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Zoology Activities for Kids

Zoology activities provide kids with the opportunity to explore the lives of different creatures of the natural world. Zoology is the study of the behavior, ecology, evolution and biology of animals. The discipline of zoology features a wide range of both living and extinct animals and includes vertebrates, which are animals with backbones, and invertebrates, which are animals without backbones. Kids can engage in zoology activities by visiting museums, studying animal models, reading animal books or browsing educational websites.

Online Activities
- On the Smithsonian National Zoological Park website, kids can solve jigsaw puzzles about a variety of zoo animals, including giant pandas, lions and orangutans. They can print out pictures of animals to color or read about the stories of how certain animals got their scientific names. The National Marine Sanctuaries website has an educational section for kids that features interactive games and activities. Kids can view an online field guide that has videos, photographs and biological information on marine species.
Books
- Reading educational books gives kids the chance to educate themselves about the life cycles of animals. The "National Geographic Encyclopedia of Animals" by Karen McGhee and George McKay includes full-color illustrations of more than 1,500 animal species and information about each animal's habitat, life cycle, conservation status and physical and behavioral traits. "Face to Face with Animals" is a series of books published by National Geographic. Each book focuses on a specific land or marine animal. For example, in "Face to Face with Gorillas," authors Michael Nichols and Elizabeth Carney provide pictures of gorillas and facts about their family structure, habits and habitat.
Field Trips
- Organize an outing to an aquarium or museum to teach kids about the evolution, behavior and biology of specific groups of animals. The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. has an exhibit, "Dinosaurs in Our Backyard," that explores dinosaur biology, ecology and evolution. On the Sea World website, click on the link to "Our Parks" to view the nearest Sea World location. Sea World is an amusement and zoological park that features marine animal attractions and displays.
Animal Anatomy
- The company Fame Master offers a variety of products related to an animal's anatomy. They have different 4D models of prehistoric and living animals, including dolphins, dinosaurs, tigers and sharks. The animals come with transparent parts and removable organs that show the interior of the animal's body. Timberdoodle Company sells a 4D model of an animal cell for kids to interact with and study. The model is marketed for kids 8 years old and older, and comes with detachable pieces and an illustrated guide book.

Animals & Science