Zoo Field Trip - One of our favorite places!!

The day was a little chilly, but that didn't bother a bus load of Mall-ards on their way to the Jacksonville Zoo! The children were waiting weeks to visit the zoo, one of their favorite places, with their classmates. The zoo adventure started with the educational presentation which focused on up-close and hands-on animal encounters in a traditional classroom setting. The program targeted Kindergarten curriculum and has been developed in conjunction with the Sunshine State Standards, NCEE New Standards, and the Duval County Schools District Performance Standards. Students saw an owl, chinchilla, and lizard to name a few. Then it was off to the zoo to gaze and admire the other animals including elephants, zebras, giraffes, and snakes. It was amazing to hear the vocabulary words students used to describe the animals. We heard "Don't they look cozy?" and "That giraffe looks curious." Also, we have just started our Eric Carle author study and have read the books, "Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too," and "From Head to Toe." These books talk about animal's movements and what their parents and babies are called. For instance, a kangaroo male is a boomer, the mother is a flyer, and the baby is a Joey. Science and Language Arts was explored during this wonderful trip to the zoo. While traveling the zoo sights, students were given a "Search for this Animal" booklet and received a sticker when they spotted one on the list. Thanks to Mrs. Holtsman for the great pictures and Mrs. Farrulla for the Search and Find zoo booklets. And thanks to our twenty plus chaperones who accompanied us on this trip!!