Before the Zoo

5 . . . . . . . . . . Introduction and the 4Cs

6 . . . . . . . . . . How to use your Complete Zoo curriculum
6 . . . . . . . . . . » Your “Tool Kit” of Teaching and Learning Aids
10 . . . . . . . . . . » Planning Calendar with Field Pack supplies list
12 . . . . . . . . . . Devotionals 1–7 & Looking Ahead 1–7
26 . . . . . . . . . . Field Trip Prep Time 3

. At the Zoo
27 . . . . . . . . . . » Field Assignment
28 . . . . . . . . . . » Your Field Journal
29 . . . . . . . . . . » Hooty’s Smart Rules & Tips
30 . . . . . . . . . . » Prayer
31 . . . . . . . . . . Encounters with God’s Creatures
31 . . . . . . . . . . » Birds
47 . . . . . . . . . . » Mammals–PAWS & CLAWS
75 . . . . . . . . . . » Mammals–HOOVES
93 . . . . . . . . . . » Reptiles
101 . . . . . . . . . . » Amphibians
104 . . . . . . . . . . Around the Campfire: Questions

After the Zoo

105 . . . . . . . . . . About your Field Cards
105 . . . . . . . . . . Activity Preview
106 . . . . . . . . . . Activity Sheets for Younger Ages
122 . . . . . . . . . . Activity Sheets for Intermediate to Advanced Students
138 . . . . . . . . . . Activity Sheets for Advanced Students
 Appendices
141 . . . . . . . . . . How to use your Biome (Ecology) Cards
142 . . . . . . . . . . Scripture Memory Text
143 . . . . . . . . . . Professional Educator Notes for Parents/Teachers
143 . . . . . . . . . . » Learning Objectives
144 . . . . . . . . . . » Subject Matter Integration
145 . . . . . . . . . . » Varied Teaching Techniques and Levels
146 . . . . . . . . . . » Progressive Levels of Learning: Using Bloom’s Taxonomy
148 . . . . . . . . . . Glossary
155 . . . . . . . . . . Index
157 . . . . . . . . . . Field Journal (reproducible paper copy in addition to the 3,
. . . . . cardstock foldable Field Journals in “Tool Kit” )

4
Included in your
Tool Kit
(envelope of fun in the back of the book!)
»» 27 Field Fact Cards
»» 7 Biome Cards
»» 3 Field Journals
»» 12 name badges
Section I: BEFORE THE ZOO
Your Complete Zoo Adventure begins with seven exciting “De-
votionals,” each with a “Looking Ahead,” to help you build the
concepts and enthusiasm you need to get the most fun and most
knowledge from your awesome adventure. To give you time to dis-
cuss and digest your “food for thought,” we recommend reading
one bite-sized Devotional-Looking Ahead pair each day for seven
days before your zoo trip. (See Planning Calendar, p. 10–11.)
Based on repeatable observation, science is a fantastic way to learn about animal life in
the present. But scientists can’t see into the past beyond scientific records. The Bible, on the other hand, takes us
all the way back to the very beginning of life, and it gives us a record of earth history from God’s perfect creation, ruined
by man’s greed and selfishness, almost destroyed by Noah’s flood, to be restored to new life in Jesus Christ. Working 5
together, science and Scripture can help us better explain some of our zoo observations, such as why some animals with
sharp teeth and claws eat meat (a change in behavior after man’s rebellion) while others with teeth and claws just as sharp
and strong eat only plants (the original diet God created).
We trust Christians will enjoy and benefit from putting present day science together with Scripture’s revelation of
God’s plan — past, present, and future. But you don’t have to be a Christian to enjoy contrasting ideas, and comparing
assumptions with evidence helps to develop science process skills, logical thinking, and understanding and appreciation
for differing world views.

As you explore animals

from around the globe on your
awesome zoo adventure, see if you
can relate evidence in GOD’S world to
4 Cs in GOD’S WORD:

Designs in God’s perfect world —

Creation, ruined by struggle and death
following man’s sin — Corruption, nearly
destroyed in a global flood — Catastrophe,
restored to peace and new life in Jesus Christ.

—The Genesis Foundations

 How to use your
COMPLETE ZOO curriculum
90

Dear Parents and Teachers, 60

80
70

More than a guide to animals in your local zoo, The Complete Zoo Adventure is a course 40
30
50

of study and hands-on activities — a complete curriculum. It will help homeschoolers, Chris- 0
20
10

tian school students, and individual families learn more about where animals live, how they got there,
why they eat what they do, what special features (adaptations) suit each animal for its environmental role and its
unique place in God’s plan, and how we, as God’s chief stewards, can preserve and protect (or heal and restore) what
He created. Unlike most zoo signs, nature programs, and writings about animals, this Field Trip in a Book contrasts
humanistic evolution with biblical creation, encouraging readers/explorers to think for themselves about the origin,
6 history, and destiny of life on earth.

Your “TOOL KIT” of Teaching and

Learning Aids include:
TROPIC
AL RAIN Surp
FORES
T the w risingly, tr
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world d’s poorest pical rain
” fo
best th peoples aro soils — an rests hav
Before the Zoo hara.
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in produ
u
little ra y can wit nd the glo many “th
h it . Th b
d
e have to ird
e

c es d e pro do
1. Planning Calendar: <pp. 10–11> Suggested plan for T
groun oo much ra eserts, som blem is ra the
d
reach (leaching)
in wa
sh e as b
arr
in. T
oo
them. that o es minerals en as the
activities Before..., At..., and After the Zoo. ing hig
forest h in
Those
the sk sa m e
nly tr
trees u
ees w so
ith lo
d eep in Sa-
to
ng the
2. Devotional/Looking Ahead <pp. 12–25> Seven pairs stead,
fl
w min
y
and fe oor. A trop for sun, pro ally grow roots can
ic
su
d
erals, al rain fore ucing a ca , reach-
tall

of short, interesting readings provide the back- se

li
from fe lives in th e forest fl
e
th
oo
st is n
plants eds sproute trees. Vin r supports ngle; with des the
no
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a
ground in Scripture and science to help you get tiful,
used b
that g
pinea
p
row o
ple
d in
n oth
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the b
es, oft
e li ttle v
ranch n growing egetation. n
e s, ro
little
su
In
o
y tree -like brom lants, are e are comm ts downwa -
the most from your zoo adventure. ing”)
an
frogs
a
e liads w
the bo imals like nd a host o ith a cup ere, includ
v e rywh o n . Epip
hyte
rd
ing be s,
3. Field Trip Prep Time! <p. 26> Tells you what to u
sun an ndaries of
d less
monk
e
al rain
f bird
s
tropic ys and lem and arbore at traps w u-
urs.
shape
th
al (“tr
a
ater
90 A g rain p Ju
bring to the zoo. tha80n a
n
re a te r varie
ty
ro d uce d fo re n g
ense sts and gra les develop ing-
e e sw
med60ic y other bio of species li forest floor sslands, wh along
70

a m ve v e
divers5040 l, nutrition e. Many a in a unit o egetation. re more
it al, re f
Creato30 y and intera and other being soug Tropical Ra
20r’s c
reativ ction also benefits to ht and rese in Forest
ity! deserv a
es stu mankind — rched for
10
0
dy as but
a refle
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ir
 Field Fact Cards
A fantastic set of colorful cards with eleven question and
answers about 27 awesome zoo animals is included in a
special packet in this book. The geometric symbols will
help you easily locate data to make research comparisons
after your trip. The Field Fact Cards can be used for
practice, review, testing, and even a challenging game of
Zoo Trivia!

At the Zoo
4. Encounters with 7
God’s Creatures:
Book ©

B M
R A <pp. 31–103>
Trip In a

Beautifully illustrated descriptions

of 27 common zoo animals and
ure: A Field

where they fit in God’s plan.

5. Field Fact Cards: Packet of 27 cards
Zoo Advent

_
__________
with 11 “fun facts” about each
B M
e

creature.
The Complet

B M
R A B M 2 R A
1 R A 6. Biome Cards: Packet of seven cards
describing major biomes for
land animals.
7. Field Journal: Foldable, card stock
__________
_____
Animal Na
me________
________ notebook to record your field
______________
Anim al Name__
B M observations, as instructed
B M
R A B M 4 R A on page 28.
3 R A 8. Hooty’s Smart Rules: Sayings of a
“wise old owl,” <p. 29> provide hu-
mor and a guide to God-honoring
________
conduct at the zoo. Also, look for
________ me________
me________
me________
________
Animal Na Hooty’s fun facts — one with each
Animal Na B M animal encounter!
B ir d B M 6 R A
5 R A
M M am m el
A R ep ti le
A m ph ib ia n
e”
________
me________
Animal Na
cible

________
me________
 After the Zoo
9. Questions for “Personal Sharing” and “For Deeper Discussion”
stimulate individual reflection on the place of each animal
— and of each person — in God’s plan.
10. Numerous Activity Sheets at different levels are provided.
They may be copied for testing and for reviewing and
re-living your fabulous zoo adventure. Suggestions for
group activities (bulletin boards, oral reports, etc.) are also
included.
11. Numerous Teacher Aids include Professional Educator
Notes for Parents/Teachers (with Learning Objectives, on
Subject Matter Integration and using Bloom’s Taxonomy
8 to extend learning); list of Scripture memory texts; re-
sources for further study; etc.
9
 Before the Zoo Planning Calendar
Day 1 Devotional 1 Looking Ahead 1 Call Ahead: Call your zoo or search online for zoo
Day 2 Devotional 2 Looking Ahead 2 history and zoo map. Get admission cost — don’t
forget parking expenses.
Day 3 Devotional 3 Looking Ahead 3
Day 4 Devotional 4 Looking Ahead 4 »» Get your Field Pack (below) together
Day 5 Devotional 5 Looking Ahead 5 »» Review Field Fact cards
»» Make copies of Field Journal — one per
Day 6 Devotional 6 Looking Ahead 6 each child.
Day 7 Devotional 7 Looking Ahead 7

10 At the Zoo – Field Trip Day! 27 animals to explore!

<pages 31–103>
Field Assignments: Hand out field as- (one per child)
signment, badges, and Field Journal
Field Pack (supply list)
Things to Take for Your Complete Zoo Adventure:
Research Tools Nourishment
»» This book, with its »» Water/beverages
Review Zoo Map, Route, and Zoo Rules Safety First! “Encounters with »» Snacks/lunches
Don’t forget to God’s Creatures”
review a meeting <pp. 31-103> Health Aids
point. »» Field Journal »» Special medicines
Suggested prayer »» Field Fact cards »» Sunscreen
Family Prayer
<p.30> »» Pencils/pens »» Sunglasses
»» CAMERA »» First aid kit
»» Extra notebook »» Health cards
»» Map/directions
Review Field Fact cards May divide up cards Clothing
»» Cell phones
and trade »» Backpack
Business »» Hat
»» Money »» Layered clothing
»» ID cards (jacket and sweats,
Around the Campfire Discussion ques-
»» Zoo membership/ if needed)
tions <page 104>
coupons »» Poncho/rain gear
 After the Zoo
Use Field Fact cards and questions from “Around the Explore the Biome Cards — included in your Tool
Campfire” <p. 104> to test your knowledge. Kit, see page 141 for how to use your Biome Cards
Make a bulletin board or scrapbook with drawings and Scripture Memory Text <p. 142>
pictures of your adventure.
Activity Sheets for younger adventurers <pp.106–121> See also: Professional Educators Notes for Parents/
Teachers <pp. 143–147>
Activity Sheets for intermediate to advanced adventurers Glossary <pp. 148–151>
<pp. 122–137>
Activity Sheets for advanced adventurers <pp. 138–140> Index <pp. 152–154>
11
 Genesis 1:1; John 1:1–14
Jesus, the Creator — the Presence of God
As we think toward our visit to the zoo, let’s turn our
minds and hearts toward the Creation and to what God’s
Word says about the creation of all things. If we want to get
answers for how everything began on earth, we don’t go to
books written by people who were not there in the begin-
ning, who offer only opinions and often make mistakes.
Instead, we want the Word of God who was there in the be-
ginning, who knows everything, and who doesn’t make mis-
12 takes. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth.” John 1:1–14 tells us that the Creator
is the Lord Jesus. “All things were made by him; and without
him was not anything made that was made” (vs. 3). Verse 14
says, “And the Word [vs.1] was made flesh and dwelt among
us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten
of the Father), full of grace and truth.” Knowing that God’s
Son is indeed the Creator helps us understand the absolute
importance of the book of Genesis, which is the founda-
tion for the rest of Scripture. Jesus quoted from the book of
Genesis more than any other book in the Bible. Today, let us
be thankful to God as He has revealed to us His Son, Jesus,
who is not only our Savior but also our Creator.

Prayer: Thank You, our Father, for sending us

Your Son and our Creator, our Lord Jesus, who
was there in the beginning with You. Thank You
for Your Word that tells us the truth about the his-
In the beginning God cr tory of the earth. Help us to trust Your Word every
eated the day as we get answers about life on earth. In Jesus’
heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 name we pray, amen!
 The 4Cs — God’s Love vs. Darwin’s War menagerie of creatures to multiply and fill the blossoming new
Would you visit a zoo if the lions and tigers and post-Flood world. The restoration following the Flood points
bears were allowed to roam freely? Nowadays there us toward the final restoration of peace and harmony that
are many animals that would hurt each other and hurt comes when Christ returns!
people (and people who would hurt animals). Was it What we see on our trip to the zoo will remind us of “4
always that way? Not at all. The Bible tells us that God Cs” in biblical history: God’s perfect world (Creation), ruined
created a perfect and peaceful world, with no struggle by man’s sin (Corruption), destroyed by the Flood (Catastro-
and death, where animals and people were designed to phe), restored to new life in Jesus (Christ)!
eat only plants, not each other. Unfortunately, a man named Charles Darwin saw only the
What happened? God put the first people He cre- struggle and death in our present fallen world and among fos-
ated, Adam and Eve, in a perfect and peaceful environ- sils. Missing the evidence of God’s wondrous creation and the
ment, the Garden of Eden. He gave them the love of glories of new life in Christ, Darwin made struggle and death,
each other as husband and wife, put them in charge of which he called the “war of nature,” a substitute for God. His
caring for the whole earth, and walked and talked with Origin of Species (1859) became the basis for evolution, the 13
them daily as Creator. In spite of these rich and abundant belief that it was millions of years of struggle and death — not
blessings, our first parents fell for the temptation of that God — that brought man and all other creatures into being,
fallen angel, Satan. They rejected God’s gifts and God’s love and that struggle and death will continue for millions of years
and God’s Word, desiring instead to make themselves equal until death finally wins and life becomes extinct.
with God (Gen. 3:5–6). Unfortunately, people today still tend Praise God, science supports Scripture, and our trip to the
to sin, to act selfishly, and to put error-prone human opinion zoo will provide lots of evidence that Darwin and his followers
(especially their own!) above the absolute and loving truth of are wrong about evolution and
God’s Word. that the Bible is right about
Mankind’s sin brought (and continues to bring) struggle God’s creation, man’s corrup-
and death into the world that God had created “very good.” tion, Noah’s flood, and Christ’s
Some animals began to kill others, and the first person born restoration. Johnny Hart’s
in our sin-cursed world (Cain) killed his brother (Abel). The newspaper cartoon “B.C.” put
“violence and corruption” that filled the fallen world grieved it this way: “. . . our world
God “at his heart” (Gen. 6:6). After offering repentance and wasn’t made for wallowing in
forgiveness through Noah for 120 years, God destroyed that sickness, death, and sin; or
“corrupted creation” in a worldwide catastrophe, the Genesis scoundrels who sell drugs to
flood, providing the ark to save Noah and his family (eight kids or beat up on their kin.
people), and at least two of each kind of dry land animal, male Our world was once a per-
and female (Gen. 7:15–16; 1 Pet. 3:20). In a way, Noah’s ark fect place, a gift of [God’s]
became the world’s first floating zoo, a place where selected love, not [Darwin’s] war,
members of each kind are kept for care, protection, study, ap- and we still have the power
preciation, and preservation. [in Christ] to make it like
Many zoos save endangered species and release them to before.”
the wild. When the ark/zoo landed, it released a wonderful