What is an ecosystem and how does otter poop tell us how healthy an ecosystem is? Join us as we visit the Smithsonian’s Environmental Research Center to explore otters who live in the Chesapeake Bay. This program welcomes kindergarten through middle school students.
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-8
Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, 2-ESS2-2, 3-LS2-1, 5-ESS3-1, MS-LS2-1, MS-LS2-4, MS-ESS3-3
ecosystems, habitats, adaptations, waterways, aquatic mammals, food webs
patterns, cause and effect, systems and systems models, structure and function, stability and change
Free
Wonder
I wonder... why do scientists study poop? Come along with us and we discover how and why scientists study poop.
Me pregunto… ¿por qué los científicos estudian la caca? Acompáñanos y descubriremos cómo y por qué los científicos estudian la caca.
Bonus related content: 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
Access the recording to enjoy the program that aired on October 9, 2024.
In this free, live virtual program, students learned about ecosystems and how otter poop can tell us how healthy an ecosystem is. We visited the Smithsonian’s Environmental Research Center and explored otters who live in the Chesapeake Bay. This program welcomed kindergarten through middle school students.
Language & Access: spoken English, Spanish interpretation, American Sign Language interpretation, and English captions.
Act
During or after the live program, use the Critter Cam activity sheet to draw what we learn. Then after the program use your best detective skills to figure out what an otter ate.
Early Learners: Click here for your Scat Detective activity sheet.
Durante o después del programa en vivo, use la hoja de actividades de Cámara Trampa para dibujar lo que aprendemos. Luego, después del programa, utiliza tus mejores habilidades de detective para descubrir qué comió una nutria.
Hoja de actividades de Cámara Trampa
Estudiantes principiantes: Hoja de actividades del Detective de Excrementos de Nutria
Estudiantes mayores: Hoja de actividades del Detective de Excrementos de Nutria
Connect
Meet Calli, a research technician! As part of her "unZOOsual" career, Calli uses her senses and technology to study River otters.
Meet Rebecca, Curator of American Trail and Amazonia at the National Zoo. In her “unZOOsual” career, Rebecca works with many people and over 150 species!
For Educators
Educator's Materials
Conservation Classroom: Exploring Ecosystems with Otters is best suited for grades K-8. The full lesson consists of three 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.
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.
Explore More Programs
Fancy Food
What do animals eat? What do humans eat? Are animal diets and human diets similar, different, or both? Explore the answers to these questions with Pinky Jackalope and various Smithsonian museums including the National Zoo, the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, and more!
Food
National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History
Suited for Survival
Suited for Survival explores animal adaptations from prehensile-tailed porcupines to super soft chinchillas. Students will learn how unique adaptations help animals survive.
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
mammals, survival, adaptations, animal traits, animal behavior
patterns, structure and function
Free
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.
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
Free
Healthy Teeth
Why do animals need teeth? How do they use their teeth? And how do they keep them healthy just like we do?
Teeth
Supports Head Start ELOF Goals
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!
K-5
Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, 3-LS1-1, 4-LS1-1
Health, animal care, veterinary medicine
Patterns, cause and effect, systems and system models, structure and function
Free
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.
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
Colorful Creatures
What animals are colorful and why?
Color
Supports Head Start ELOF Goals P-SCI-1; P-SCI-2; P-SCI-3
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.
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
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.
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
Free
Let's Celebrate!
Help us celebrate Head Start's 60th birthday by throwing a party with different Zoo animals!
Celebrations
Supports Head Start ELOF Goals
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.
2-8
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, 5-LS2-1, MS-LS1-4, MS-LS1-5, MS-LS2-A
birds, migration, observation, tracking, bird banding
Patterns, Cause and Effect, Interdependence of science, engineering, and technology
Free