Educator Resources

Free Educator Resources for At the Zoo

At the Zoo invites children to think about what happens when we notice how someone is different from us—but stop there.

The animals notice Dannie's colors, clothes, body, and abilities, but almost none of them try to get to know Dannie. Some even decide what Dannie can or can't do based only on what they see.

These free educator resources extend the story by helping children explore the difference between noticing and knowing. Through conversation and activities, children can practice looking beyond first impressions, questioning assumptions, considering what they don't yet know, and getting curious about the person behind the differences.

Questions to Explore Together
A flexible discussion guide with quick questions for a short read-aloud conversation and deeper questions for longer classroom, library, or small-group discussions.

Notice → Wonder → Learn
Children practice separating what they can actually observe from what they can't know just by looking—and begin thinking about what they might want to learn about someone.

What Else Could Be True?
Children encounter everyday situations in which someone has made an assumption, brainstorm other possible explanations, and consider what they could ask if they wanted to learn more.

Finish the Drawing
Children draw themselves wearing Dannie's pajamas and add things about themselves that another person couldn't know just by looking.