Lions, tigers, spots, and stripes. Meet the cats of the National Zoo!

Classroom Activities

Explore More Programs

November 13, 2024 at 2 pm ET

What Makes a Habitat a Home?

From deserts to rainforests, what makes a habitat a suitable animal home? What Makes a Habitat a Home explores habitats around the world and some of the animals that live in these habitats.

Grades:

K-5

Standards:

Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, 3-LS4-3

Topics:

habitat, animals, survival, four basic needs, adaptations

Crosscutting Concepts:

cause and effect, systems and functions

Cost:

Free

December 5, 2024 at 2 pm ET

Fancy Food

What do animals eat? What do humans eat? Are their meals or diets similar, different, or both?

Content Unit:

Food

Smithsonian Partners:
Standards:

Supports Head Start ELOF Goals

December 11, 2024 at 2 pm ET

Suited for Survival

Suited for Survival explores animal adaptations from prehensile-tailed porcupines to super soft chinchillas. Students will learn how unique adaptations help animals survive.

Grades:

K-5

Standards:

Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, 1-LS1-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1

Topics:

mammals, survival, adaptations, animal traits, animal behavior

Crosscutting Concepts:

patterns, structure and function

Cost:

Free

January 22, 2025 at 2 pm ET

Caring About Conservation

What is conservation? Why is it important? Caring About Conservation explores the meaning of "conservation," some of the animals Smithsonian scientists are trying to save, and what we can all do to protect wildlife.

Grades:

K-5

Standards:

Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, K-2-ETS1-1, K-2-ETS1-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS2-1, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-4, 3-5-ETS1-2

Topics:

conservation, sustainability, animals, wildlife, science

Cost:

Free

February 6, 2025 at 2 pm ET

Healthy Teeth

Why do animals need teeth? How do they use their teeth? And how do they keep them healthy just like we do?

Content Unit:

Teeth

Smithsonian Partners:
Standards:

Supports Head Start ELOF Goals

February 19, 2025 at 2 pm ET

Wild Medicine

What happens to a seal who has a toothache? How does an orangutan get a checkup? Wild Medicine invites students to Join our team of veterinarians and other animal health professionals to explore how animals go to the doctor, just like us!

Grades:

K-5

Standards:

Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, 3-LS1-1, 4-LS1-1

Topics:

Health, animal care, veterinary medicine

Crosscutting Concepts:

Patterns, cause and effect, systems and system models, structure and function

Cost:

Free

March 12, 2025 at 11 am ET

Explore the Rainforest

Fly, leap and swim along on an adventure through the Amazon Rainforest to explore the sights and sounds of plants and animals living in this unique ecosystem.

Grades:

K-5

Standards:

Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, 2-LS2-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS1-1, 3-LS2-1, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-4, 4-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1

Topics:

Amazon, rainforest, biodiversity, rainforest layers, animals

Crosscutting Concepts:

Patterns, cause and effect, scale proportion and quantity, and systems and system models

Cost:

Free

April 3, 2025 at 2 pm ET

Colorful Creatures

What animals are colorful and why?

Content Unit:

Color

Smithsonian Partners:
Standards:

Supports Head Start ELOF Goals P-SCI-1; P-SCI-2; P-SCI-3

April 9, 2025 at 2 pm ET

Saving Endangered Species

What does it mean when an animal is endangered and what can we do to help? Meet one of the National Zoo’s most endangered species and learn how staff care for these special animals.

Grades:

K-5

Standards:

Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1, 1-LS1-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3, 5-ESS3-1

Topics:

endangered species, conservation

Cost:

Free

May 7, 2025 at 2 pm ET

Discovering Amphibians

Join us as we celebrate Amphibian Week. Learn about amphibians, get an up-close look of some of them and chat with an amphibian expert.

Grades:

K-5

Standards:

Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, 1-LS1-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1

Topics:

amphibians, adaptations, habitats, life cycles

Cost:

Free

May 15, 2025 at 2 pm ET

Let's Celebrate!

Help us celebrate Head Start's 60th birthday by throwing a party with different Zoo animals!

Content Unit:

Celebrations

Smithsonian Partners:
Standards:

Supports Head Start ELOF Goals

May 21, 2025 at 12 pm ET

Exploring Neighborhood Birds

Birds are everywhere! Learn about some of our neighborhood birds and the techniques used to study them from a migratory bird scientist.

Grades:

2-8

Standards:

Supports NGSS 2-PS1-2, 2-LS2-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS1-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1, MS-LS1-4, MS-LS1-5, MS-LS2-A

Topics:

birds, migration, observation, tracking, bird banding

Crosscutting Concepts:

Patterns, Cause and Effect, Interdependence of science, engineering, and technology

Cost:

Free