Today, I’m going to show you how to create a homeschool zoology unit without a curriculum. And I have more ideas about animals on my page Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon.
Also, in honor of National Zoo Day, I’ll share some resources and have a cute toilet roll fox craft for your younger learners.
In addition, I have some fun zoology notebooking sheets.
Let’s face it, it’s not easy to find a zoology curriculum. However, I will list the few ready made curriculum resources I know about.
First, my goal is to show you how you quickly can put your own homeschool zoology curriculum together.
This method is fabulous for those who love unit studies, unschoolers, Charlotte Mason fans, and even traditional homeschoolers.
First, let’s look at what exactly is zoology.
What is Zoology
According to dictionary dot com zo·ol·o·gies are the science or branch of biology dealing with animals, a treatise on zoology, the animal life of a particular region.
Zoology covers the study of both domestic and wild animals.
Since we are using Wildlife Anatomy as our main spine we are going to focus on wild animals.
And I’m so over the top excited about this newest release in the series because it makes a perfect spine.
Think of a spine as your main textbook or resource to guide you what to teach and the subjects to cover.
If you have a living book like Wildlife Anatomy: The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals around the World you can easily find a starting point.
Use a Living Book as a Spine or Main Text
Think of Wildlife Anatomy as an outline which covers enough topics for your preschooler through middle schooler to get a good solid understanding of zoology.
For example, look at these topics.
- learn about ecosystems
- vertebrates versus invertebrates
- predator versus prey
- food webs and small bits of information on a variety of animals
You can take as long or as short a time to study zoology as you like with the book.
The book first defines an ecosystem and then gives illustrations and descriptions for each as well as a few of its inhabitants.
Subtopics about Zoology
There are pages for types of eaters, a food web diagram, teeth, claws, and hunting tactics.
Then the rest of the book goes on to cover individual animals from something as simple as a tarantula to more exotic creatures like axolotls.
Furthermore, if you have a child who may want to pursue a career in zoology, study more branches of science.
How to Pursue a Zoology Path For Older Kids
Namely, biology, chemistry, physics, and even advanced biology. Don’t skip even basic generalized science.
Many homeschooled kids have worked in a veterinary’s office to get a good behind the scenes of how to care for animals.
Additionally, look for ways to volunteer at the following places.
- Zoo. Many zoos now offer classes for homeschoolers or a way to volunteer.
- Farm. Look to volunteer at a farm.
- Animal shelter. Many animal shelters need help and of course as I mentioned your child can volunteer at a veterinary office.
- If your child has an interest in marine biology many aquariums have classes and volunteer positions as well.
Moreover, there are more curriculum resources than there used to be when students wanted to pursue a zoology path.
I’ve listed some curricula help and fun resources for different ages below to help you flesh out a fun study of animals.
Resources for Multiple Ages Who Love Learning About Zoology
I have listed curriculum help to fun hands-on manipulatives for little kids to games and books which even older learners will enjoy.
This jungle animal figures set was made by hand painted with high realistically detailed appearance, cute face and childish eyes. Their uniquely molded textures and richly painted details make the animals vivid. Children would like to spend more time to observe and play with them.
THE BEST OF NATURE: Bring the wonder of the great outdoors into your home with the Nature Toob! Including a rabbit, beaver, doe, cardinal, gray wolf, fox, raccoon, black bear, moose, mountain lion, bald eagle, and a bison, this Toob has all kinds of unique animals that fly, hop and saunter!
FUN FACTS: Journey through the Wildlife of North America discovering facts about our continent’s most interesting animals. From Polar Bears to Pronghorns, from Alligators to Bald Eagles, this game is perfect for young nature lovers.
Use Professor Noggin Pets card game as a fun way to learn about animals and as an opportunity to discuss the responsibility of owning a pet.
Books and
A unit study done really well if you want something put together.
For kids interested in Marine Biologist and learning about interesting sea creatures like the Brittle Stars and aquatic mammals like the Fur Seal.
This is a creative research handbook for students ages 8-17 and up who love earning about extinct, endangered, and mysterious animals. This curriculum handbook is designed to help students study each animal using books, videos, internet, encyclopedias, and any other parent-approved learning tool.
Give your students the reinforcement they need with the 128-page comprehensive Biology Workbook for grades 6–12. Designed to aid in the review and practice of biology topics such as matter and atoms, cells, classifying animals, genetics, plant and animal structures, human body systems, and ecological relationships, this book includes realistic diagrams and engaging activities to support practice in all areas of
biology.
Also, I created some fun zoology notebooking pages.
For example, I have an animal report which can be used for any animal. Print as many pages of it as your child needs for studying each animal.
Place a picture in the box or have your child draw the animal if he is artistically inclined.
Next, I have a notebooking pages to help your child learn the difference between a mammologist and zoologist.
Last is a simple page but helps your child to identify what is an animal and understand taxonomy.
Next, add some of these fun activities for studying zoology.
Homeschool Zoology Resources
- Watch a video or two on each animal they study.
- Read and Google information to complete the worksheet above for each animal.
- Create artwork, a diorama, a science board, or other creative projects.
- Play an animal-themed game weekly.
Similarly, hands-on ideas makes learning stick.
Hands-on Homeschool Zoology Ideas & Resources
Truly for this study, I recommend grabbing just a few items.
For instance, Wildlife Anatomy, Professor Noggins Wildlife Safari or Wildlife of North America, and some plastic animals to use for dioramas, sensory bins, art inspiration, and to get a close look of features and other details of the creatures.
- Watch Introduction to Zoology: What are Animals to kick off your unit.
- Keep an ant colony to observe.
- Start an aquarium at home.
- Watch birds in your backyard or at a park and build a feeder.
- Prepare a food web or a lifecycle diagram.
- Watch insects and label their parts.
I have quite a collection of animal figures built up over the years. So, bring out manipulatives for your younger children.
Likewise, learn some new words and definitions.
Zoology Vocabulary
Specifically, ask what is an animal. You’d be surprised at what your children may say.
But here is one way to describe them.
Animals are heterotrophs and belong the kingdom Animalia. And they reproduce.
Heterotrophs are organisms that obtain food by consuming other living things. For younger children use the term consumer.
What are characteristics that all animals share? Not only are all animals heterotrophs but they have eukaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells are cells which contain a nucleus.
More Zoology Definitions
- invertebrate – an animal that lacks a backbone or vertebral column
- vertebrate – an animal which has a backbone
- carnivore – an organism that obtains energy by eating other animals
- herbivore – an organism that obtains energy by only eating plants
- omnivore – an organism that obtains energy by eating by both plants and animals
- taxonomy – science of naming organisms
And the animal kingdom is huge and diverse. For older kids animals can be classified into two groups which are invertebrates and chordates.
Likewise understanding about biomes is important. Biomes are regions known by their specific climates and plant and animal life.
For instance, land biomes would be tundra, grassland, rainforests, coniferous forest and deciduous forest.
Next water biomes would be marine and freshwater. As well as ecosystems in water can be divided into lakes, ponds, oceans, and flowing waters.
Finally, I have a fun toilet roll fox craft for your eager learners.
However, look at some facts about foxes.
Quick Fox Facts for a Homeschool Zoology Unit
- Foxes are shy secretive animals.
- The Canidae family includes foxes, dogs, wolves, jackals, and coyotes.
- If you’re looking for tracks like in snow keep in mind foxes travel in straight lines while a pet dog wanders in all directions.
- One unusual behavior hunting technique of the fox is that it jumps high into the air and then falls directly onto its prey.
- Some prey of the fox are rabbits, snakes, birds, rats, squirrels, gophers, weasels and even chickens and cats.
- Red foxes are found in North America, Asia, and Europe.
How to Make a Toilet Paper Roll Fox Craft
You will need:
- Empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls
- Orange and white construction paper
- Orange paint
- Googly eyes
- Paintbrush
- Black pen/marker
- Scissors
- Glue
To create your fox family ears fold about ¾” down on one side of the top of the roll and the same on the other side. Secure the two sides together with hot glue.
Once the glue is dried and set it is ready to paint completely with orange paint. Allow it to dry fully.
While waiting for the paint to dry you can cut small semi-circles for feet out of the white construction paper and cut out faces for each fox.
Remember as a kid folding paper in half and cutting out half a heart along the fold to get a symmetrical heart?
Do that again to create the light face. The half should be just a little smaller than 1” at the widest part.
Hot glue googly eyes into place on either side of the top bows of the heart and draw a small black nose and mouth near the bottom.
Cut a “bushy” tail out of orange construction paper.
Trace around the top 1” or so on white construction paper and cut it out.
Make a zig pattern across the bottom. Glue white onto the orange for the white tip of the tail.
Attach the tail to the back of the roll. Put them at different angles to give each a unique personality.
More Resources to Learn About Animals
- How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity
- Easy Hands-on Science: Animal Camouflage Activity Hunt
- Bird Unit Study and Lapbook And Fun Edible Bird Nests
- How Animals Cope With the Cold
- Animals of the Galapagos Islands
- 6 World Wildlife Day Activities to Learn About African Lions
- Egg to Sea Turtle Lesson Plans & Lapbook
- Horse Unit Study for Your Horse Loving Kids
- Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages
- Black Bear Unit Study and Fun Edible Bear Poop
- Free North American Robin Bird Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
- Toad and Frog Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
- Ocean Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
- Beautiful Bald Eagle Fun Facts And Torn Paper Bird Craft
How to Get the Free Homeschool Zoology Notebooking Pages
Now, how to grab the free notebooking pages. This is a subscriber freebie.
That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to this freebie.
Just follow the steps below.
► 1) Sign up on my list.
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