PreK – 5th Grade Programs

Programs for PreK-5th Grade

Programs for PreK-5th Grade are specifically designed to broaden your students’ knowledge of waterfowl, wetlands, conservation biology, ecology, and scientific methods.

Program fees do not include park admission.
LIVING LIFECYCLES

Organisms grow and change throughout their lives- some in very dramatic ways! Students will learn about life cycles, metamorphosis, and compare the life cycles of plants and animals. Participants will learn about life cycles through acting and group activities.

Key Words: Life cycle, direct development, germination, metamorphosis, complete metamorphosis, incomplete metamorphosis

North Carolina Essential Standards for Science:
Life Science K.L.1, 1.L.1, 1.L.2, 2.L.1, 2.L.2, 3.L.2, 4.L.1, 5.L.2, 5.L.3

Time: 30-45 minutes
Fee: $60 (up to 30 students. Additional students are $3 each.)

BIRD BUILDERS

Birds build some of the most incredibly complex and diverse structures in the animal kingdom. Learn why and how birds make nests and discover some extreme nest builders of Sylvan Heights! Participants will have the opportunity to try building their own nest!

Key Words: Habitat, behavior, nest, incubation, instinct, species

North Carolina Essential Standards for Science:
Life Science K.L.1, 1.L.1, 2.L.1, 4.L.1, 5.L.2

Time: 30-45 minutes
Fee: $60 (up to 30 students. Additional students are $3 each.)

CREATURE COMPARISON

Our world is filled with animals that have special features that help them to survive in their environment. Take a closer look at animal adaptations and how animals use them for survival. Participants will meet live animals to compare and contrast their adaptations.

This program includes live animals.

Key Words: Adaptation, behavior, organism, camouflage, predator, prey, instinct, migration

North Carolina Essential Standards for Science:
Life Science K.L.1, 1.L.1, 2.L.1, 4.L.1, 5.L.2, 5.L.3

Time: 30-45 minutes
Fee: $60 (up to 30 students. Additional students are $3 each.)

FEATHERED FRIENDS

Discover the world of birds using a hands-on interactive approach. Examine a variety of feathers to determine their purpose and benefits. Explore how eggs vary in size, shape and texture as well as length of incubation. Meet some of Sylvan’s special feathered friends and consider similarities and differences between different types of birds.

This program includes live animals.

Key Words: Species, waterfowl, preening, territorial, adaptation, migrate

North Carolina Essential Standards for Science:
Life Science K.L.1, 1.L.1, 1.L.2, 2.L.1, 4.L.1, 5.L.2

Time: 30-45 minutes
Fee: $60 (up to 30 students. Additional students are $3 each.)

WETLAND ADVENTURE

Explore natural wetlands and learn how essential these habitats are to our world. Go into the wetlands to find and identify many of the amazing plants and animals that call wetlands home. Discuss the history of human impacts and current conservation practices.

Key Words: Aquatic, wetland, resources, habitat, ecosystem, invertebrate, conservation, pollution

North Carolina Essential Standards for Science:
Life Science K.L.1, 1.L.1, 1.L.2, 2.E.1, 2.L.1, 3.L.2, 4.L.1, 5.L.2

Time: 30-45 minutes
Fee: $60 (up to 30 students. Additional students are $3 each.)

BEAKS!

Through hands on investigation and stories children will learn about the wide variety of bird beaks. Participants will experiment with a variety of utensils to explore how beaks are unique to what the bird eats. While observing and experimenting students will make and check their predictions about beak types.

Key Words: Adaptation, beak/bill, predator, prey, waterfowl

North Carolina Essential Standards for Science:
Life Science K.L.1, 1.L.1, 1.L.2, 4.L.1, 5.L.2

Time: 30-45 minutes
Fee: $60 (up to 30 students. Additional students are $3 each.)

WEB OF LIFE

Learn about our role as environmental stewards as we examine birds, reptiles, insects and their corresponding habitats. Understand the significance of plants’ and animals’ roles within an ecosystem, and when one of these essential components is removed, consider the rippling effects and resulting consequences.

This program includes live animals.

Key Words: Habitat, ecosystem, food web, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, producers, consumer, decomposer, detritivore, scavenger, energy

North Carolina Essential Standards for Science:
Life Science K.L.1, 1.L.1, 1.L.2, 2.E.1, 3.L.2, 4.L.1, 4.L.2, 5.L.2

Time: 30-45 minutes
Fee: $60 (up to 30 students. Additional students are $3 each.)

OWL PELLET DISSECTION LAB

Owls are predators found throughout North Carolina that play a vital role in ecosystems. Students will discover how organisms interact in an ecosystem’s food web and learn about the unique adaptations of owl through dissecting an owl pellet. Fascinating and a little bit gross- this program has all the makings of an unforgettable experience!

This program includes live animals.

Key Words: Food chain, food web, herbivore, omnivore, carnivore, decomposer, producers, consumers, predator, prey, apex predator, adaptation

North Carolina Essential Standards for Science:
Life Science K.L.1, 1.L.1, 1.L.2, 4.L.1, 4.L.2, 5.L.2

Time: 30-45 minutes
Fee: $90 (up to 30 students. Additional students are $4 each.)

ANIMAL AMBASSADOR MEET & GREET

During this program, students will meet 2 animal ambassadors (one reptile and one bird) and learn general information about them. What is a reptile? What makes a bird a bird? This shortened talk is perfect for young children, as well as students with developmental disabilities, to get a chance to meet and learn about different animal friends.

This program includes live animals.

Time: Up to 30 minutes
Fee: $35 (up to 30 students. Additional students are $3 each.)

Ready to schedule your adventure?