Preschool Field Trips
Overview
The following programs have been developed to spark the imagination and curiosity of all young children. Using songs, puppets, active conversation, and the Nature Center resident animals, the children have an enjoyable introduction to information about the world around them.
- Ages: 3-5 years
- Program length: 120 minutes
- Minimum: 10
- Maximum: 3 Classes
- Chaperones required: 1 chaperone per 15 students
- Cost: $5/person
Programs
Awesome Animals | Students discover the primary similarities and differences of several classes of animals (amphibian, reptile, insect, and arachnid). They will learn the basic needs, such as: food, water, shelter, space, and habitat. The program Includes an exploratory hike and outdoor activity, weather permitting. |
Going Buggy | Discover some of the amazing things that insects can do! Participants will learn about complete & incomplete (gradual) lifecycles with a focus on the stages of metamorphosis. Meet our resident creepy-crawly friends and go for a bug hunt out on the trail, weather permitting. |
Rascally Reptiles | Turtles, snakes & lizards all live here at the Nature Center. Come and discover what makes them so special. What do they eat? Where do they live in the wild? Why are people afraid of some but love others? Afterward we can go out on the trail for a reptile scavenger hunt |
In-School Presentations
This program is available as an in-school presentation. These include: live animal presentations and interactive nature activities. The program fee will include the cost of the program plus a $50 transportation fee.
Maryland State Curriculum
PK- : Observe a variety of familiar (plants and) animals to describe how they are alike and different.
PK-: Observe and collect data about how some animals are alike in the way they look and the things they do.
PK-: Use oral language to compare pictures of models of several plants or animals that look alike, and several pants or animals that look different, and respond to questions that are raised by those who observe the pictures.
PK-: Observe, describe, and compare different kinds of animals and their offspring.
PK-: Recognize and describe the similarities and differences among familiar animals and their offspring.
PK-: How offspring are very much, but not exactly, like their parents and one another.
PK-: Arrange illustrations (of humans and other) animals in developmental sequence from infancy to adult.
Skills and Processes:
01.b Seek information through reading, observations, explorations and investigations.
Applying Evidence and Reasoning:
02.b Develop reasonable explanations for observations made, investigations completed and information gathered by sharing ideas and listening to others ideas.
Communicate Scientific Informaton:
03.a Describe things accurately as posible and compare observations with those of others.
Making Models:
06.a Explain that a model of something is different from the real thing but can be used to learn something about the real thing.