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Classification Classes

Education classes take place in our classrooms in The Living World and may include live animals, biofacts, activities, experiments, demonstrations, slides and/or discussion. Programs are available September through May unless otherwise indicated.

ANIMAL WRAPPERS

Grades PS-K
Program length: 20 minutes
Fee: $30 (ZMD $25)

Program length: 45 minutes
Fee: $55 (ZMD $40)
Offered September through May

Explore furred, feathered, slimy and scaly animal "wrappers." Learn how animal groups are alike or different from each other and how to sort them using clues from their "coverings."
Missouri Science Grade Level Expectations:III–1D (KG) a

WHERE'S THE BACKBONE?

Grades PS-K
Program length: 20 minutes
Fee: $30 (ZMD $25)

Program length: 45 minutes
Fee: $55 (ZMD $40)
Offered September through May

Where is the backbone? Explore the amazing world of animals that don't have backbones. Examine invertebrates like spiders, butterflies and even sea stars, with live animals and hands-on exercises.
Missouri Science Grade Level Expectations: III–1D (KG) a

BORN TO BE WILD

Grades K-3
Program length: 20 minutes
Fee: $30 (ZMD $25)

Program length: 45 minutes
Fee: $55 (ZMD $40)
Offered September through May

Do all animal babies look like their parents? Which animals hatch from eggs, and which are live-born? This class compares animal babies and development while introducing the basic concepts of life cycles (including metamorphosis) in both invertebrates and vertebrates.
Missouri Science Grade Level Expectations:III–1B (2nd) a,c, 3D (KG) a,b, (2nd) a,b

ATHROPODS FOR AMATEURS

Grades K-3
Program length: 20 minutes
Fee: $30 (ZMD $25)
Offered September through May

Are all creepy crawlies alike? Through sorting, investigating, and observing live animals, students will learn the basic characteristics of insects and other arthropods.
Missouri Science Grade Level Expectations:III–1B (2nd) a, 1D (2nd) a,d

MEET THE VERTEBRATES

Grades K-3
Program length: 45 minutes
Fee: $55 (ZMD $40)
Offered September through May

It's not just their body coverings that are different! Compare and contrast the skeletons of four groups of animals. This overview will cover the major characteristics of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
Missouri Science Grade Level Expectations: III–1B (2nd) a,c, 1D (1st) b, d, 3D (KG) a, b

SQUIGGLES AND SCALES

Grades K-3
Program length: 45 minutes
Fee: $55 (ZMD $40)
Offered September through May

How are salamanders and lizards alike? How are they different? Through the use of live amphibians and reptiles, students will be introduced to the basic characteristics of these cold-blooded animals.
Missouri Science Grade Level Expectations: III–1B (2nd) a,c 1D (1st) b, d

CLASSIFICATION OF VERTEBRATES

Grades 3-5
Program length: 45 minutes
Fee: $55 (ZMD $40)
Offered September through May

Discover the unique characteristics of animals from the major groups of vertebrates: fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
Missouri Science Grade Level Expectations:III–1D (5th) a, 1E (5th) a,c,d

INSECTS

Grades 4-8
Program length: 45 minutes
Fee: $55 (ZMD $40)
Offered September through May

There are more insects on earth than there are any other group of animals. Study the fascinating world of insects through discussion and demonstration with live and mounted insects. This class will focus on insect behaviors and comparisons of insect adaptations.
Missouri Science Grade Level Expectations:III–1E (5th) a,e

INVERTEBRATES: SPINELESS WONDERS

Grades 4-8
Program length: 90 minutes
Fee: $90 (ZMD $60)
Offered September through April

More than 95% of all living animals do not have backbones. Students explore the characteristics of several invertebrate phyla. This hands-on lab features opportunities to investigate internal and external characteristics.
Missouri Science Grade Level Expectations: III–1E (5th) a,c

MAMMALS AND BIRDS

Grades 4-8
Program length: 45 minutes
Fee: $55 (ZMD $40)
Offered September through May

Learn about the two groups of warm-blooded vertebrates: mammals and birds. In this class, students will review mammal and bird characteristics while studying live examples of each group.
Missouri Science Grade Level Expectations:III–1E (5th) a, d, (8th) a

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS

Grades 4-8
Program length: 45 minutes
Fee: $55 (ZMD $40)
Offered September through May

See and touch live reptiles and amphibians, and discover their unique characteristics. Determine the differences between amphibian and reptile groups.
Missouri Science Grade Level Expectations:III–1E (5th) a, d, (8th) a

COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF MAMMALS

Grades 9-12
Program length: 90 minutes
Fee: $90 (ZMD $60)
Offered September through April

Delve deeper into one of the most fascinating and diverse groups of vertebrates on the planet: mammals. Using the Zoo's unique resources, students will compare and contrast the anatomy of different mammalian orders with the use of teeth, skulls, hides, fur, and much more. This course will allow hands-on investigation of mammals in a way not found anywhere else.
Missouri Science Grade Level Expectations: III–1E (9-11th) a, b; VII–1C (9-11th) a, 1E (9-11th) a

COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF REPTILES

Grades 9-12
Program length: 90 minutes
Fee: $90 (ZMD $60)
Offered September through April

Investigate one of the most fascinating and diverse groups of cold-blooded vertebrates. Using the Zoo's unique resources, students will compare and contrast the anatomy of different reptilian orders with the use of teeth, fangs, skulls, scales, shells and more.
Missouri Science Grade Level Expectations:III–1E (9-11th) a, b; VII–1C (9-11th) a, 1E (9-11th) a

SUBPHYLUM VERTEBRATA

Grades 9-12
Program length: 90 minutes
Fee: $90 (ZMD $60)
Offered September through April

Through a series of investigations, students will discover the distinct adaptations that make the subphylum Vertebrata a fascinating group of animals. This course is capable of providing an introduction to the topic or serving as an assessment of your students' knowledge of vertebrate groups.
Missouri Science Grade Level Expectations: III–1E (9-11th) a, b; VII–1C (9-11th) a, 1E (9-11th) a

COLLEGE LAB

College Level
Program length: 90 minutes
Fee: $90 (ZMD $60)
Offered September through April

Choose from one of the classes below:

Mammalian Orders
This discussion of mammalian orders is designed for students enrolled in a college-level mammalogy course. With the use of animal artifacts and biofacts, students will compare and contrast the anatomy of different mammalian orders.

Reptilian Orders
This course is designed for students studying herpetology. Using the Zoo's resources, students will compare and contrast the anatomy of reptilian orders.

Please note: Tours of selected animal areas can be booked separately by calling the Group Sales Office at (314) 646-4840. See Behind the Scenes Tours.