Zoo Classes
Up-close and personal live animal encounters and hands-on activities await! These 45-minute interactive classes are fun and engaging and provide a great opportunity to reinforce standard-based concepts being exploreded in your curriculum. Topics range from tropical rainforests to animal adaptations to ocean conservation. View a complete list of age-appropriate classes and the Minnesota state standards they support below.
These classes for 25-30 students are offered Monday–Friday and are available September to May 4.
Fee $3.00 per student ($36 minimum), chaperones free plus applicable admission.
K–1st GRADE PROGRAMS
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Making Sense of Minnesota
Make sense of our natural world through the eyes of a raptor, the ears of a rabbit, and the feelers of an insect.
Standards Information
Oceans Alive!
Come explore the underwater world of coral, sea turtles, sharks and dolphins. Discover what they need to survive under the sea.
Standards Information
Fabulous Farms
Come meet the residents of the Wells Fargo Family Farm, as we learn what farm animals look, feel, sound, and even smell like!
Standards Information
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2nd–3rd GRADE PROGRAMS
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Animal Colors and Patterns
Reptiles are red, birds are blue — these colorful creatures will amaze you! Come learn about the many different kinds of "clothing" found in nature and how animals use their colors and patterns to survive.
Standards Information
Wild Minnesota Communitiess
Human communities are inter-connected places where we live and work. Animals have communities too. Learn how animals interact and depend on one another to make their communities work.
Standards Information
Bouncing Back/ZooQuest (90-minute class includes monorail - additional $3 monorail fee applies)
What species on the Northern Trail are endangered? Why are they in trouble? Students will learn about endangered species, how humans have affected these populations, and how zoos play an important role in their conservation.
Standards Information
Colorful Corals
Corals are animals that create reefs, one of the most colorful places on earth. How does coral build such elaborate homes and create structures that benefit the other animals of the sea? Swim by to find out.
Standards Information
Dolphin Dive
Join us as we dive into the underwater world of dolphins and their close relatives, whales. We will highlight the unique and unbelievable characteristics of these marine mammals as we explore their ocean world.
Standards Information
Farm Fresh
Farms produce many materials that are integral to our daily lives, from the food we eat to the clothes we wear. Come tour the farm and learn about the animals.
Standards Information
Furry History of Minnesota/ZooQuest (90-minute class includes monorail - additional $3 monorail fee applies)
What was it like to be a voyager in Minnesota 200 years ago? Students will go back in time with a historical character and develop a basic understanding of the relationships between animals and humans in the 1800's.
Standards Information
Shark Secrets
Sharks are a unique type of fish. We will compare and contrast shark characteristics and unlock some of this fish's watery secrets.
Standards Information
Spirit-Turtles of the Sea
Each year thousands of newly hatched sea turtles make the hazardous journey from land to sea. Come learn about the amazing survival instincts of these ancient reptiles and how they compare to the turtles we see in our own backyards. We will compare and contrast characteristics and explore how their life gets started.
Standards Information
Totally Tropics
Tropical rain forests are home to over half of the world's living organisms. We will explore the tropics as we look at the unique characteristics of the plants and animals that call it home.
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4th–6th GRADE CLASSES
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Ag in Action
Agriculture is an important part of Minnesota’s history. We’ll take a look at what agriculture commodities are grown and raised in Minnesota and where those products end up.
Standards Information
Animal Classifieds
Wanted: a system to organize living things based on a variety of criteria. Previous experience not required.
Standards Information
Bare Necessities
We all have survival needs to meet. Many animals play games of ‘give and take’ and “survival of the fittest”. Learn about the rules of the game and who ends up the winner.
Standards Information
Bouncing Back/ZooQuest (90-minute class includes monorail - additional $3 monorail fee applies)
What species on the Northern Trail are endangered? Why are they in trouble? Students will learn about endangered species, how humans have affected these populations, and how zoos play an important role in their conservation.
Standards Information
Colorful Corals
Corals are animals that create reefs, one of the most colorful places on earth, and it's not an easy job! Find out for yourself as you try to establish and maintain a coral reef through an interactive game.
Standards Information
Dolphin Dive
Dive deeply into the dolphin world as we compare and contrast characteristics of the two groups of whales (yes, dolphins are a type of whale). We'll study echolocation and learn how these animals are able to stay warm in the icy waters of the sea.
Standards Information
Furry History of Minnesota/ZooQuest (90-minute class includes monorail - additional $3 monorail fee applies)
What was it like to be a voyager in Minnesota 200 years ago? Students will go back in time with a historical character to study the historical impact of humans on the environment.
Standards Information
Shark Secrets
Sharks are a unique type of fish. We will look at the secret adaptations that make them efficient predators of the seas.
Standards Information
Survival: Turtles of the Sea
Each year thousands of newly hatched sea turtles make the hazardous journey from land to sea. Come learn about the amazing survival instincts of these creatures and the challenges they face in their development from eggs to adults.
Standards Information
Totally Tropics
The tropics is home to over half of the world's living organisms. Where do they all fit? Come explore the different layers of the fascinating rainforest ecosystem.
Standards Information
Vanishing Animals
There are certain criteria that can predict if an animal is a vanishing candidate. We will look deeper into these characteristics and discover what influences humans have on their survival.
Standards Information
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7th-12th GRADE PROGRAMS
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Advancements in Agriculture
What do Dolly the sheep and the Minnesota Zoo’s Lantz the bull have in common? They represent the advancements in technology in farming today. Explore the future of farming and biotechnology in this special farm class.
Standards Information
Beyond the Menagerie
Zoos are more than a mere collection of animals! They have evolved into immersive experiences, education centers and conservation havens for endangered species. Learn how zoos continue to evolve.
Standards Information
Bouncing Back/ZooQuest (90-minute class includes monorail - additional $3 monorail fee applies)
Bison, bluebirds, pronghorn, wild turkey, wood duck, and trumpeter swans! Meet these Northern Trail animals that have made a dramatic comeback from the edge of extinction.
Standards Information
Furry History of Minnesota/ZooQuest (90-minute class includes monorail - additional $3 monorail fee applies)
What was it like to be a “Voyageur” in Minnesota 200 years ago? Develop an understanding of the relationships between animals and humans as you go back in time with a naturalist in historical costume.
Standards Information
Marine Mysteries
Coral reefs are disappearing at an alarming rate. Are humans to blame? Investigate the complex interactions of this ecosystem.
Standards Information
Nature vs Nurture
What influences an animal’s behavior? Animal observation will be done using various sampling methods.
Standards Information
Vanishing Animals
How can researchers predict whether or not an animal is in danger of extinction? We'll learn about the characteristics that researchers look for, and talk about the role that zoo's play in the conservation of endangered species.
Standards Information
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