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Teacher Workshops
The Blank Park Zoo is offering 5 workshops for the 2008-2009 school year. Our workshops are fun, fabulous and free! Each workshop is presented over one weekend to fit into busy teachers' schedule. Thanks to grant funds all workshop attendants earn a free field experience for their classroom. License renewal credit or graduate credit is also available through AEA 11 for each workshop.
Teacher workshop choices: Reserve your spot today!
| Sept. 12 & 13 |
Diversity of Life |
Life Science Foss kit training and zoo connecitons. |
| Oct. 3 & 4 |
Zoo Structure & Design |
Blank Park Zoo's past, present, and future.
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| Dec. 5 & 6 |
Connecting Variables from the Science Center to Blank Park Zoo |
Scientific Reasoning Foss kit training, make connections to Blank Park Zoo and Science Center.
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| Jan. 23 & 24 |
Zoo Math |
Apply math skills from measurement to problem solving and beyond in this real world adventure at Blank Park Zoo.
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| Feb. 27 & 28 |
Wonders of Water |
Investigate the wonders of water; compare wetlands to oceans, analyze Zoo water samples, and much more.
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Programs in your classroom
Call the Education Department at (515) 323-8330 to reserve a date.
Show and Tells
Turn your class into a real wild place with live animals from the Zoo! We will bring four education animals of your choice, and if you like, we can focus on the topics or themes that you are teaching in class and share age appropriate information with your students. In this very popular program, students will have an opportunity to touch, and ask questions about the animals. Presentations are suitable for groups up to 35 students, and are usually between 30 to 45 minutes long.
Cost is $90.00 for up to an hour of presentation (we can do 2 back-to-back half-hour programs.) Mileage charge applies for school outside the Greater Des Moines area.
Alive in the Class!
Ever notice how your class comes alive when you talk about animals and the wild world of nature? Have you ever wished you had snakes and alligators and bats to enhance student learning? Well, now your wish can come true! Supplement your class materials with a visit from the Blank Park Zoo and take your curriculum a step further by challenging your students with hands-on-activities and visits from live animals.
Each Alive in the Class! program is specially developed to meet curriculum standards and includes interactive learning tools, dynamic activites that are age appropriate and conducted by trained Blank Park Zoo Educators. Fees are $45 for each 30 to 45 minute programs, A minimum of three presentations is required for each school. (Presentations do not have to be the same) There is a small mileage charge for schools outside the greater Des Moines area.
Alive in the Class program Choices:
PreK - K
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Kinds of Creatures |
Children come skin to scales, fingers to fur in this special introduction to the animal kingdom.
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30 min.
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K-2
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Creepy Crawlies |
Explore the unique characteristics of insects using a "bug" costume, and live critters.
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45 min. |
| K- 2 |
Marvelous Mammals |
Furry friends help teach your students the unique characteristics of mammals.
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K - 2
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Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones |
Your students will have an "egg-citing" time learning about the egg-traordinary animals that come from eggs.
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30 min. |
| 3rd - 5th |
Animal Detectives |
Animals leave clues like fur, tracks and even droppings. In this engaging, hands-on detective program, we will use reasoning skills and make sense of "animal clues."
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45 min. |
| 3rd - 5th |
World Habitats |
Take your students for a trip around the world with the help of our Habitat Boxes. Students will learn about animals, plants and conservation issues from each habitat in this challenging, inquiry-based program.
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1 hour
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| 3rd - 5th |
Water Wonders
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Water covers 75% of the Earth's surface. We'll investigate the variety of water forms from Iowa wetlands to the Oceans of our world. Examining water samples and discussing conservation issues will bring real learning to life.
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1 hour |
| 6th-8th |
Animal Artifacts
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Investigate the Blank Park Zoo's treasured collection of animal artifacts. The collection includes: skulls, hides, teeth, fur, skeletons, and much more.
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1 hour
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| 6th-8th |
Veterinary Investigations |
Solve the mysterious illnesses of zoo animals with your microscope, thinking and deduction skills.
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1 hour |
| 6th-8th |
Zoo Careers
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Compare the variety of animal care careers available at the zoo. From caretakers to curators, which one is right for you?
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1 hour
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Programs at your school
Animal Assemblies
If you are thinking of something BIG, then Animal Assemblies might be the program for your school. Similar to a Show and Tell presentation, Animal Assemblies cater to a larger audience size, and we would recommend some of our larger animals, such as the hawk or python. Contact with the animals is typically limited with this presentation.
Cost is $140 for a 45 minute presentation. Mileage charge applies for schools outside the Greater Des Moines area.
Character Counts Assembly
Blank Park Zoo is proud to present Alligators, Snakes, Good Character and You! This presentation uses live animals to teach students to respect life and nature and take responsibility for their room, home, school, and community. We also explore how the Six Pillars of Character are just like the components of nature, in that they are all dependent on one another. Students will be challenged to be good citizens, and make kind and caring choices. Cost is $200 for a 45 minute presentation. Mileage charge applies to schools outside the Greater Des Moines area.
Programs at the Zoo
Show and Tell Program
Enhance your zoo field trip with a special program at the zoo just for your students. It is a 30 minute hands-on animal program. Each Education Animal Program includes live animals for your students to learn and touch. Each program is $50, maximum of 50 guests at a time.
Zoo Field Trip
First hand experiences like getting nose to nose with a tiger, crawling through tunnels like a prairie dog, and listening to the lions roar will spark a world of wonderment.
Schedule Your Field Trip
The Zoo is open from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
(In May only 9:30 am for school groups with special reservations)
Click here for current information and to download a Reservation Form.
Picnic tables are located in Blank Park, just north of the Zoo entrance. Please do not bring lunches into the zoo.
Field Trip Fee Schedule
Student Admission: $4.00
Required chaperone: Free
(1 adult per 10 children)
Additional Chaperone: $6.00
Bus Driver: Free
To help you plan for your trip, a confirmation packet will be sent including zoo rules, an admission form, and a Tracks To The Zoo guide.
Middle School Cross-Curricular Programs
Call the Education Office to learn about cross-curricular activities students can participate in at the zoo. Choose from activities in science, math, language arts, and social studies. Work with zoo educators to customize your trip and match activities to local district standards.
Call (515) 323-8330.
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