"Animal Coverings" -- Educational Offerings from CZS - Brookfield Zoo

The Conservation, Education, and Training Department of the Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo has developed many tools to assist educators in sharing information about animals, science, and caring - the things that form the basis of conservation at the zoo and in the wild. We encourage educators to use the information gathered by the zoo to share concepts about data gathering and scientific research, and to use the zoo's charismatic animals to help inspire excitement for learning.

Ann Roth, School Partnerships Coordinator, developed an educational program for students with disabilities called, Do the Zoo. Students “learn by doing” and using all of their senses. Brookfield Zoo continually strives to make the zoo accessible for guests with disabilities. The zoo is a leader in services to people with disabilities, and was recognized in 1999 with the American Association of Museum's Accessibility Award for having a universal design that accommodates all people, regardless of ability.

Most recently, two of the program’s instructors, Tara Alamilla and Lou Tomes, taught a class entitled “Animal Coverings” to blind and visually impaired children in grades K-8 from Chicago’s James Otis Elementary School.

“Animal Coverings” is a tactile class that encourages students to explore real animal artifacts to find out how different animals use their fur, skin, or feathers. Alamilla and Tomes modified the traditional class for James Otis Elementary by adding additional animal artifacts and matching sounds to enhance the sensory experience. Students are encouraged to handle a variety of skulls to compare the sizes and shapes. In this class, the students handled many artifacts including: a lion mane and lion skull, snow leopard pelt and skull, beaver skull, bear claw, porcupine quills, feathers and a giant python skin. The students also listened to specific animal sounds while handling artifacts of the specific animal. The instructors played a dolphin sound and passed around a replica of a dolphin’s body; an elk sound and passed around elk antlers; a mule deer sound and passed around antlers for comparison. For most of the students, it was their first opportunity to interact with several different live animals. Jim Painted Turtle, Slinky Boa Constrictor, Puff Bearded Dragon, and Gus Guinea Pig were a huge hit.

“Brookfield Zoo is so visual. Providing a class like “Animal Coverings” to students with disabilities is a great opportunity. The students benefit from the sensory experience and we’re able to reach out to all audiences,” says Alamilla.

If you’re interested in the educational opportunities offered at the Chicago Zoological Society – Brookfield Zoo, please visit www.brookfieldzoo.org for more information.