Animals by Geographic Region
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At-the-Zoo ProgramsAnimals of North AmericaGrade: 3rd +
Program Theme: North American biomes include temperate forest, prairie,
desert, and mountains. Animals and plants that live within these biomes
have unique behavioral and physical adaptations that help them to
survive in their biome.
Program Activities: In the classroom, students will learn the location
and climate conditions of the various biomes in North America. They
will then conduct an experiment on plants which investigates and
compares the adaptations of a temperate forest plant to a desert plant.
Students will then have the opportunity to meet a live North American
animal up close before a Zoo Boise tour focusing on North American
animals.
Animals of IdahoGrade: 3rd +
Program Theme: Idaho has several ecosystems two of which are the sagebrush desert and alpine mountains. There are some animals that ar
e adapted to living in both ecosystems while some animals live exclusively in one or the other.
Program Activities: In the classroom, students will learn 1) the geographic location and range of the mountain and sagebrush desert in Idaho and 2) how the climate of each ecosystem varies. Students will then examine plants and animal artifacts from both ecosystem and compare adaptations (both physical and behavioral) for surviving in their ecosystem. Students will be visited by an animal from Idaho before taking a Zoo Boise tour focusing on animals of Idaho. This tour features a stop at the Southern Idaho Ground Squirrel exhibit – an animal found only in Idaho and considered a very important component of the sagebrush desert ecosystem.
Back to TopAmazing AfricaGrade: 1st - 7th
Program Theme: Africa is home to an incredible amount of animal wildlife and a variety of habitats ranging from desert, to rainforest, an
d grasslands. Each African animal has a very unique relationship with its environment.
Program Activities: In the classroom, students will learn the geography and climate that helps to create the many different habitats of Africa. Then they will have the opportunity to explore animal artifacts of African animals to discover how adaptations increase an animal’s chances for survival within its habitat. By conducting an experiment, students will learn how the soils in the African grasslands (savannahs) are different from the North American grasslands (prairies). After meeting and animal upclose in the classroom, a zoo guide will lead students on a guided tour of the African animals at Zoo Boise.
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