self-guided field trip resources
LEARN SOMETHING NEW AT THE PHOENIX ZOO!
Enhance your Phoenix Zoo field trip with our free, self-guided learning resources! Designed for students of all ages, these ready-to-use activities encourage curiosity, observation and scientific thinking while exploring the Zoo.
With materials to use before, during and after your visit, these resources help extend learning beyond a single field trip and deepen students’ understanding of wildlife, habitats, adaptations and conservation.
Field trip guide and checklist
Plan a smooth, successful Zoo field trip! This guide includes planning tips, trail information, Zoo maps and checklists for teachers and chaperones to help you prepare for an organized, engaging and memorable visit to the Phoenix Zoo.
Resources
PreK - 2
Crazy Classifications: Rainforest Animals
Grade Level: K – 2
Mammal, amphibian, bird, fish or reptile? How do you know what kind of animal you’re looking at? Students will discover the five major traits that scientists use to categorize animals.Â
Crazy Classifications: Arizona Trail Animals
Grade Level: K – 2
Mammal, amphibian, bird, fish or reptile? How do you know what kind of animal you’re looking at? Students will discover the five major traits that scientists use to categorize animals.Â
Zoo Scientist Mission
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Become a Zoo scientist! Students explore the Tropics Trail as they observe a plant and an animal, discover how different body parts help living things survive and practice asking questions, making observations and thinking like young scientists.
Arizona Trail Observation Journal
Grade Level: K – 3
Explore the Arizona Trail through hands-on discovery! Students observe amazing Sonoran Desert animals, complete fun adaptation challenges, sketch wildlife and create their own desert survivor, all while learning how animals survive in the desert.
Scavenger Hunts
Grade Level: 2 – 12
Explore the Zoo through observation, inquiry and discovery! These self-guided scavenger hunts encourage students to think like scientists by looking closely at animals, habitats and adaptations. Each hunt focuses on a different theme and grade level, so choose one that fits your learning goals or mix and match for a unique Zoo experience.
Themes
Zoomanji
Grade Level: 2 – 5
Machzoo Picchzoo
Grade Level: 3 – 6
Don’t Zoo Forget About Me
Grade Level: 4 – 8
Con-zoo-vation
Grade Level: 5 – 8
What Do You Do at the Zoo?
Grade Level: 5 – 12
Grades 3 - 5
Howl-ing habitats
Grade Level: 3 – 5
At the Phoenix Zoo, we HOWL, which stands for Help Out WildLife! Through this series of activities, students will understand the importance of creating habitats for animals that not only provide their basic needs, but help them thrive. After all, the Zoo is their home!
Dinosaurs Through Time and Place
Grade Level: 4 – 8
Travel through time with the dinosaurs! Students investigate when and where dinosaurs lived by analyzing fossil evidence, mapping discoveries and exploring Earth’s ancient past. Along the way, they uncover patterns, challenge common misconceptions and think like real paleontologists.
Scavenger Hunts
Grade Level: 2 – 12
Explore the Zoo through observation, inquiry and discovery! These self-guided scavenger hunts encourage students to think like scientists by looking closely at animals, habitats and adaptations. Each hunt focuses on a different theme and grade level, so choose one that fits your learning goals or mix and match for a unique Zoo experience.
Themes
Zoomanji
Grade Level: 2 – 5
Machzoo Picchzoo
Grade Level: 3 – 6
Don’t Zoo Forget About Me
Grade Level: 4 – 8
Con-zoo-vation
Grade Level: 5 – 8
What Do You Do at the Zoo?
Grade Level: 5 – 12
Dinosaurs in the Desert Quest
Grade Level: 4 – 8
Can your students become master paleontologists? This interactive quest challenges students to solve missions, answer evidence-based questions and explore the Dinosaurs in the Desert exhibit like real scientists. Along the way, they’ll earn achievement badges while practicing observation, critical thinking and paleontology skills.
Arizona Trail Observation Journal
Grade Level: 5 – 12
Become a wildlife scientist as you explore the Arizona Trail! Students investigate Sonoran Desert habitats, discover amazing animal adaptations, sketch and record observations, and take on interactive challenges that build scientific thinking while exploring Arizona’s incredible biodiversity.
Secret Plant Scavenger Hunt
Grade Level: 3 – 12
Can your students fool a partner with their observation skills? In this nature journaling challenge, students carefully observe a plant, record detailed sketches and take notes, then challenge a partner to find the exact plant they studied. This engaging activity strengthens observation, scientific drawing and attention to detail by encouraging students to draw what they see.
Arizona Trail Observation Journal
Grade Level: K – 3
Explore the Arizona Trail through hands-on discovery! Students observe amazing Sonoran Desert animals, complete fun adaptation challenges, sketch wildlife and create their own desert survivor, all while learning how animals survive in the desert.
Grades 6 - 8
Scavenger Hunts
Grade Level: 2 – 12
Explore the Zoo through observation, inquiry and discovery! These self-guided scavenger hunts encourage students to think like scientists by looking closely at animals, habitats and adaptations. Each hunt focuses on a different theme and grade level, so choose one that fits your learning goals or mix and match for a unique Zoo experience.
Themes
Zoomanji
Grade Level: 2 – 5
Machzoo Picchzoo
Grade Level: 3 – 6
Don’t Zoo Forget About Me
Grade Level: 4 – 8
Con-zoo-vation
Grade Level: 5 – 8
What Do You Do at the Zoo?
Grade Level: 5 – 12
Secret Plant Scavenger Hunt
Grade Level: 3 – 12
Can your students fool a partner with their observation skills? In this nature journaling challenge, students carefully observe a plant, record detailed sketches and take notes, then challenge a partner to find the exact plant they studied. This engaging activity strengthens observation, scientific drawing and attention to detail by encouraging students to draw what they see.
Dinosaurs Through Time and Place
Grade Level: 4 – 8
Travel through time with the dinosaurs! Students investigate when and where dinosaurs lived by analyzing fossil evidence, mapping discoveries and exploring Earth’s ancient past. Along the way, they uncover patterns, challenge common misconceptions and think like real paleontologists.
Dinosaurs in the Desert Quest
Grade Level: 4 – 8
Can your students become master paleontologists? This interactive quest challenges students to solve missions, answer evidence-based questions and explore the Dinosaurs in the Desert exhibit like real scientists. Along the way, they’ll earn achievement badges while practicing observation, critical thinking and paleontology skills.
Arizona Trail Observation Journal
Grade Level: 5 – 12
Become a wildlife scientist as you explore the Arizona Trail! Students investigate Sonoran Desert habitats, discover amazing animal adaptations, sketch and record observations, and take on interactive challenges that build scientific thinking while exploring Arizona’s incredible biodiversity.
tracking animal behavior
Grade Level: 6 – 8
In this series of activities, students practice being a scientist by observing an animal closely and use an ethogram to record its behaviors over time to discover patterns in how it spends its day.
Grades 9 - 12
More Than a Zookeeper
Grade Level: 9 – 12
Discover what it really takes to run a modern zoo! Students explore the Phoenix Zoo through the lens of careers, uncovering the many people and STEM disciplines that work together to care for animals, support conservation and create an exceptional guest experience.
Secret Plant Scavenger Hunt
Grade Level: 3 – 12
Can your students fool a partner with their observation skills? In this nature journaling challenge, students carefully observe a plant, record detailed sketches and take notes, then challenge a partner to find the exact plant they studied. This engaging activity strengthens observation, scientific drawing and attention to detail by encouraging students to draw what they see.
Arizona Trail Observation Journal
Grade Level: 5 – 12
Become a wildlife scientist as you explore the Arizona Trail! Students investigate Sonoran Desert habitats, discover amazing animal adaptations, sketch and record observations, and take on interactive challenges that build scientific thinking while exploring Arizona’s incredible biodiversity.
Scavenger Hunts
Grade Level: 2 – 12
Explore the Zoo through observation, inquiry and discovery! These self-guided scavenger hunts encourage students to think like scientists by looking closely at animals, habitats and adaptations. Each hunt focuses on a different theme and grade level, so choose one that fits your learning goals or mix and match for a unique Zoo experience.
Themes
Zoomanji
Grade Level: 2 – 5
Machzoo Picchzoo
Grade Level: 3 – 6
Don’t Zoo Forget About Me
Grade Level: 4 – 8
Con-zoo-vation
Grade Level: 5 – 8
What Do You Do at the Zoo?
Grade Level: 5 – 12
All Ages
Roar & Explore
Grade Level: PreK – 12
Get ready to roar and explore! Young learners search for dinosaur features, move like their favorite prehistoric animals and count what they discover in this playful, picture-based adventure through Dinosaurs in the Desert.
Plan your visit today!
The Phoenix Zoo is one of the largest non-profit zoos in the U.S., caring for over 3,000 animals, with nearly 400 species represented, including many threatened/endangered species.
Plan your visit today!
The Phoenix Zoo is one of the largest non-profit zoos in the U.S., caring for over 3,000 animals, with nearly 400 species represented, including many threatened/endangered species.
