Field Trip & Classroom Activities

Explore the Zoo with purpose and bring the wonders of wildlife into your classroom. Designed for educators, families, and curious learners of all ages, these education resources support engaging field trips and extend learning beyond your visit.  

An icon of binoculars on the left, a clipboard with a piece of paper containing check marks and a pencil in the middle, and then an icon of a stop watch with 60 minutes on the timer.

Animal Behavior Ethogram

Practice being a scientist by observing an animal closely and record its behaviors over time to discover patterns in how it spends its day.

Additional details
Age Group:
K-8
Format:
Field Trip PDF
Language:
English
Museum:
National Zoo
Topic:
Homes and Habitats Math Adaptations STEM
Download Activity (PDF)
Icons of a map, compass, and sign pointing to elephants and rhinoceros.

Map Skills at the National Zoo

Using a map as your guide, prepare to visit the Zoo while practicing important geography skills like reading symbols, using a key and following directions. 

Additional details
Age Group:
K-8
Format:
PDF Field Trip
Language:
English
Museum:
National Zoo
Topic:
STEM
Download Activity (PDF)
A colorful bar graph with numbers 1, 2, 3 on the left and icons of animals on the left - a lady bug, bird, fish, and tiger.

Animal Classification Bar Graph

Collect and sort animals into their classifications as you explore, then turn your data into a colorful bar graph to show what you found. 

Additional details
Age Group:
K-5
Format:
PDF Field Trip
Language:
English
Museum:
National Zoo
Topic:
STEM Adaptations Math
Download Activity (PDF)
wo people look like they are thinking, on top of an blue background, with the words I Wonder and Me Pregunto.

I Wonder/ Me Pregunto

Do you ever find yourself wondering about something? Join Kaden and Laura as they answer questions around the Zoo in our I Wonder and Me Pregunto video series.

Additional details
Age Group:
K-8
Format:
Field Trip Video
Language:
English
Topic:
Adaptations Animals Endangered Species Homes and Habitats Nature Science STEM
Download Resource (PDF)
The word bingo in the center with a magnifying glass, a pink feather, a frog leaping, a tree with a cacao pod, a guinea pig, and binoculars on the bottom.

Rainforest Bingo

Take a rainforest walk through Amazonia at the Zoo and use your senses of sight, smell, and hearing to search for animals and plants on your bingo card.

Additional details
Age Group:
K-5
Format:
Field Trip PDF
Language:
English
Topic:
Animals Five Senses Homes and Habitats Nature
Download Resource (PDF)
An image with numbers 3, 2, and 1 separated by dashes.

My Zoo Visit 3-2-1

After visiting the National Zoo, reflect on your experience using the 3-2-1 method. You'll identify three takeaways, two new areas of interest, and one question based on your visit. 

Additional details
Age Group:
K-5
Format:
PDF Field Trip
Language:
English
Museum:
National Zoo
Topic:
Homes and Habitats Adaptations STEM
Download Activity (PDF)
An image of a river otter with a blueprint, hardhat, and radio along with grasses and water in the background.

Be an Otter-chitect

Help the National Zoo design a new North American river otter habitat! Use your research about the natural history of river otters to design a habitat that fulfills all of their basic needs: food, water, shelter, and space. 

Additional details
Age Group:
K-5
Format:
PDF Field Trip
Language:
English
Museum:
National Zoo
Topic:
Homes and Habitats Math STEM
Download Activity (PDF)
An elephant, binocular, microscope, veterinary team, a baby cheetah being fed, and an animal keeper are in blue and green bubbles with the words Career Connections in the center.

Career Connections/ Conexión de Carreras

Explore the wide variety of careers involved with conservation at Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute in our Career Connections and Conexión de Carreras video series.

Additional details
Age Group:
K-8
Format:
Field Trip PDF
Language:
English
Topic:
Adaptations Animals Endangered Species Homes and Habitats Nature Science STEM
Download Activity (PDF)
A variety of habitats including a rainforest, tundra, forests, pond, and desert over a dark blue background

Habitats at the National Zoo

Learn about the places animals call home by observing them up close at the Zoo and challenging yourself to a game of habitat bingo. 

Additional details
Age Group:
K-5
Format:
Field Trip PDF
Language:
English
Museum:
National Zoo
Topic:
Homes and Habitats
Download Activity (PDF)