Zoomobile Program Topics
Third Grade
Classroom Programs (45 minutes)
Programs for one classroom (up to 25 students) per program
Special topics also available with at least two-months notice. Let us know what you would like
us to teach and we’ll see if we have the resources to teach it.
Life Cycles - Find out how and why animals reproduce, how they grow and change and why
death is necessary for survival.
Key Concepts
 A life cycle includes birth, growth, reproduction and death.
 Life starts with an egg or birth.
 Animals change as they age and grow in order to become adults.
 Metamorphosis is how most insect larvae change into adults.
 Adults reproduce so that the species will continue.
 Death is necessary to avoid overpopulation.
 Decomposition provides nutrients for new life, completing the cycle.
Keywords: life cycle, egg, larva, pupa, nymph, adult, reproduction, complete metamorphosis,
incomplete metamorphosis, population, decomposition, food chain, competition, adaptations.
Core: GLE 0307.2.1 (Living); 0307.2.2(Competition); 0307.3.1(Food Chain); 0307.4.1(Life
Cycle); 0307.5.1(Adaptations)
Habitat? What's That? - Investigate the variety of habitats, the four basic needs, the roles of
animals in food chains, adaptations for habitats, and how we affect habitats.
Key Concepts
 A habitat is anyplace where a living thing can survive.
 All habitats provide food, water, protection and air for the animals that live there.
 Habitats can provide these things continuously because they have food chains, which
recycle nutrients and energy.
 In order to get the things they need to survive, animals must have adaptations for their
habitat.
 People have the same needs as animals, and we get these needs from habitats.
 We have to be careful not to take too much, so that habitats can continue to provide for all
the other animals.
Keywords: habitat, adaptation, food chain, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, rainforest, desert,
wetland, arctic, temperate forest, conservation, recycling.
Core: GLE 0307.2.1 (Living); 0307.2.2(Competition); 0307.5.1(Adaptations);
0307.5.2(Endangered)
Animals in Action - Observe animals in motion and explore adaptations for movement. Note:
this program requires an open floor space of 12 feet by 12 feet and the animals move around on a
6 ft. x 6 ft. tarp.
Key Concepts


Animals must move to find food, water, shelter and air.
Animals move in different ways because they live in different habitats, eat different foods
and get eaten by different animals.
 Animals have special adaptations for movement to help them survive in their unique
circumstances.
Keywords: adaptations, habitats, predator, prey.
Core: GLE 0307.2.1 (Living); 0307.2.2(Competition); 0307.5.1(Adaptations)
Are You Dinner or Diner? - Discover why predators and prey need each other, their
adaptations, their roles in the food chain, how they affect each other and how we affect them.
Key Concepts
 Predators are animals that eat other animals and prey are animals that get eaten by other
animals.
 Predators can also be prey.
 Predators and prey affect each other’s population, with prey needing predators to maintain
healthy populations.
 Prey have adaptations to escape predators and predators have adaptations to catch prey.
 Predators and prey affect each other’s adaptations.
 People are often afraid of predators, but predators are just as important to our survival as
prey, since they eat prey that can harm us (diseases, crop pests, etc.).
Keywords: predator, prey, adaptation, population, camouflage, conservation, herbivore,
carnivore, omnivore
Core: GLE 0307.2.1 (Living); 0307.2.2(Competition); 0307.3.1(Food Chain);
0307.5.1(Adaptations)
Animals Have Class - Examine classification, why we group animals and how we tell them
apart.
Key Concepts
 Classification is organizing types of animals into groups based on similarities.
 Living things are classified to make communication easier and relationships more clear.
 Living things are classified starting with large groups using general characteristics down
to specific species (ex: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species).
 Classifying living things also helps us know what we have so we can protect it better.
Keywords: classification, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species, reptile, bird,
mammal, endothermic, ectothermic, vertebrate, invertebrate, adaptations.
Core: GLE 0307.2.1 (Living); 0307.5.1(Adaptations)
Happenin’ Herpetology – Examine what makes Reptiles and Amphibians unique from other
vertebrates. What special adaptations they have to help them survive in a variety of habitats.
Note: Live Amphibians are not touchable. But reptiles and biofacts are.
 Classification of Reptiles and Amphibians
 Reptiles have scales, are ectothermic, lay leather eggs, simple teeth
 Amphibians have slimy skin, are ectothermic, lay jelly eggs, live partially in water
 Amphibians are an indicator species and how pollution affects them.
 Reptiles and amphibians are found in many different habitats around the world
Keywords: Vertebrate, Adaptation, Habitat, ectothermic, predator, carnivore, indicator species,
reptile, amphibian, herpetology
Core: GLE 0307.2.1 (Living); 0307.5.1(Adaptations)
Owls: Predators of the Night - Discover nighttime’s most amazing hunters. Learn how owls
find their way and their food in the dark with up-close observation of live owls and by touching
owl biofacts. Note: the live birds are not touchable, but the bird biofacts are. Limited
Availability
Key Concepts
 Owls are birds (have feathers, endothermic, lay eggs).
 Owls are nocturnal.
 Owls have special adaptations for hunting at night.
 Owls live in a variety of habitats.
 Owls are an important part of the food chain.
Keywords: bird, nocturnal, adaptation, endothermic, habitat, predator, prey, food chain,
carnivore.
Core: GLE 0307.2.1(Living); 0307.5.1(Adaptations)
Nocturnal Animals - Discover amazing animals that thrive in the dark hours of the night. Hear
about how they find food and protection in the night.
Key Concepts
 Animals that come out at night are Nocturnal
 Animals have special adaptations for living at night
 Some animal come out only at night to survive harsh daytime habitats
Keywords: Nocturnal, predator, prey, adaptations, habitat, carnivores
Core: GLE 0307.2.1 (Living); 0307.2.2(Competition); 0307.5.1(Adaptations)
Eww Bugs! – Discover the amazing world of Insects and Arachnids. Are spiders bugs? Are
Daddy long legs really the most venomous spider? Learn about the amazing things that make up
the amazing world of Arthropods focusing on Insects and Spiders.
Key Concepts
 Insects and Spiders are from the phylum Arthropoda
 Spiders are from the sub- phylum Chelicerata
 Insects are from the sub –phylum Hexapoda
 Insects have 6 legs, 3 body parts, 2 antennae
 Spiders 8 legs, 2 body segments
Keywords: Phylum, Class, Family, Arthropods, Chelicerae, Thorax, abdomen, cephalothorax,
Carnivore, adaptations, Predator, Prey, Exoskeleton. Complete and Incomplete Metamorphosis,
Life cycles
Core: GLE 0307.2.1(Living); 0307.4.1 (Life Cycle); 0307.5.1(Adaptations)
Endangered Species- Many Animals are struggling to survive. In this class students will hear
about the different stages from threatened to extinct, why it is happening, and what can we do
about it.
Key Concepts

Learn about the stage threatened, endangered, critically endangered, extinct in the wild,
and extinct.
 Learn some of the causes of extinction (poaching, deforestation, disease, invasive
species, etc)
 Learn a few ways we can make a difference
Keywords: Threatened, endangered, extinct, invasive species, Adaptations, deforestation,
poaching, predator, prey, habitat, reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Core: GLE 0307.2.1 (Living); 0307.2.2(Competition); 0307.5.1(Adaptations);
0307.5.2(Endangered)
Global Climate Change and Animal Survival – Discover the effect Global Climate Change is
having on habitats and the animals that live in these habitats.
Key Concepts
 Discuss climate, the things that effect climate and the effect we have on climate
 Learn about adaptations animals have for their habitats.
 Learn about the problems habitats are having due to climate change.
 Discuss what we can do about it and what to expect in the future.
Keywords: Global Climate Change, Habitat, climate, adaptations, abiotic, conservation.
Core: GLE 0307.2.1 (Living); 0307.2.2(Competition); 0307.5.1(Adaptations)