In this field trip, children will learn about tree characteristics and their role in the natural and man-made world.

Content Unit:

Trees

Featured Creature:

Two-toed sloth, Red-rumped agouti

Lessons and Activities

Check back soon for fun and easy activities for kids, families, and teachers!

Explore More Programs

October 22, 2025 at 2 pm ET

Suited for Survival ›

Suited for Survival, special Halloween edition, explores animal adaptations from prehensile-tailed porcupines to super soft chinchillas. 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:

mammals, survival, adaptations, animal traits, animal behavior

Crosscutting Concepts:

patterns, structure and function

Cost:

Free

November 12, 2025 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

December 10, 2025 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, adaptations

Crosscutting Concepts:

cause and effect, systems and functions

Cost:

Free

December 11, 2025 at 2 pm ET

Community Helpers ›

In this field trip, children will learn about community helpers, who they are, and how they help take care of a community.

Content Unit:

Community

Featured Creature:

Beaver, Meerkat, Western lowland gorilla

January 14, 2026 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.

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

Crosscutting Concepts:

Cause and effect, systems and system models, structure and function, and stability and change

Cost:

Free

February 11, 2026 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

February 12, 2026 at 2 pm ET

Music and Sound All Around ›

In this field trip, children will learn about the importance of music and sound for both people and animals. What sounds do animals make and why? What objects can make sounds, and how can you play them to create music?

Content Unit:

Music and Sound

Featured Creature:

Siamang, Kunekune pig, Gorilla

March 11, 2026 at 11 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

April 8, 2026 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

April 9, 2026 at 2 pm ET

Big, Small, Let's Measure Them All ›

In this field trip, children will practice identifying what is big, medium, and small. In addition, kids will become familiar with other measurement terms such as longer, shorter, taller, bigger, and smaller.

Content Unit:

Size and Measurement

Featured Creature:

Asian elephant, Black and rufous elephant shrew

May 6, 2026 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 14, 2026 at 2 pm ET

Happy Birthday! ›

Join us as we celebrate Head Start's birthday and America's 250th birthday!

Content Unit:

Birthday

Featured Creature:

Bald eagle, California sea lion, Eastern screech owl