joining our mailing list?

Please send your contact information to education@houstonzoo.org.

Receive a 20% discount in the gift shop on products to be used for educational purposes by showing your school identification badge or your home school association membership card.

 

 

Safari School

Safari School

Ages 3-5

Wednesdays and Saturdays 10-11 am

Join us with your preschooler for an hour-long safari through the animal kingdom to explore the world of wildlife. Each week we'll learn about a new animal through interactive learning stations, hands-on activities, exhibit visits, touchable animals, and more!

Learn More


Wild Wheels

Wild Wheels

Ages 0-3

Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:15-10:15 am

Enjoy the wild outdoors with your infant or toddler! We'll meet outside the front entrance by the gift shop and "stroll" together through a particular part of the Zoo. Our trek will conclude with a touchable animal encounter at the conclusion of the program. Individuals and mom groups welcome!

Learn More


Teachers & Schools

Teachers & Schools

Adventure Class Topics

  • Habitats
  • Many Kinds of Animals
  • Suvival Gear
  • Texas Animals
  • Rainforests
  • Endangered Species
  • Taxonomy

Critter Encounter Topics

  • Many Kinds of Animals
  • Reptiles
  • Rainforests
  • Texas Animals
  • Adaptations
  • AniMeals

Learn More


Field Research

Field Research

Join the Houston Zoo and The Nature Conservancy for a day of interactive activities where students complete actual field research activities and learn more about the native species in the Houston-Galveston area. Up to 60 students in grades K-12 use hands-on techniques and tools to explore prairie and coastal ecology.

Learn More


Boy Scouts

Boy Scouts

Badge Day

May 14, 2011 | December 3, 2011

Joing your Boy Scout at the Houston Zoo for their badge day celebration.

Learn More


Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts

Badge Day

April 2, 2011 | October 1, 2011

Joing your Girl Scout at the Houston Zoo for their badge day celebration.

Learn More


Teens

Teens

Ages 12+

February 27, 2011 1:00 - 4:00 pm

Gain insight into animal-related career fields directly from Zoo staff and learn how to get involved through volunteer and internship opportunities at the Houston Zoo.

Learn More


Adults

Adults

Ages 18+

Saturdays 9:30-11:30 am

Ever flip through a wildlife magazine and wish your animal pictures could look that good? Planning to come to Photo Day and want some pointers and practice first? Join us as we learn some basics of wildlife photography and take a mini-safari through the Zoo to capture some of our most photogenic animals.

Learn More


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