Homeschool 3rd-5th Programs

Homeschool students in grades 3-5 will enjoy our Gateway classroom programs which include time outdoors on zoo grounds with animals, too! Grades 3-5 students only, no families or siblings are allowed to attend the program in the classroom. Families are welcome to visit the zoo during the program, with one adult and one child offered free entry (all others in the group pay zoo entry). Register online a minimum of one week before the program date. No full refunds, 50% refund if cancellation is more than one week ahead of the program. No refunds if cancelled less than one week in advance of the program. 15 students maximum per session. $40 per student, includes zoo entry. Members receive at $10 discount in checkout. See note below about the member discount.

Note for zoo members: If you are registering a student for this program and they are covered by your membership, log into your account (look on the navigation bar above for 'My Account'). The system will verify your membership once you are logged in and you will receive $10 off per student automatically in checkout if your membership is current.

Dates and Topics (each date is a separate registration session)

• Oct 13 and 14 – Unhuggables: Not all animals are cute and cuddly! Explore animal defenses and how animals stay safe in the wild.
• Oct 27 and 28 - Whooo Goes There? Did you know that there are 10 species of owls in Alaska? Learn about Alaska’s owls and get a closer look at some of the zoo’s owl residents.
• Nov 17 and 18 - Food Webs: Students will learn about food webs and the connections between living and nonliving things that make up an ecosystem.
• Dec 15 and 16 - Winter Birds: Some birds head down South for the winter, while others stay here. What kinds of birds stay in Alaska during the winter, and how do they survive?
• Jan 12 and 13 - Fossils of the Far North: Learn about paleontology and the dinosaurs of the 49th state!
• Jan 26 and 27 - Extreme Ecosystems: How do animals survive in the world’s most extreme environments, such as deserts, the deep ocean, and polar ice caps?
• Feb 9 and 10 - Polar Pinnipeds: What is the difference between a seal and a sea lion? How do they survive in the North? Students will learn all of this and more in Polar Pinnipeds!
• Feb 23 and 24 - Snow Cats: Is there such a thing as a snow cat? Students will explore the different cold weather cats and pay a visit to the zoo’s resident felines.
• Mar 9 and 10 - Super Senses: Explore the different types of senses and learn how animal senses compare to ours.
• Mar 30 and 31 - Incredible Invertebrates: Take a closer look at an often-forgotten group of animals and bugs!
• Apr 13 and 14 - Pollinator Party: As spring starts to arrive in Alaska and the plants begin to grow; pollinators start to wake up. Students will learn about the different types of pollinators, and why they are so important.

Questions? Email [email protected].