Secondary Education Programs
The Fort Worth Zoo’s Secondary Education Programs are $4 per student in addition to regular Zoo admission. For more information and program availability, please contact the Zoo via the information listed at the bottom of the page.
High School in Zoo Education Programs
Osteology Lab
Grades 9-12
Size limit: 20 students
Examine and study bones of animals from every corner of the planet! Students will view a brief presentation on skeletons and then rotate though lab stations where they will examine our collection up-close-and-personal. Afterwards, a Zoo educator will summarize the lab and answer questions and we’ll have a live animal visitor with unique skeletal traits.
Station topics include:
- Carnivore skulls
- Herbivore/omnivore skulls
- The high and mighty (African species)
- The cool bunch (reptiles)
- Bird beak adaptations
The Anatomy of Zoos
Grades 7-12
Size limit: 75 students
Humans have been keeping wildlife in captivity since Egyptian times! Our Zoo educator will explain where we’ve been and were we’re going in Zoo exhibit design. Learn about what goes into making a home for our animals, ways enrichment stimulates and entertains them, and how we train our biggest beasts. One of our animal ambassadors will also stop by for an educational encounter.
Lookin’ Out My Backdoor…
Grades 7-9
Size limit: 75 students
Texas has an amazing array of creatures, right in our back yard! Learn about common urban wildlife, conservation efforts in Texas and citizen science projects students can participate in. Our animal ambassadors will then let your class get closer to the wild than ever before during an educational encounter.
Extinction is Forever
Grades 10-12
Size limit: 40 students
This program focuses on the endangered and threatened species of our planet. Using our biofact collection and our US Fish and Wildlife Service Suitcase for Survival items, we’ll show students exactly why animals are being hunted to extinction. We’ll talk about conservation efforts at the Zoo, and how federal and international agencies are working to stop the decline of species. In this very hands-on program, the use of seized animal products in our talk will help to “put a face” on what’s happening to wildlife.
Zoo to You Teacher Packets
Packets will be available for purchase from the Education Department. They will include pre- and post-Zoo activities.
Build-A-Zoo
Have your students go wild and create their own Zoo! This packet will include background material on Zoo exhibit design and animal enrichment. Your students will be guided through the design process where they will pick a species, research its needs, create an enclosure and then present their projects to the class. Online resources and special information from the Fort Worth Zoo make this a very tech-savvy project. This packet can be purchased for a discount with our “Anatomy of Zoos” educational presentation.
Head ‘em Up, Get ‘em Out!
Recently, Texas has started requiring that field studies be incorporated more into science classrooms. A little scared about taking the troops outdoors? We can help! This packet outlines in-class and outdoor activities to get your students thinking about science. We’ll include information on many citizen science programs that are prefect for teaching your explorers while contributing to real research projects! This packet can be purchased for a discount with our “Lookin’ out my backdoor…” educational presentation.
For more information, contact the Education Department:
Fort Worth Zoo
1989 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, TX 76110
phone: 817/759-7200
fax: 817/759-7201
email: education@fortworthzoo.org