Zoo Bingo Cards (Free Printable Generator)

The word list

Forty animals and zoo scenes keep cards fillable even if half the exhibits are closed. Edit the list to match the species your zoo has, since most parks are missing a few of these.

How to play during a zoo visit

Check the zoo map before you leave home and trim your card to match the species on display. Then keep the game casual, with cards in a backpack and pencils in a pocket.

1. Hand each child a card at the entrance gate.
2. Cover a square when you see the animal, not when you see its sign. Some enclosures hide their residents well.
3. Squares that name activities, such as a feeding or a sleeping animal, are bonus finds that depend on timing.
4. Children shout their finds to the family and a grown-up confirms.
5. At a rest bench, count up rows and decide on a prize.

Three variations for animal days

• Habitat order. Walk the zoo section by section and complete squares in the order you meet them. This keeps the game from drifting out of sync with the route.
• Sound guess. At the bird house, ask which animals are making noise and cover squares by ear.
• Team field trip. On a school visit, give each group of four one card and have them agree before covering any square.

Tips for adults on the path

Many animals nap in the afternoon. Plan the busiest part of the card for morning, when keepers feed and creatures move around.

Let children cover squares in any order. Resist the urge to point out something they have not yet noticed, because spotting a sloth for yourself feels better.

Ask one question per find: what does it eat, where does it live. It adds learning without turning the day into a lesson.

Printing for the zoo trip

Print a small card, two per page, and fold it in half to fit a pocket. Cardstock outlasts a day in a stroller basket.

If your zoo allows photography of the map, add the exhibit names to the list. Ink saver is a good idea because the card will probably get sticky from snacks.