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New in 2022! Conservation Classroom is a collection of monthly lessons for K-5 students. Each lesson has four elements: wonder, engage, act, and connect.
- Wonder: Pre-program videos that introduce the monthly topic.
- Engage: Live, 45-minute virtual program with a Zoo educator.
- Act: Synchronous and asynchronous activities to extend the lesson.
- Connect: Videos that connect students to staff with "unZOOsual" careers.
Programs and materials support Next Generation Science Standards. Many live programs include views of the Zoo’s animals, but seeing animals is never guaranteed. These public programs are designed for a variety of students to join and learn together, from small groups and home-school students to large groups or schools. Programs take place on Zoom in webinar format. In this format, audio and video is disabled but students can actively participate using polls, Q&A and chat. Visit the webinars page for archives of past programs.
March: Rainforest Walk
Fly, leap and swim along on an adventure through the Amazon Rainforest to explore the sights and sounds of plants and animals living in this unique ecosystem.
Grades: K-1
Standards: K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, 2-LS4-1
Wonder
I wonder... what are the layers of a rainforest? Swim, crawl, slither, swing and fly through each layer of the Amazon Rainforest to find out!
Engage
March 15 at 10 a.m. EDT
What animals live in the layers of a rainforest? Meet some animals of the Amazon Rainforest in this free, live, and interactive virtual program. Program includes live captions and ASL interpretation.
Act
During the program or on your next Zoo visit, play Rainforest Bingo. Then, draw the animals where you live in the Great Neighborhood Tree activity.
Connect
Meet Craig, a horticulturist at the Zoo! As part of his "unZOOsual" career, Criag cares for plants in and around guest areas and animal habitats.
Educator's Materials
Conservation Classroom: Rainforest Walk is designed for grades K-1 but open to all. The lesson consists of two videos (pre/post), a live program and two activities. Refer to the Smithsonian Learning Lab collection to help teach this lesson.
Plan Ahead: Future Programs
Join us each month during the school year for a different animal topic. See the Virtual Programs Calendar to register.
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March: Rainforest Walk, Wednesday March 15 at 10am EDT
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April: Saving Endangered Species, Wednesday, April 19 at 1pm EDT
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May: Exploring Neighborhood Birds, Wednesday, May 10, 11am EDT
Questions?
Contact the Zoo's Center for Learning Innovation at nzp-education@si.edu.
Past Programs
Remarkable Reptiles
From scales to regrowing tails, reptiles are remarkable! Learn more about these fascinating animals and greet some of the Zoo's remarkable reptiles up close.
Grades: K-5
Standards: Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, 1-LS3-1, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS1-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-4, 4-LS1-1, 4-LS1-2, 5-LS2-1
Wonder
I wonder... what is a reptile? Slither through the Zoo to discover what features make a reptile a reptile.
Engage
Air Date: February 8 at 1 p.m. EST
Meet some remarkable reptiles in this free, live, and interactive virtual program. Recording includes closed captions.
Act
During or after the live program, identify the reptiles in of a group of animals. Then, create your own conservation comic from the point of view of a snake.
Connect
Meet Kyle, an animal keeper at the Zoo's Reptile Discovery Center! As part of his "unZOOsual" career, Kyle cares for and even trains reptiles.
Educator's Materials
Conservation Classroom: Remarkable Reptiles is designed for grades K-5 but open to all. The lesson consists of two videos (pre/post), a live program and two activities. Refer to the Smithsonian Learning Lab collection to help teach this lesson.
Migration Pitstops
What is migration and why do some birds migrate? Explore a few key habitats for migratory birds and learn more about their annual journeys.
Grades: K-5
Standards: K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, 1-LS1-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS1-1, 3-LS2-1, 4-LS1-1
Wonder
I wonder... what is migration? Fly along with two migratory birds to learn more about animal migration.
Engage
January 18 at 2 p.m. EST
Meet some migratory birds in this free, live, and interactive virtual program. Recording includes closed captions.
Act
During or after the live program, make observations of birds in your bird journal. Then design your own duck stamp.
Connect
Meet Autumn-Lynn, research ecologist! In her "unZOOsual" career, Autumn-Lynn uses technology to track animal movements and works like a detective to solve animal mysteries.
Educator's Materials
Conservation Classroom: Migration Pitstops is designed for grades K-5 but open to all. The lesson consists of two videos, a live program, one follow-along program activity and one post-program activity. Refer to the Smithsonian Learning Lab collection to help teach this lesson.
Suited for Survival
From camouflaging foxes to armored armadillos, learn how unique adaptations help animals survive. This live, interactive virtual program is free and includes live captioning and ASL interpretation.
Grades: K-5
Standards: 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
Wonder
I wonder... what is an adaptation? Bring your curiosity along on an adventure to learn about a variety of animal adaptations that help animals survive in their habitat.
Engage
December 7 at 1 p.m. EST
In this month's program, we met Martha the armadillo and some naked mole-rats to investigate adaptations that animals have for survival. Recording includes closed captions.
Grades: K-5
Standards: 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
Act
During the live program, have a paper and pencil handy to draw along as we learn about animal adaptations. After the program, create your own animal and send your drawings to us at nzp-education@si.edu.
Connect
Meet Mimi, animal keeper at the Zoo. In her "unZOOsual" career, Mimi uses science and knowledge of animal adaptations to care for the over 30 species in the Zoo's Small Mammal House.
Educator's Materials
Conservation Classroom: Suited for Survival is designed for grades K-5 but open to all. The lesson consists of two videos, a live program, and one post-program activity. Refer to the Smithsonian Learning Lab collection to help teach this lesson.
Wild Medicine
What happens to a seal who has a toothache? How does an orangutan get a checkup? Join our team of veterinarians to explore how animals go to the doctor, just like us!
Grades: K-5
Standards: Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, 3-LS1-1, 4-LS1-1
Wonder
I wonder... Do animals at the Zoo go to the doctor? Bring your curiosity along on an exploration of the Zoo's animal hospital.
Engage
Air Date: November 9 at 2 p.m. EST
In this free, live, interactive program, students will learn more about animal health while watching an animal get a check-up! Program includes live captioning, ASL interpretation and Spanish translation.
Grades: K-5
Standards: Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, 3-LS1-1, 4-LS1-1
Act
During or after the live program, compare items found in a doctor's and veterinarian's office in a sorting activity. Then practice reading radiographs with an x-ray matching activity.
Connect
Meet Veterinarian, Dr. Katharine, and Veterinary Technician, Dave, whose patients include animals big and small throughout the Zoo. Their "unZOOsual" careers use biology and technology to keep animals at the Zoo heathy!
Educator's Materials
Conservation Classroom: Wild Medicine is designed for grades K-5 but open to all. The full lesson consists of two videos, a live program, and three activities. Refer to the Smithsonian Learning Lab collection to help teach this lesson.
Aquatic Animal Adventures
From ponds to the ocean, explore aquatic habitats and the animals along the Zoo's American Trail that call them home.
Grades: K-5
Standards: 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
Wonder
I wonder... how are aquatic mammals so good at living in and around water? Bring your curiosity along on an adventure to learn about aquatic habitats and aquatic mammal adaptations.
Engage
Air Date: October 18 at 2 p.m. EDT
In this month's program, we met aquatic and semi-aquatic mammals at the Zoo and learned about their unique adaptations for living in water. Recording includes closed captions and ASL.
Act
During or after the live program, check students' knowledge on aquatic adaptations in a quick matching activity (K-1). Then, create your own aquatic superhero (K-5) and send your drawings to us at nzp-education@si.edu.
Connect
Meet Vivian who knows all about aquatic environments. In her "unZOOsual" career, Vivian uses biology, chemistry, engineering and technology to keep the Zoo's aquatic habitats safe for our animals!
Educator's Materials
Conservation Classroom: Aquatic Animal Adventures is best suited for grades K-5. The full lesson consists of two videos, a live program, and two activities. Refer to the one-page Educator's Guide or Smithsonian Learning Lab collection to help teach this lesson.