2007-2008 School Program Topics

All of our programs are designed to be inquiry based.  To ensure an interactive and hands-on experience for all students attending a Virginia Zoo program, they will be limited to one class per program.  We are able to accommodate up to three programs at the same time on Zoo grounds

Kindergarten

Is It Alive?         SOL K.1, K.6

What is a living thing?  What do living things need to survive?  A few of our animal ambassadors will help your class explore how animals are born, how they grow and what they need to survive.  Tap into your students' excitement about learning through animal observation and live contact.

Home Has What I Need   New!     SOL K.6 (program on Zoo grounds only)         

How do different animals find water, the right food, and the right kind of space and shelter in their native habitats? Your students will meet animals that live wild right here in Tidewater Virginia and see others in their natural habitat right by the Zoo. You the teacher should tell us whether they should also meet animals from the desert or the rainforest on a distant continent or oberve creatures from the American grasslands (this choice available seasonally)..

For an additional option, see "Animals in Class" under "Multigrade Programs" below .

They Have Sense!       New!      SOL K.2

Let your students use their own powers of observation as they explore how a variety of live animal visitors to your classroom see, hear, smell, taste and feel.

Grade One

Build a Beast      

SOL 1.1, 1.5  

Animals have similar life needs, but have adaptations that are unique to their species.  Students will participate in up close observations of education animals.  Through these observations and journal exercises, they will become familiar with the different physical characteristics animals have that help them survive in their homes.  Your class will also review the difference between wild animals and domestic animals.

Home Has What I Need    New!     

SOL 1.5 (program on Zoo grounds only)         

How do different animals find water, the right food, and the right kind of space and shelter in their native habitats? Your students will meet animals that live wild right here in Tidewater Virginia and see others in their natural habitat right by the Zoo. They will also meet animals from a desert or rainforest on a distant continent to answer the same questions, or observe creatures from the American grasslands (this choice available seasonally).

For an additional option, see "Animals in Class" under "Multigrade Programs" below .

Fellow Inhabitants (of the "Old Dominion")   New!    

SOL 1.5, Geography 1.4

Invite some Virginia species to your classroom to let your students match physical characteristics with animal groups and life needs. They'll get some good geography reminders as a bonus.

Grade Two

Seasonal Changes         

SOLs 2.4, 2.7  

The snow covered trees may be beautiful or a hot sunny day may be perfect beach weather, but these extremes present quite a challenge for our animal friends.  A visit from our education animals will help your students explore how wild animals are adapted to survive the changing seasons.

Breathe, Eat, and Plant Yourself at Home    New!   

SOLs 2.4, 2.5, 2.8

(program on Zoo grounds only)

Animals depend on what plants produce even to breathe! Explore animal diets (even frogs eat plant products to start with!), camouflage, nests and shelter, and habitat conservation with the help of animals in the classroom and in the exhibits.

For an additional option, see "Animals in Class" under "Multigrade Programs" below .

Part of a Bigger Picture   New!   

SOL 2.5, 2.7, 2.8

Each animal must adapt and survive in the surroundings of its native habitat.

Our animal visitors to your classroom will help your students understand how similar creatures hide, find homes, find food, or adapt to changing weather and seasons.

Review why conservation of natural habitat is important to the animals and to us.

Grade Three

Adaptation Investigation

SOL 3.1, 3.4  

Investigate animal adaptations by turning your class into animal detectives.  They will follow clues to identify mystery animals by their unique features and incredible survival abilities.

What Big Teeth You Have       

SOL 3.1, 3.5 (program on Zoo grounds only)

Predator or prey, what am I?  This lab-style program will give your students a hands-on opportunity to compare and contrast a variety of mammal skulls and teeth to uncover the mystery of herbivore, carnivore and omnivore dentition.

For an additional option, see "Animals in Class" under "Multigrade Programs" below . Third-grade teachers : consider also second-grade programs for review.

Fit for That Habitat   New!     

SOL 3.4, 3.6

This program will bring animals from diverse dry-land habitats to your classroom to promote student understanding of how the animals' physical adaptations and behavior allow them to satisfy life needs in the wild.

Multi-Grade Programs (grades kindergarten through 4th)

Animals in Class   

Specific content can be adapted to SOLs at one or more grade levels by request, or one particular unit topic can be emphasized.

Facts and ideas about specific animals and groups of animals will come alive as students see, and sometimes touch, a variety of animals. Behavior, habitat, classification, adaptations, life cycles, relationship to humans or some other specific topic can be emphasized on request.

Program Days: Monday-Friday

Program Times: Begin at 10:00 a.m. on Zoo grounds and can be scheduled throughout the day.

Registration: You must pre-register for education programs through the Education Department.  Please refer to the the School Discovery Programs webpage.

Cost of Program:  $150.00 per program (30 children maximum).  November through February $125.00 per program (30 children maximum).  Program fee also includes admission into the Zoo.

Outreach programs (offered at your school) can be scheduled starting at 10:00 AM.  Multiple presentations of the same program may be scheduled on the same day, but not more than two at a time.

Cost of Program at Your Facility:  Travel fee (based on roundtrip mileage fromthe Zoo) plus $150.00 per program (30 children maximum).

                Travel Fees for "Zoo to You" Programs

                 0-15 miles from the Zoo.............$15.00

                 16-30 miles.......................................$20.00

                 31-45 miles.......................................$25.00

                 46-60 miles.......................................$30.00

                 61-75 miles.......................................$35.00