Texas Southmost College (TSC) will host its annual Children’s Play Day at the Zoo at Gladys
Porter Zoo on Sunday, April 19.
Families can look forward to a fun-filled day of quality time and creative hands-on learning
through a wide variety of play-based activities.
“Children will learn about animals and cultures from countries around the world,” said Dr. Diana
H. Cortez-Castro, Program Coordinator in TSC’s Teaching Education Program. “They will get to
explore traditional games and celebrate diversity through the lens of play as a cultural
cornerstone.”
Inspired by her upbringing along the U.S./Mexico border and her extensive research and travel,
Dr. Cortez-Castro has created and led the annual Children’s Play Day event at TSC since 2017.
Students enrolled in Dr. Cortez-Castro’s Teacher Education program also play a vital role in the
event’s success, actively facilitating diverse “play stations” throughout the zoo. The Play Day
event is intentionally aligned with NAEYC’s Week of the Young Child celebrations.
“This service-learning project is deeply centered on play pedagogy, active learning, and
multicultural education, requiring students to design and lead creative play stations that reflect
diverse global themes,” added Dr. Cortez-Castro.
Participation in the event is free with the purchase of general admission or zoo membership.
