Conservation Classroom

Conservation Classroom is a collection of monthly lessons for K-5 students. Each lesson has four elements: wonder, engage, act and connect.

  1. Wonder: Pre-program videos that introduce the monthly topic.
  2. Engage: Live, 45-minute virtual program with a Zoo educator.
  3. Act: Synchronous and asynchronous activities to extend the lesson.
  4. Connect: Videos that connect students to staff with "unZOOsual" careers.

Programs and materials support Next Generation Science Standards. 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, emojis, Q&A and chat.

Upcoming Programs

April 24, 2024 at 2 pm ET

Saving Endangered Species

What does it mean when an animal is endangered and what can we do to help? Meet one of the National Zoo’s most endangered species and learn how staff care for these special animals.

Grades:

K-5

Standards:

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

Topics:

endangered species, conservation

Cost:

Free

May 8, 2024 at 2 pm ET

Discovering Amphibians

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.

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

Topics:

amphibians, adaptations, habitats, life cycles

Cost:

Free

May 22, 2024 at 12 pm ET

Exploring Neighborhood Birds

Birds are everywhere! Learn about some of our neighborhood birds and the techniques used to study them from a migratory bird scientist.

Grades:

2-6

Standards:

Supports NGSS 2-PS1-2, 2-LS2-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS1-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1

Topics:

birds, migration, observation, tracking, bird banding

Cost:

Free

See the Education Programs Calendar for a list of all programs.

Past Programs

September 20, 2023 at 2 pm ET

Caring About Conservation

What is conservation? Why is it important? Caring About Conservation explores the meaning of "conservation," some of the animals Smithsonian scientists are trying to save, and what we can all do to protect wildlife.

Recording Passcode: i*!Y89NJ

Grades:

K-5

Standards:

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

Topics:

conservation, sustainability, animals, wildlife, science

Cost:

Free

October 11, 2023 at 2 pm ET

Aquatic Animal Adventures

Aquatic Animal Adventures explores aquatic habitats from ponds to the ocean and the animals along the Zoo's American Trail that call these habitats 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

Topics:

habitats, adaptations, waterways, aquatic mammals

Cost:

Free

November 15, 2023 at 2 pm ET

What Makes a Habitat a Home?

From deserts to rainforests, what makes a habitat a suitable animal home? What Makes a Habitat a Home explores habitats around the world and some of the animals that live in these habitats.

Grades:

K-5

Standards:

Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, 3-LS4-3

Topics:

habitat, animals, survival, four basic needs

Cost:

Free

December 13, 2023 at 2 pm ET

Suited for Survival

Suited for Survival explores animal adaptations from camouflaging lizards to armored turtles. Students will learn how unique adaptations help animals survive.

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

Topics:

Reptiles, survival, adaptations, animal traits, animal behavior

Crosscutting Concepts:

Patterns, structure and function

Cost:

Free

January 24, 2024 at 2 pm ET

Wild Medicine

What happens to a seal who has a toothache? How does an orangutan get a checkup? Wild Medicine invites students to Join our team of veterinarians and other animal health professionals 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

Topics:

Health, animal care, veterinary medicine

Crosscutting Concepts:

Patterns, cause and effect, systems and system models, structure and function

Cost:

Free

February 14, 2024 at 2 pm ET

Valen-TINY Mammals

What makes an animal a mammal? Valen-TINY mammals gives students an up-close look at mammal traits from some cute and tiny zoo animals.

Grades:

K-5

Standards:

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

Topics:

Mammals, animal groups, adaptations

Crosscutting Concepts:

Patterns, cause and effect, energy and matter

Cost:

Free

March 6, 2024 at 10 am ET

Explore the Rainforest

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-5

Standards:

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

Topics:

Amazon, rainforest, biodiversity, rainforest layers, animals

Crosscutting Concepts:

Patterns, cause and effect, scale proportion and quantity, and systems and system models

Cost:

Free