Teacher Programs
Welcome to our Teacher Programs section. Here you will find information on teacher workshops, discounts, animal sponsorships and our teacher forum - where you can discuss your zoo visit with other teachers and submit your own questions and ideas.
Teacher Workshops and Educator Expeditions
David Sobel Workshop - Mapmaking with Children
Educator Expeditions - Travel to South Africa
Moose in Minnesota - Investigate Decline in Moose Population
Classroom Menagerie - Keeping Animals in the Classroom
Uncovering the Oceans - Earn Hamline Graduate Credit
Teacher Resources
MN Zoo Teach & Learn TIMES - Educators Newsletter
MN Zoo Teach & Learn Loop - Follow Us on Facebook!
Recycle for Rainforests - Student Conservation Project
Teacher Discounts - Weesner Yellow Bus Fund
Sponsor an Animal - Service project for your students
David Sobel: Mapmaking with Children Teacher Workshop and Cultivating the Wonder of Nature in Childhood Lecture
Date: Sunday, March 18, 2012
Workshop: 3-6 p.m.
Pizza Dinner: 6-7 p.m.
Lecture: 7-9 p.m.
Fee: $40 (includes dinner)
Credits: 5 CEUs
David Sobel, a professor at Antioch University New England is a national leader in the place-based education movement. How do children naturally come to learn their neighborhoods and communities? Once we understand this, we can design curriculum that builds on the underlying biological patterns. This practical and participatory workshop will include research on children’s neighborhood maps, a clear developmental model of children’s geographic understanding, examples of social studies and geography curriculum based on this developmental model and a mapmaking/treasure hunt activity that involves local exploration and a literacy challenge. Following the workshop, Dr. Sobel will discuss how the parent/child/nature relationship changes from early childhood to middle childhood to adolescence to early adulthood. He will challenge parents and educators to take advantage of the openness to nature found in childhood and provide frequent opportunities for children to adventurously be at-one in nature.
To register, please email or call Carol Strecker at 952-431-9568.
Educator Expeditions: Travel to South Africa - Penguin Parade and Wildlife Field Safari
July 26-August 6, 2012
Come face-to-face with the Minnesota Zoo’s newest featured
species—South African Penguins—in their home habitat!
Continue the adventure with a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife
field safari tour in search of lions, elephants, rhinos, and
more. Graduate credit available. More information.
Moose in Minnesota
December 3, 2011
Explore a Minnesota iconic species and investigate its declining population. For more information call (952) 431-9568.
Classroom Menagerie
November 19, 2011
An introduction to keeping animals in the classroom. For more information call (952) 431-9568.
Uncovering the Oceans
November 4-5, 2011
Explore sharks, dolphins, and coral reef communities and gain insight into marine ecology and conservation.
Experience hands-on activities that help to teach about the marine environment and our need to protect the seas. Graduate credit available.
Course Number - SCED 6162
Target audience: educators K-12.
Enrollment limit: 20
Times: Friday, 5-10 p.m. and
Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Register online at www.hamline.edu/registration or call 651-523-3000 with questions.
NEW! MNZOO Teach & Learn Times: Electronic Newsletter for Educators
Subscribe to receive bimonthly updates about upcoming teacher events, zoo construction, new programs and exhibits and more!
NEW! MNZOO Teach & Learn Loop: Follow Us on Facebook!
Join the loop to share ideas about teaching, animals and the Minnesota Zoo. Plus, don't miss posts about the regular adventures of our our Flat "Keeper" Stanley as he explores the nooks, crannies and critters of the Minnesota Zoo. 'Like' the loop!
NEW! Recycle for Rainforests: Student Conservation Project
Start a cell phone recycling drive in your class or school! This is a great opportunity to introduce students to an authentic conservation project with tangible results. Participating schools will receive collection boxes, posters, parent letter templates, educational resources and more! More info to come.
Teacher Discounts 
Weesner Yellow Bus Fund -
Busing assistance for field trips
Bringing your students for a field trip from now through April? Funding is available to subsidize the cost of one or two buses per school. This funding is very limited and will be given out on a first come basis. Schools need to have at least 45% of the student body enrolled in the federal free and reduced lunch program to qualify. Download the application here and email to educate@mnzoo.org or fax to 952-997-4838.
Other Teacher Discounts
All teachers receive a 20% discount on “school related” merchandise. Show your school Id or business card to qualify.
School related merchandise includes: Games, Puzzles, Books, DVD’s, Video’s, Music, Pens, Pencils, Animal Replicas, and any other items that will be used in the classroom.
Sponsor an Animal
This is a wild community service project for Student Councils or classrooms. For a brochure, fund raising ideas or more information call (952) 431-9216 or visit our Sponsor an Animal web page.
