Expeditions
What is an Expedition?
Think field study and fun! A professional Zoo Educator will lead guests through a thematic, interactive, inquiry-based experience! Expeditions take place in and around the Zoo and bring learning alive. Each expedition lasts about 1 hour and has students make observations and participate in interactive activities.
All of our programs meet Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards and can be tailored to meet the needs of your group.
You must request a field trip to reserve an Expedition.
For Grades K-2:
Elephants & Biodiversity
Elephants & Biodiversity: Learn about biodiversity and how the roles of African animals affect one another and their habitat.
NGSS & NYS P-12 Science Learning Standards Connections:
- Kindergarten: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: Animals, Plants, and Their Environment
- 2nd grade: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
- K-2nd grade: Engineering Design
Lion Safari
Lion Safari: Take a safari through lion territory and learn all about lions and the importance of conservation areas.
NGSS & NYS P-12 Science Learning Standards Connections:
- Kindergarten: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: Animals, Plants, and Their Environment
- 1st grade: Structure, Function, and Information Processing
- K-2nd grade: Engineering Design
Caring About Water
Caring about Water: Discover how pollution affects our waterways and animals and how you can help.
NGSS & NYS P-12 Science Learning Standards Connections:
- Kindergarten: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: Animals, Plants, and Their Environment
- 2nd grade: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
- K-2nd grade: Engineering Design
Cycles of Life & Water
Cycles of Life & Water: Role-play the life cycles of different animals and learn how you can help protect the waterways animals rely on.
NGSS & NYS P-12 Science Learning Standards Connections:
- Kindergarten: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: Animals, Plants, and Their Environment
- 2nd grade: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
- K-2nd grade: Engineering Design
For Grades 3-5:
Watery Habitats
Watery Habitats of North America: Learn what every animal needs from a habitat and how you can help protect watery habitats on our continent.
NGSS & NYS P-12 Science Learning Standards Connections:
- 3rd grade: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems; Weather and Climate
- 5th grade: Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems; Earth’s Systems
Baboons: All in the Family
Baboons: All in the Family! Examine our lion, baboon and elephant families and look for their inherited and learned traits and adaptations.
NGSS & NYS P-12 Science Learning Standards Connections:
- 3rd grade: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems; Inheritance and Variation of Traits: Life Cycles and Traits
- 4th grade: Structure, Function, and Information Processing
- 5th grade: Earth’s Systems
Waters Around the World
Waters Around the World: Investigate the differences between fresh and salt water, how people and animals rely on water and what your students can do to protect this resource.
NGSS & NYS P-12 Science Learning Standards Connections:
- 3rd grade: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
- 4th grade: Structure, Function, and Information Processing
- 5th grade: Earth’s Systems
Brilliant Biomes
Brilliant Biomes: Explore biomes around the world through the animals at the Zoo.
NGSS & NYS P-12 Science Learning Standards Connections:
- 3rd grade: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, 3.Weather and Climate
- 4th grade: Structure, Function, and Information Processing
- 5th grade: Earth’s Systems
How do I prepare?
- Read the Teacher Guide for your Expedition
- Have your class split into Expedition Groups of 10-15 students with at least 1 chaperone per group
- Communicate with our Education Department by emailing any questions or special requests to [email protected]
- Please note: animals may or may not be visible when visiting their habitat during an Expedition
