School Services

Each school year, the San Francisco Zoo hosts a "Wild About Art and Science" contest for San Francisco Unified School District K-5 students. It is one of the many wonderful programs that the Zoo's Education Department provides for teachers, which includes all the resources and materials. The goal of this program is to connect public school children to wild places and wild things through curriculum that combines art and science and aligns with California Science Content Standards. The winners will have an all-expense-paid field trip to the Zoo that includes lunch, bus transportation, tours, admission and rides. This program was generously supported by the Bank of America Foundation and the Strong Foundation for Environmental Values.

Request a printed Wild About Art and Science curriculum packet here. 

Annual Contest Information:

Click here for the Wild About Art and Science Program Flier for 2012-2013.
Click here for the California Science Content Standards Key.
Click here to view last year's winners.

Lesson and Fact Sheet Packets Downloads

WAAS Grade K: Desert Tortoise
WAAS Grade 1: Barn Owl
WAAS Grade 2: Tiger Salamander
WAAS Grade 3: San Francisco Garter Snake
WAAS Grade 4: Turkey Vulture
WAAS Grade 5: North American River Otter
After school program for Grade 3-4

The lessons were created with the help of the California Department of Fish and Game's Atlas of the Biodiversity of California. For information on ordering a copy: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/atlas.

Enhance your middle school science curriculum with this three-part program, which brings biodiversity to life through a combination of classroom visits and a field trip to the Zoo. Call (415) 753-8123 to schedule this program fro your school.

Biodiversity Basics Aligns with SCS for Grades 6 and 7

Students explore the inter-connectedness of the natural world in three sessions. First, a Zoo educator visits your classroom. Using the Biodiversity Basics curriculum developed by World Wildlife Fund, the concept of biodiversity is introduced. Then, students come to the Zoo for a Close Encounters lesson and Zoo tour. In the final component, a Zoo educator returns to your class for a wrap-up session highlighting the illegal wildlife trade.

Correlation of Biodiversity Basics to California Science Content Standards (SCS) Codes refers to Science Contents Standards for California Public Schools.

Fee: $200 per class.

Biodiversity Basics Contact Information: (415)753-8123 or e-mail zoomobile@sfzoo.org

There is nothing quite as memorable to a child as touching the sleek scales of a snake or petting the soft fur of a chinchilla. Close Encounters offer an up-close, hands-on experience with animals in the Zoo Classroom. These programs, designed to complement your science curriculum, draw students into the wonders of nature while educating them about the animals who share their world.

Each lesson can accommodate up to 35 students, and two presentations can be offered back-to-back, if three or four lessons are required, then the lessons would occur simultaneously. The fees are $70 for one lesson, $110 for two lessons, $130 for three, and $150 for four lessons. This does not include the group's admission to the Zoo. Close Encounters operate from October through mid-June.

Close Encounters Contact Information: (415)753-8123

ZooMobile offers an up-close, hands-on experience with live animals in your classroom. ZooMobile programs have been developed for specific grade levels in accordance with the themes listed in the California Science Content Standards. For those who prefer to come to the Zoo, Close Encounters offer the same lessons in our Zoo classrooms.

ZooMobile runs from September through mid-June each year. Each lesson can accommodate up to 35 students, and up to four presentations can be offered on a single day. Call (415) 753-8123 to schedule a ZooMobile visit.

To view our ZooMobile program brochure with lesson descriptions, click here.

Fees are listed as follows:

SFUSD Schools: $110(1 presentation), $160 (2 presentations), $190 (3 presentations), $210 (4 presentations)

All other San Francisco Schools: $120, $170, $230, $260

Close Encounters (at the Zoo): $70, $110, $130, $150

For pricing structure for schools outside of San Francisco, click here.

ZooMobile Contact Information: (415)-753-8123 or e-mail zoomobile@sfzoo.org

Our docent guides lead educational walking tours for school groups of 15 or more (subject to availability). Tours are available during the months of September through March (subject to change) and tour topics correlate with current California Science Content Standards (SCS) for students 1st grade and up.

For more information and to schedule a docent tour for your school group, please call (415) 753-7122 or email zooguide@sfzoo.org.

The San Francisco Zoo offers a wide variety of educational programs for all grade levels, correlated to the California Science Content Standards for Public Schools grades kindergarten through twelfth. We hope they will help you use the Zoo's programs to meet your curriculum needs.

Look for California Life Science Standards Correlation Charts for our ZooMobile programs, Close Encounter programs and Docent Guided Tours. Your class may also enjoy an exciting overnight experience at the Zoo.

Resource Kits

Suitcase for Survival
Grades 6 - 8; can be adapted for grades 4 - 12
Fee: Refundable $50 deposit
Containing confiscated wildlife trade artifacts and a 340-page curriculum guide, this kit educates young people and adults about the illegal wildlife trade and its impact on ecosystems.

Teacher Resources Contact Information: (415) 753-7073