Home School Classes Winter/Spring 2009

Family Home School Day
Friday, November 20th

Join us for a fun and educational day at the zoo with special programs for home school children and families.

Each session will include time in a classroom and time in the Zoo. Students will complete a variety of activities as they learn about many different topics. Animal artifacts and live animals may be brought into the classroom to provide additional support of topics.
Sessions will also include student teamwork and discussion.

For added security, sign-out forms will be completed by all parents and
children will be checked out only to those individuals listed on their form.

$5 admission per family member (2 years and over)
$10 admission and ticket to 1 session per student
$15 admission and ticket to 2 sessions per student

Pre-registration required for session admission. 
Please call 397-3877 or 397-3864 to register.
  (online registration is not available)

Session 1 10:00 am - 11:30 am
5-7 year olds: Animals in Motion - a study of the many different ways that animals move
5-9 year olds: Art  - Pastel water color animals that can fly
8-10 year olds: Ani"meals" - A discovery of the different foods animals eat and the role of different animals in the food webs
11 years and up: Animal Care - An opportunity to learn about some of the specialized care that Zoo animals receive

 

 

 

 

 

 

Session 2
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
5-7 year olds:
Scales & Tails - A closer look at the incredible world of reptiles
8-10 year olds:
Beaks & Feet - A closer look at the unique characteristics of birds
10 years and up:
Art – Tempera painted animals with spots & stripes
11 years and up:
Animal Adaptations - An exploration of the diverse survival skills of animals

 

 


 

 

Families must check In between 9:00 and 10:00 am or 12:00
and 12:30 pm to receive the discounted rate. 

  • At check-in, families will receive wristbands for admission and students will receive tickets for sessions.  Parents will be able to complete sign-out forms for students attending sessions (students must be able to attend session without parent).
  • Scavenger hunts/worksheets will also be available for any families that would like additional activities.
  • Discounted Train/Carousel tokens will be available for $2 each and Lorikeet tokens for $1 each.
  • Lunch is not included.
  • Event will be held rain or shine.  Families should dress appropriately.  No refunds will be given.

  And at 2:15, be sure to bring the whole family to our special animal presentation in the Auditorium for all Family Homeschool Day participants.

 

Register online!

The Birmingham Zoo Education Department has home school science classes for children in 1st-12th grade. We also offer home school art classes and day classes for 2nd-12th grades.

Pre-registration is required for all classes. All children must be covered by the Birmingham Zoo membership to get the discount. Parents may not stay with their children for classes. Please call (205) 397-3864 for more information and to register or email cbrooks@birminghamzoo.com.

Refund Policy: Refund requests or class changes must be requested a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the class date. We will be unable to give any refunds or make any changes once the deadline has passed. A $5.00 processing fee will be retained for each refund request. No refunds will be given for package deals. All credit must be used within
the current semester and may not be transferred to future semesters. Students will not be able to make up any classes missed. We are sorry but we are unable to make any exceptions. Thank you.

We would like to thank the families that have already attended our education programs. If you would like to share your experiences and ideas, please complete this short survey to help us improve our future programs. To complete the survey, please click here.

 

 

Home School Science Classes

 

The Birmingham Zoo Education Department has home school science classes for children in 1st-12th grade. Classes consist of animal visits, class discussions, in-class work, activities, labs, and homework. Resources and references will be made available for the different classes. Some class materials will be sent home to aid students. The classes are designed to build on one another, but students are not required to attend all topics. Pre-registration is required.

1st - 2nd Grade Science Classes


Class Time
Wednesday or Thursday 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Cost

$8.00/student/class for members or $12.00/student/class for non-members

Register Online

Class Schedule

Topic
Wed
1:30 - 3:30
Thurs
1:30 - 3:30
Animal Coverings
Dec 10
Dec 11
Defenses
Jan 21
Jan 22
Colorful Animals
Feb 4
Feb 5
Animals that Change Colors
Feb 18
Feb 19
How Animals Make Sounds
Mar 4
Mar 5
Why Animals Make Sounds
Mar 25
Mar 26
Reptiles at the Zoo
Apr 8
Apr 9
Marsupials at the Zoo
Apr 29
Apr 30

 

Legend
= Open Class
= Closed Class

 

3rd-4th Grade and 5th-6th grade Science Classes


Class Time

Wednesday or Thursday 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Cost

$8.00/student/class for members or $12.00/student/class for non-members

Register Online

Class Schedule

Topic
Wed
1:30 - 3:30
Thurs
1:30 - 3:30
How Diseases Affect Organisms
Dec 10
Dec 11
Energy Sources
Jan 21
Jan 22
Alternative Energy Resources
Feb 4
Feb 5
Water Resources
Feb 18
Feb 19
Land Resources
Mar 4
Mar 5
Natural Cycles
Mar 25
Mar 26
Cycles of Matter
Apr 8
Apr 9
Ecology and Conservation
Apr 29
Apr 30

 

Legend
= Open Class
= Closed Class
= Class Not Offered

 

7th-9th grade Science Classes


Class Time

Thursday 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Cost

$8.00/student/class for members or $12.00/student/class for non-members

Register Online

Class Schedule

Topic
Thurs
1:30 - 4:00
Energy Watch
Jan 15
Reptile Watch
Jan 29
Bird and Mammal Watch
Feb 12
Natural Cycles
Feb 26
Human Impacts
Mar 12
Race for the Rainforest
Apr 2
Wildlife and Site Management
Apr 23
Conservation
May 7

 

Legend
= Open Class
= Closed Class
= Class Not Offered


10th-12th grade Science Classes


Class Time

Thursday 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Cost

$8.00/student/class for members or $12.00/student/class for non-members

Register Online

Class Schedule

Topic
Thurs
1:30 - 4:00
Atmosphere
Jan 15
Land and Food
Jan 29
Biodiversity
Feb 12
Conservation
Feb 26
Energy
Mar 12
Waste
Apr 2
Population Growth
Apr 23
Environmental Policies and Careers
May 7

 

Legend
= Open Class
= Closed Class
= Class Not Offered

 

Home School Reading - New!


As we are working on different topics and books each week, our ultimate goal is to move students from learning to read to reading to learn. In this class, we will be learning and improving these skills: phonics – including phonemic awareness; vocabulary’ word-attack skills; reading and listening comprehension; and fluency. Pre-registration is required.

1st - 3rd Grade Reading Classes


Class Time

Monday 9:00 am - 11:00 am and 1:30 pm- 3:30pm (depending on grade level)

Cost

$8.00/student/class for members or $12.00/student/class for non-members

1st Grade Class Schedule

Topic
Monday
1:30 - 3:30
Marsupials
Jan 12
Farm Animals
Jan 26
Slithering Snakes
Feb 9
Lazy Lizards
Mar 2
Turtles
Mar 9
Birds
Apr 6
Carnivorous Cats
Apr 20
Savanna Animals
May 4

 

2nd & 3rd Grade Class Schedule

Topic
Monday
9:00 - 11:00
Monday
1:30 - 3:30
Marsupials
Jan 12
No Class
Farm Animals
No Class
Feb 2
Slithering Snakes
Feb 9
No Class
Lazy Lizards
Mar 9
No Class
Turtles
No Class
Mar 23
Birds
No Class
Apr 13
Carnivorous Cats
Apr 20
No Class
Savanna Animals
No Class
Apr 27

 

4th & 5th Grade Class Schedule

Topic
Monday
9:00 - 11:00
Marsupials
Jan 26
Farm Animals
Feb 2
Slithering Snakes
Mar 2
Lazy Lizards
Mar 23
Turtles
Apr 6
Birds
Apr 13
Carnivorous Cats
Apr 27
Savanna Animals
May 4

 

Legend
= Open Class
= Closed Class

 

Home School Math - New!

 

In these fun classes, students will learn and improve their skills in the following areas while learning about animals: fractions, order of operations, graphing, measurement,
multiplication and parts of a whole.

Register Online

1st - 3rd Grade Math Classes


Class time
Monday 9:00 am - 11:00 am or 1:30 pm-3:30 pm (depending on grade level)

Cost
$8.00/student/class for members and $12.00/student/class for non-members

1st Grade Math Classes
Textbook: Math Basics Grade 1

Topic
Monday
9:00 - 11:00
Understanding Numbers
Jan 12
Adding and Subtracting 0-10
Jan 26
Adding and Subtracting Pairs
Feb 9
Numbers 11-20, Subtraction & Addition
Mar 2
Tens and Ones and Missing Numbers
Mar 9
Sums, Addition, Subtraction & Doubles
Apr 6
Facts, Adding 3 Numbers & Number Riddles
Apr 20
Telling Time (Materials will be supplied)
May 4

 

2nd & 3rd Grade Math Classes
Textbooks: Math Basics Grade 2 & Time, Money & Fractions Grades 1-2

Topic
Monday
9:00 - 11:00
Monday
1:30 - 3:30
Number to 20 and Fact Families
No Class
Jan 12
Tens and Ones, Adding 2 digits
Feb 2
No Class
Regrouping, Addition, & Subtraction
No Class
Feb 9
Hundreds Place, Greater and Less Than
No Class
Mar 9
Introduction to Multiplication
Mar 23
No Class
Money
Apr 13
No Class
Time
No Class
Apr 20
Fractions
Apr 27
No Class

 

4th and 5th Grade Math Classes
Textbooks: Multiplication & Division Grades 3-4, Math Basics Grade 5

Topic
Monday
1:30 - 3:30
Mulipication of 1-12
Jan 26
Division
Feb 2
Multiplication Patterns 1-4
Mar 2
Multiplying Money and Multiples
Mar 23
Diving and using Remainders
Apr 6
Understanding Whole Numbers
Apr 13
Multiplying and Dividing
Apr 27
Decimal Place Values
May 4


Legend
= Open Class
= Closed Class

 

Home School Art Classes

 

Students will learn to develop basic drawing and painting skills with animals as their centerpiece. Live animals may be brought to the classroom or students may go see animals on exhibit. Classes for similar grades are held on afternoons of opposite weeks from Homeschool Science classes or on mornings of the same week to allow for greater convenience. Pre-registration is required.

 

2nd-6th grade Home School Art Classes


Class Time

Thursday 9 - 11 am or 1:30 - 3:30 pm

Cost

$12.00/student/class for members or $16.00/student/class for non-members

Register Online

2nd - 6th Grade 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Art Class Schedule

Topic
Thursday
9:00 - 11:00
Watercolor-Wax Resist Cats
Jan 22
Tint & Shades of Savanna Animals
Feb 5
Chalk Drawing Aquatic Animals
Feb 19
Print Making Insects
Mar 5
Tempura Painted Farm Animals
Mar 26
Tempura Painted Farm Animals
Apr 9
Oil Pastel Reptiles
Apr 30

 

2nd - 6th Grade 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Art Class Schedule

Topic
Thursday
1:30 - 3:30
Watercolor-Wax Resist Cats
Jan 15
Tint & Shades of Savanna Animals
Jan 29
Chalk Drawing Aquatic Animals
Feb 12
Print Making Insects
Mar 26
Ink and Tissue Birds
Apr 2
Tempura Painted Farm Animals
Apr 23
Old Pastel Reptiles
May 7

 

Legend
= Open Class
= Closed Class


7th-12th grade Home School Art Classes


Class Time

Thursday 9:00 - 11:00 am

Cost

$12.00/student/class for members or $16.00/student/class for non-members

Register Online

7th - 12th Grade Art Class Schedule:

Topic
Thursday
9:00am - 11:00
am
Acrylic Painted Big Cats
Jan 15
Tint & Shades of Reptiles
Jan 29
Chalk Drawing Desert Animals
Feb 12
Print Making Birds
Mar 12
Tempura Painted Primates
Mar 26
Ink and Tissue Swamp Animals
Apr 23
Oil Pastel Savanna Animals
May 7

 

 

Home School Art Days

 

A longer art class for students who would like a little more time. Two different types of media will be used in each class. Lunch can be added for $6 per student. It includes a hamburger or hot dog with chips and a drink. Students may also bring their own lunch. A refrigerator is available. Pre-registration is required.

Class Time
Friday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Cost

$25.00/student/class for members or $30.00/student/class for non-members

Register Online

2nd - 6th grade Class Schedule:

Topic
Friday
9:00 - 2:00
Big Cats
Jan 23
Reptiles
Feb 6
Savanna Animals
Mar 13

 

Legend
= Open Class
= Closed Class

 

Home School Days

 

Students will complete activities in the classroom and in the Zoo and visit appropriate animal areas. Lunch can be added for $6 per student. It includes a hamburger, hot dog with chips and a drink. Students may also bring their own lunch. A refrigerator is available. Pre-registration is required.

Class Time
Friday 9:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Cost

$25.00/student/class for members or $30.00/student/class for non-members

Register Online

2nd - 4th grade Home School Days

Topic
Friday
9:00 - 2:00
Where in the World is...
Jan 16
Short or Tall the Zoo has is ALL
Feb 13
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Mar 6
Wriggling Worms
Apr 24

 

5th - 8th grade Home School Days

Topic
Friday
9:00 - 2:00
The Wildlife Poaching Mystery
Jan 16
The Fish Kill Mystery
Feb 13
The Case of the Magic Monkey Mirrors
Mar 6
The Case of the Disappearing Frogs
Apr 24

 

9th - 12th grade Home School Days

Topic
Friday
9:00 - 2:00
The Wildlife Poaching Mystery
Jan 23
The Fish Kill Mystery
Feb 6
The Case of the Magic Monkey Mirrors
Mar 13
The Case of the Disappearing Frogs
Apr 10

 

Legend
= Open Class
= Closed Class

Register online.

Virtual Tour

 

Unlimited Admission
All Year

Members of the Birmingham Zoo receive this benefit and more, including camp and birthday party discounts, ZooLight Safari admission, and special members' only events.
Join us today