Zoo Tycoon is a simulation game about building a successful zoo. To do so you need to learn a lot about animals and their habitats, as well as what it takes to run a successful tourist attraction.
Zoo Tycoon has won rave reviews from gamers of all ages and has earned accolades from numerous organizations including: Child Magazine, Children's Software Revue, and the Parents' Choice Foundation.
Zoo Tycoon was also awarded the prestigious Bologna New Media Prize for its fusion of education and entertainment.
You can ask your kid:
1. What have you learned about a real zoo from Zoo Tycoon?
2. What are your favorite animals? What do they need in order to thrive?
3. What do you need to learn in order to succeed in the game?
Zoo Tycoon has elements that can work with science, social studies and language arts instruction. A teacher's guide with lesson plans for using Zoo Tycoon in class is available online at brainmeld.com
GamesParentsTeachers asked Canadian gamer Cameron Taylor about Zoo Tycoon:
Q: So, what is Zoo Tycoon about?
A: This game is to create a zoo and try to attract as many people as possible. You then need to expand your zoo and more animals. This game allows you to hatch and breed animals. You can make your habitat as cool as you want.
Q: What do you like about the game?
A: I like the graphics and the point of the game. This game is great for kids in Grades 1 to 8 I enjoy this game also because you can make it very unique and the design is original. You can put on water shows and lots of viewing times and this is a bonus.
Q: Have you learned anything about the real world while playing the game?
A: You learn how to create good layouts of zoos, which can help, if you are planning to be an architect or CAD designer. You also learn important facts about the animals. You can learn about their habitat and their needs. This makes it possible to create the perfect habitat so the animals can breed. You also learn about the behind the scenes of a zoo. Like how zoo workers can feed and enter the cages. This is important if you are planning to be a zookeeper.
Q: What do you wish your parents or teachers knew about this game?
A: I wish they knew how educational and fun this game was so I could play it all they time. Also I wish that they knew that it taught you about real zoos that would be great because then they could realize how much we are learning. | 
