Outreach Education

Grade Level: Pre-K-K NC Essential Standards: APL-3, APL-4, HPD-4, LDC-8, PS.K.2

There are a lot of different types of animals in this world, and they all move in special ways! We’ll be slithering, fluttering, and crawling around the room in animal fashion, discovering an author who writes about how animals travel, and meeting a special animal guest in this program focusing on movement styles, restrictions, and abilities of various animals.

Grade Level: Pre-K-2nd NC Essential Standards: CD-14, LS.K.1.2, LS.1.1, LS.2.1-2

From egg to tadpole to frog, the life cycle of our amphibian friend is often the first look at metamorphosis in the classroom. We’ll explore the life cycles of frogs and butterflies during this interactive program. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet a live animal guest.

Grade Level: K-5th NC Essential Standards: LS.K.1, LS.1.1, LS.2.2, LS.4.1

We have some amazing wild neighbors and some equally amazing rumors about who they are, where they live, and what they can do. We will be on our feet and moving around during our wildlife true or false game, where we’ll discuss snakes to cougars, black bears to box turtles.

Grade Level: K-5th NC Essential Standards: LS.1.1-2, LS.5.2.1, LS.5.2.3

A place to live is essential to survival. Some animals have adapted to living in many different types of habitats, and some have very specific requirements. During this hands-on program, students will learn about habitats such as streams, meadows, and forests, as well as what animals live in them.

Grade Level: K-5th NC Essential Standards: K.P.2.1, EX.K.L.2.2, 1.L.1.1, 4.L.1.2, EX.4.L.1.4

Did you know that animals can smell, hear, taste, touch, and see in totally different ways? We’ll explore five different animals and the way they use their senses in unique ways through exploration, hands-on challenges, and a little bit of imagination.

Grade Level: 1st-3rd NC Essential Standards: ESS.1.2.2, ESS1.3.2, LS.3.3.2

Have you ever wondered what lives below our feet? Or what type of soil different plants need for healthy growth? We’ll be taking different soil samples around your location to compare and contrast soil texture, moisture, and the soil’s ability to support plants and animals. Be ready to get your hands dirty in this interactive lesson and meet a wildlife ambassador.

Grade Level: 1st-5th NC Essential Standards: LS.1.1.1, LS.5.2.2, LS.5.2.3

From the grass we play on to the birds singing in the trees, nature is connected through a web of living and nonliving factors in the environment. Participants will investigate their own schoolyard, community center, etc. to create a model and discover the interconnectedness in their own backyard.

Grade Level: 1st-5th NC Essential Standards: LS.1.1, 4.LS.1.2, 5.LS.2.3 Great for camps, libraries, and afterschools!

Our sense of sight is key to our feeling of security; we often fear things we only hear. Learn why animals make different sounds and what you can interpret just by listening. Then we’ll use natural instruments to create a class soundscape for a group story.

Grade Level: 4th

Have you ever wondered why some animals have camouflage, bright colors, or sharp claws? Through hands-on exploration of real animal biofacts, participants will investigate the amazing adaptations animals use to find food, avoid predators, and survive in their habitats.

Grade Level: 3rd-6th

Could you beat an owl in a staring contest or hold your breath longer than an otter? Find out during this interactive program all about the amazing feats our local wildlife perform every day!

Grade Level: 3rd-6th Great for camps, libraries, and afterschools!

Spiders are some of the most misunderstood animals in our area, and it’s time we learn what makes them so special. Participants will discover the different types of webs that spiders weave and even have a chance to spin their own!

Grade Level: 3rd-6th NC Essential Standards: LS.3.3, ESS.4.2, LS.5.2, ESS.6.3

Backyards are a great place to start learning how to protect local wildlife! Participants will learn what a healthy habitat looks like, then work in groups to get creative and design their own backyard animal habitat.

Grade Level: 4th-8th NC Essential Standards: LS.4.1.2-3, LS.5.2.3, LS.6.2.2, LS.8.2.1

Ever wondered about the animals that become active after we go to sleep? We’ll learn about opossums, owls, bats, and more during this nocturnal animal program. Students will learn to identify animal sounds, explore biofacts, and be introduced to a live animal guest.

Grade Level: 6th-8th NC Essential Standards: LS.6.2, LS.8.3

There’s a lot you can learn from leftovers! This raptor-based program will teach the basics of owl biology, as well as have them work in pairs or small groups to dissect a pellet collected from one of the Nature Center’s birds of prey! We will also learn how to identify the bones that we find inside, as well as meet a live animal guest.

(Due to materials, this program costs $3 per participant.)

Grade Level: 6th-8th NC Essential Standards: LS.6.2, LS.8.3

Studying what an animal leaves behind is a great way to learn about the lifestyle and habits of local wildlife. Students will rotate among three stations to play animal track games and design their own track guides, as well as work in small groups to study scat models.