Curriculum Guides
Grades specified below
These teaching guides contain information and student
activities that have been developed around a variety
of scientific themes at the National Zoo. The themes
are described below.
Each guide contains background information, a teaching
calendar and vocabulary list, and at least ten interdisciplinary
activities for students that include science, math,
social studies, language arts, reading, music, or art.
Guides are available to download for free. If you need
additional assistance,
email us.
Guides are available on the following topics:
Conservation Central Program
Grades 6 to 9
Conservation
Central is an online education program that integrates
a middle-school-level classroom curriculum with interactive
web-based activities for use in the classroom or by
families at home. It teaches young people about the
temperate-forest habitat—home of the giant panda—and
the challenges faced in securing the futures of endangered
species.
Conservation Central has been made possible thanks to
a generous donation by Fujifilm.
Giant Panda
Grades K to 4; 5 to 8; 9 to 12
Study one of the most recognizable yet severely endangered animals. Activities explore giant panda biology, the threats facing them today, and what research is being done to help these animals survive.
Giant panda curriculum guides are FREE, thanks to a generous donation by Fujifilm. Fujifilm and FONZ are proud partners in conservation education. As the lead corporate sponsor of the National Zoo's giant panda program, Fujifilm's support helped the Zoo bring giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian to Washington, and helped fund construction of the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat, a new, state-of-the-art exhibit that opened in 2006.
Grasslands
Grades 5 to 8
Explore two major ecosystems: the North
American prairie
and the African
savanna. Contains background information, activities,
and assessments related to these ecosystems.
Urban Habitats
Grades 5 to 8
Ecology in the city? Yes! Explore Rock
Creek Park adjacent to the Zoo as well as other
areas that make up the mosaic of our local urban habitat
using inquiry-based activities in this guide. The background
information and activities will help your students learn
about animal adaptations, foodwebs, ecological balance,
and conservation issues.
Order
now
Wetlands
Grades 5 to 8
Investigate the largest wetland habitat in the world, our own Chesapeake Bay, as you and your class discover the complexities of this fragile and significant ecosystem. Foodwebs, adaptations, and conservation issues are a few of the topics covered in this module. Includes background information, student activities, and great ideas for using local wetland habitats to teach about the critical nature of this ecosystem.
