Welcome Homeschool Families
The Minnesota Zoo offers a variety of programs for homeschool students and families to enrich your teaching year. Click below to learn all we have to offer.
Homeschool Academy: Fall Session- Becoming a Field Scientist
Homeschool Academy: Fall Session- Becoming a Field Scientist
Do scientists always wear white lab coats and confine themselves to a lab? Join us at the Zoo for a hands-on, inquiry-based six-week program to debunk that myth. Use some of the tools and techniques of field scientists to explore and learn about biomes around the world. Lots of fun activities, experiments, and tours make this a series not to be missed. All classes require registration, available on August 1, 2019.
WHEN: Mondays, September 23 – October 28, 2019 (6 sessions.) Each week can be an independent lesson but all 6 weeks make a complete program.
TIME: 10:00am -12:00pm
WHERE: MN Zoo, Apple Valley, MN
WHO: Homeschool students ages 9-12
COST:
SINGLE SESSION COST: $25 ($20 MN Zoo Members) per session. Pre-registration and pre-payment required.
PACKAGE DISCOUNT COST: Register for all six sessions for the same student in a single order and receive $3.50 off each session. $129 ($99 MN Zoo members) per student for all 6 sessions. Please select continue shopping to add sessions, discount will be applied on the checkout page.
Inquiries can be made to [email protected] or 952-431-9218.
How to Register
September 23, 2019 Becoming a Scientist-Tools of the Trade
Discover real tools scientists use to observe and study the natural world. We will explore the techniques of measuring accurately and recording data, practice using units of measurement (grams, degrees, centimeters, etc.) and discover some of the many measurements scientists use to learn about animals.
September 30, 2019 Becoming a Scientist – Using Guides and Keys
Exploring the natural world often involves the use of guides and keys. We will learn how to use some and see how they can help us better understand what’s around us!
Oct. 7, 2019 Exploring Biomes
Get to the bottom of why different plant and animal communities thrive in different parts of the world! We will conduct analyses of soil samples to help shed some light on this question and identify some of the other characteristics of the variety of plant and animal communities (biomes) around the world.
Oct. 14, 2019 Biomes-Prairies
One of the 3 major biomes in Minnesota, we will explore the prairie ecosystem and its inhabitants with special attention to the massive, once dominant, mammal of the prairie… The bison.
Oct. 21, 2019 Biomes-Deciduous Forest
Another major biome in Minnesota, we will explore the deciduous forest ecosystem and its inhabitants-mainly the birds. We will conduct tests simulating various beak shapes and their adaptability to the food they eat.
Oct. 28, 2019 Biomes-Coniferous Forest
It’s the third major biome in Minnesota. How does it differ from the deciduous forest? Come meet some of its inhabitants and learn what special adaptations are needed to survive this frozen forest.
Weekday Field Trip
Family Programs
Homeschool Day, Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Homeschool Day
This year’s event will have a math, science and technology focus; Engineering for Animals, Engineering from Animals, and Engineering by Animals. Activity stations for all grade levels will be hosted by the Zoo’s naturalist staff though out the day.
Time: Zoo opens at 9:00 a.m. Education stations open from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Cost:
| PARTICIPANTS | NON MEMBERS | MEMBERS |
| preK-5th grade students | $9.00 | $3.00 |
| 6-12th grade students | $11.00 | $3.00 |
| Adult | 1 free / family | Free |
| Additional Adults | $12.00 | |
| Children 2 years and under | Free | Free |
| Vehicle parking | $7.00 | Free |
You will receive an email confirmation following booking. If purchasing a membership you might want to purchase on-line in advance at www.mnzoo.org.
How to Register
Reservations for Homeschool Day accepted until 1:00 pm on October 8, 2019.
Register Online
To register online for Homeschool Day, click the button above to begin. The first page will take you to a log in page where you will need to create an account or sign in to an existing account, payment will be taken at time of registration.
Lunch:
Families are welcome to purchase lunch at the Call of the Wild food court or bring your lunch and eat at any of the indoor or outdoor picnic areas. There are school lunch storage shelves located by the school lunch tables at the Tropics Trail plaza for use on this day.