Programs for Pre-K through 2nd Grade

Pre-K and Kindergarten
What Makes Animals Different? Explore the similarities and differences in the appearance and behavior of arthropods, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. (CT standard K.2; A4)

Are You My Mother? Using photos, artifacts, and animals children will play a matching game and learn how adults and offspring are similar and how they are different. (CT standard K.2; A5)

Grade 1
Movin’ and Groovin’! Dive into swimming, slithering, swinging and more. With close attention to foot structure, we’ll explore how animals move around in their environment. (CT standard 1.2; A14)

Life Cycles: Many animals such as butterflies, frogs, salamanders and beetles go through metamorphosis, while most animals do not. Learn why this unique way of life makes sense for these creatures. (CT standard 1.3; A15)
 

Life in the Wild: How do animals get what they need from their environment? We’ll look at animal survival need and mechanisms. (CT standard 1.2; A.12)

Grade 2
What’s for Dinner? What Zoo animal eats 15 pounds of meat at a time? What Zoo animal has a fruit salad for lunch? What do monkeys eat? You’ll find out how Zoo diets and people diets are the same and how they are different! (CT standard 2.4; A24)

Other topics for this age group:

Some Like it Hot! What animals hibernate? Who migrates? What is torpor? Find out what animals do to survive and thrive through the changing seasons.

Programs for 3rd Grade through 5th Grade

Grade 3
Mystery Habitats: Discover the diversity of habitats and the specialized plants and animals that live in them while exploring our mystery habitat boxes. (CT standard 3.2; B3)

Wonderful Wetlands: Learn about these rich habitats and the diverse wildlife and plants that make their home there. (CT standard 3.2; B4)

Grade 4
Food Web: It all starts with the sun’s energy feeding plants. Whether herbivore, omnivore or carnivore everything is connected. Explore the connection between plants and the food web. (CT standard 4.2; B10)

Habitat Impact: Explore the natural and human-caused changes on habitats and the animals that live there. (CT standard 4.2; B11)

Grade 5
Colors of Nature: Are Blue Birds really blue? Do wolves see in color, how about Parrots? How do Zebra stripes camouflage? Investigate how color plays a role in nature. (CT standards 5.1; B19 and 5.2; B20)

Animal Tools: Humans have been making tools for centuries, but how about animals. Discover how humans have taken ideas for tools from animals and nature by investigating our animal tool box. (CT standard 5.4)

Other topics for this age group:

Rainforest Rendezvous: Rainforests are the most diverse habitats on Earth. Explore forest layers, living creatures, products and the global importance of tropical rainforests.

In a Class by Itself: Have your class take an in-depth look at an animal “class”. Choose from reptiles, mammals, birds, amphibians or invertebrates.

Programs for 6th Grade through 8th Grade

Grade 6
Survival Skills: It’s a jungle out there. Explore the various adaptations predators and prey have to survive their tenuous relationship.(CT standard 6.2; C5)

Connecticut Critters: Who’s eating what in your backyard? Investigate your local food web. (CT standard 6.2; C6)

Wade into Watersheds: Using a watershed model, students will observe the impacts humans have on our local waterways. (CT standard 6.4; C11)

Grade 7
All our Eggs in One Basket?: Today technology increases food production and preservation. Before technology there where Heritage Breeds and integrated pest control. Discover what these things are and how they remain important in food production. (CT standard 7.4)

Grade 8
Species Survival Plan (SSP): Computer dating for animals? Discover the role zoos and the SSP play in the reproduction and survival of endangered species.(CT standard 8.2)

Other topics for this age group:

Adaptable Avians: From Raptors to Parrots to Poultry to Doves we’ll explore the amazing world of birds, flight and bird adaptations.

Programs for 9th Grade through 12th Grade

Grade 9
Nature’s Gifts: Chemical technology is growing in leaps and bounds. But is it safe? Discover the alternatives we can get from nature’s “technology”.(CT standard 9.6)

Zoopharmacognosy: Do animals self-medicate? What plants have we learned to use by watching wildlife? (CT standard 9.6)

Grade 10
Animal Adaptations: Examine a variety of animal survival tactics. Discover how animals face the challenges of everyday life in the wild.(CT standard 10.5; D42)

Other topics for this age group:

Species Survival Plan (SSP): Computer dating for animals? Discover the role zoos and the SSP play in the reproduction and survival of endangered species.

Zoo Nutrition: Imagine trying to meet the nutritional and dietary needs for over 100 different animals. Explore the incredible diversity of Zoo diets.

Workshop topics
* Wildlife Tracks and Signs
* Wonderful Wetlands
* Animal Enrichment
* Hunters of the Sky - Birds of Prey

Programs for Post Secondary
* Zoo Nutrition
* Exotic Animal Training and Enrichment
* Exotic Animals as Pets
* The Wild World of Africa
* Remarkable Reptiles

Wild Assemblies Topics
It’s a Bug’s Life: Tiny arthropods become giants as we take a really close look at creepy, crawly animals magnified and reflected on to the big screen.

CT Critters: Explore the world in your own backyard as we learn about the many incredible native animals found right here in Connecticut.

It’s a Jungle Out There: Investigate the world of predator prey relationship by examining the wonderful world of adaptations.

Remarkable Rainforests: What does coffee, chocolate and cockroaches have in common – find out as we travel through the Amazon rainforest together.