Haga clic en el botón Español de arriba para ver el sitio web y los recursos en español.
Animal engineers explores nature’s engineers. Learn how animals reshape their habitat to meet their needs and make a positive impact on the ecosystem.
This virtual school program is part of Conservation Classroom, a collection of monthly lessons for K-5 students. Each lesson has four elements: wonder (video), engage (live virtual program), act (activities), and connect (video). Follow along with all four parts or pick and choose the videos and activities you want to explore.
K-5
Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, 2-LS2-1, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS4-3
patterns, cause and effect, systems and system models
engineering, habitats, adaptations
Free
Wonder ›
I wonder... are animals engineers? Learn what engineering is and how animals build and change their habitats to meet their needs.
Click "watch video" to view!
¡Haga clic en "ver video" para verlo!
Engage ›
Watch the recording of the program that aired on September 10, 2025.
In this free, live virtual program, students learned about nature’s animal engineers, how they reshape their habitats, and make a positive impact on the ecosystem.
Language & Access: English, Spanish (simulcast), American Sign Language interpretation, and live English captions.
The recording split itself into two parts, so please watch Part 1 and then Part 2.
Act ›
During the live program, follow along by matching the animal to what it engineers. After the program, write and draw your a story about an animal engineering its habitat. Share your drawings with us at nzp-education@si.edu.
Click the "Activities" button below to view the activity packet.
Haga clic en el botón "Actividades" a continuación para ver el paquete de actividades.
Connect ›
Meet Mo, a website designer whose work helps to save species. As part of his "unZOOsual" career, Mo uses computer engineerging and website design skills to help connect visitors to the Zoo's animals and conservation efforts.
Click the "Watch Video" button below to watch this Career Connections video.
For Educators
Educator's Materials
Conservation Classroom: Animal Engineers is best suited for grades K-5. The full lesson consists of two videos, a live program, and two activities. Refer to the Smithsonian Learning Lab collection to help teach this lesson.
Letter to Guardians
After participating in the live program, print or send the following letter to guardians, explaining what their student learned in this lesson and how they can continue to engage from home.
Click English button above to view website and resources in English.
Ingenieros animales explora a los ingenieros de la naturaleza. Aprenda cómo los animales remodelan su hábitat para satisfacer sus necesidades y tener un impacto positivo en el ecosistema.
Este programa de escuela virtual es parte de Conservation Classroom, una colección de lecciones mensuales para estudiantes de K-5. Cada lección tiene cuatro elementos: maravillarse (video), participar (programa virtual en vivo), actuar (actividades) y conectarse (video). Sigue las cuatro partes o elige los videos y actividades que deseas explorar.
K-5
Soporta NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, 2-LS2-1, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS4-3
Ingeniería, hábitats, adaptaciones
patrones, causa y efecto, sistemas y modelos de sistemas
Gratis
Preguntarse ›
Me pregunto... ¿Son ingenieros de animales? Aprenda qué es la ingeniería y cómo los animales construyen y cambian sus hábitats para satisfacer sus necesidades.
Haga clic en el botón "Ver video" a continuación para ver este video de I Wonder.
Comprometerse ›
Vea la grabación del programa que se emitió el 10 de septiembre de 2025.
En este programa virtual gratuito y en vivo, los estudiantes aprendieron sobre los ingenieros animales de la naturaleza, cómo remodelan sus hábitats y tienen un impacto positivo en el ecosistema.
Idioma y acceso: inglés, español (transmisión simultánea), interpretación en lenguaje de señas americano y subtítulos en inglés en vivo.
La grabación se dividió en dos partes, así que por favor mira la Parte 1 y luego la Parte 2.
Actuar ›
Durante el programa en vivo, siga haciendo coincidir al animal con lo que diseña. Después del programa, escribe y dibuja una historia sobre un animal que diseña su hábitat. Comparte tus dibujos con nosotros en nzp-education@si.edu.
Haga clic en el botón "Actividades" a continuación para ver el paquete de actividades.
Conectar ›
Conoce a Mo, un diseñador de sitios web cuyo trabajo ayuda a salvar especies. Como parte de su carrera "unZOOsual", Mo utiliza habilidades de ingeniería informática y diseño de sitios web para ayudar a conectar a los visitantes con los animales del zoológico y los esfuerzos de conservación.
Haga clic en el botón "Ver video" a continuación para ver este video de Career Connections en inglés.
Para educadores
Materiales para educadores
Aula de conservación: Animal Engineers es más adecuado para los grados K-5. La lección completa consta de dos videos, un programa en vivo y dos actividades. Consulte la colección del Laboratorio de Aprendizaje del Smithsonian para ayudar a enseñar esta lección.
Carta para el tutor
Después de participar en el programa en vivo, imprima o envíe la siguiente carta a los tutores, explicando lo que su estudiante aprendió en esta lección y cómo pueden continuar participando desde casa.
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K-5
Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, K-2-ETS1-1, K-2-ETS1-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS2-1, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-4, 3-5-ETS1-2
Conservation, sustainability, animals, wildlife, science
Cause and effect, systems and system models, structure and function, and stability and change
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K-5
Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2, 1-LS3-1, 3-LS1-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1, 5-PS3-1, 5-PS3-1
Mammals, animal groups, adaptations
Patterns, cause and effect, energy and matter
Free
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Music and Sound
Siamang, Kunekune pig, Gorilla
Explore the Rainforest ›
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K-5
Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, 2-LS2-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS1-1, 3-LS2-1, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-4, 4-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1
Amazon, rainforest, biodiversity, rainforest layers, animals
Patterns, cause and effect, scale proportion and quantity, and systems and system models
Free
Saving Endangered Species ›
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K-5
Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1, 1-LS1-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3, 5-ESS3-1
endangered species, conservation
Free
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Size and Measurement
Asian elephant, Black and rufous elephant shrew
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Join us as we celebrate Amphibian Week. Learn about amphibians, get an up-close look of some of them and chat with an amphibian expert.
K-5
Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, 1-LS1-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1
amphibians, adaptations, habitats, life cycles
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Birthday
Bald eagle, California sea lion, Eastern screech owl