Crafting a New Vision in Collaboration with Teachers

Zoo Learns by Listening

In 2022, Oakland Zoo launched the California Climate Learning Project to increase climate and environmental literacy for K-12 students. In a multi-year process, the Zoo’s education professionals collaborated with community and Oakland Unified School District researchers, teachers, indigenous community leaders, experts in technology and design, and students to create an exciting curriculum built on science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM).

These specialists from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines created the curriculum and designed the hands-on Discovery Kits teachers borrow from the Zoo for classroom use. The curriculum and materials are grouped thematically into four sections: California’s

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Indigenous Cultures, and Endangered Species. We are grateful for the contributions made by indigenous elders Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino, who contributed their perspectives and history to this two-year planning process.

With this deeper focus on climate change, the Zoo’s education programs rely on the animals in our care to exemplify how human activity is affecting Earth’s climate system. The need for climate literate citizens is urgent. This development in Zoo education programming represents the future of climate literacy.

This project was made possible by support from The Hearst Foundations and The Joseph and Vera Long Foundation. Additional funding was provided by the Specified General Fund for the Museum Grant Program under the California Cultural and Historic Endowment.