Switcheroo Zoo - interactive Animal Activities and Teacher Guides

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I came across Switcheroo Zoo earlier in the week and have been using it with my kids in the classroom.  They really enjoy the games and activities and have done some great research on Animals from around the world.  Best of all for me their is an excellent teacher guide to accompany the activities.

Switch Zoo - Make New Animals
Visitors to this unique zoo make their own new creatures by switching the animals' heads, legs and tails. While students play, they can read facts about each of the animals that comprise their new beast. Visit our lesson plans section for classroom ideas.

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Your students can learn more about the animals in Switch Zoo by reading their Profiles in the Resources section below.

gold handLearn how to make new animals in Switch Zoo by taking the Guided Tour: Make New Animals. It's a hands-on, step-by-step guide so you will make animals while you learn! You can also click the gold hand on the fence to open the hidden How to Play panel and find out about everything you can do in the zoo. Or you can click here to read How to Play before entering the zoo.

Lesson Plans
For art, science, creative writing and persuasive writing projects. These lesson plans use Switch Zoo animals to spark interest and creativity.

Interdisciplinary Lesson PlansInterdisciplinary Lesson Plans
The result of a collaboration between four middle school teachers, these lesson plans are designed to be used either for an interdisciplinary activity, or for separate science, creative writing or persuasive writing projects.

Medieval Art Mixed Breed AnimalsMedieval Art Mixed Breed Animals
Art teacher Linda Woods shares her great lesson plan that references fantastic beasts in myth and legend, and uses Switch Zoo to generate ideas. To see drawings created by fifth grade students using the lesson plan, go to Mixed Breed Animal Drawings.

 

More Lesson PlansMore Lesson Plans
Visit the Lesson Plans page for simple science and creative writing plans for younger children, and links to Switch Zoo Lesson Plans off-site.

 

  

 

Resources

For on-site research: 142 animal profiles, a US endangered species map, and stories about unusual animal feats and ablities in the Zookeepers' Blog.

Animal ProfilesAnimal Profiles
142 animal species inhabit Switch Zoo and they are all profiled here, so students have easy access to interesting facts about the real animals that make up their fictional combination animals.Use the Google search tool on any page to quickly find animals.

Endangered Species MapEndangered Species Map
This interactive map of the United States provides information about the endangered species of each state. The color key includes descriptions of the biomes.



Zookeepers' BlogZookeepers' Blog
In these pages you'll find interesting news from the animal world, particularly reports that lead us to marvel at animals' unique, and often unexpected, behavior and abilities.