Keepers in the Classroom Programs
sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline
Plains of Africa (K-8)
“Home, home on the range, where the gazelle, springbok and kudu roam.” Learn how African grasslands support a varied population of animals, including antelope. Develop an understanding of how increased human population in Africa is leading to fragmented habitats and the consequences for wildlife populations. Discover actions you can take to preserve and protect wild habitats, locally and globally.
Program objectives:
- Inspire an appreciation for the enormous diversity of wildlife supported by grassland ecosystems.
- Develop an awareness of the connections between human population growth in Africa and increased use of land for agricultural purposes.
- Make connections between increased agricultural use of land, habitat fragmentation and effects on African wildlife, as well as local NC connections.
- Inspire and empower students to take actions to preserve and protect wildlife habitats.
On the Brink…….Growing Hope (K-12)
How much space does an African elephant need to move around? Answer: As much as he wants! Unfortunately, in the wild, loss of habitat and human activities are serious threats to the long term survival of elephants. Develop an understanding of how poaching for ivory, civil wars and expanding human populations are affecting not only elephant, but rhino populations as well.
Program objectives:
- Develop an awareness of the crucial role of elephants to grassland ecosystems.
- Create an understanding of the competition between people and wildlife for natural resources and the critical status of elephant and rhino populations in the wild.
- Generate a realization that human activities threaten wildlife populations and habitats globally and locally.
- Inspire and empower students to take actions to preserve and protect wildlife habitats.
Ocean Connections (K-8)
- Can some birds really ‘fly’ underwater in pursuit of prey? Seabirds, such as puffins, auklets and murres, are examples of species which do just that. Learn how these amazing avian wonders depend on healthy ocean food chains. Discover the connections between our seafood purchasing choices, unsustainable fishing practices and decreasing fish species on which ocean food chains are dependent.
Program objectives:
- Develop an appreciation for the significance of healthy ocean environments to the survival and vitality of seabird populations.
- Create an awareness of the relationship between unsustainable fishing practices influenced by consumer demand and possible depletion of fish species on which ocean food chains are dependent.
- Inspire and empower students to make ‘lower impact’ choices when purchasing seafood
Discovering Deserts (K-8)
Deserts are not barren wastelands, but wonderful ecosystems full of life. Learn about fascinating desert plants and animals and their remarkable adaptations to life with limited supplies of water. Discover ways to conserve and preserve our own precious water resources.
Program objectives:
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Create an awareness of the connections between the remarkable adaptations of desert plants and animals to the limited supply of water in their environment.
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Inspire a realization that the Earth’s limited supply of fresh water is very precious.
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Make connections between human population growth, damaging land use practices and water quality in deserts, as well as locally.
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Inspire and empower students to make daily choices which conserve and preserve water resources.
Chimps of the Forest (K-8)
Like humans, chimpanzees need clean water and air, nutritious food, sufficient shelter, plenty of space and opportunities for social interactions. Learn about the fascinating culture of chimpanzees, the effects of human population growth on their forest habitats and actions you can take to preserve and protect wild habitats, locally and globally.
Program objectives:
- Develop an appreciation for the significance of healthy tropical forest habitats to the survival and vitality of chimpanzee populations.
- Create an awareness of the connections between human population growth in Africa and the consequences of forest habitat fragmentation on chimpanzee populations.
- Make connections to the consequences of habitat fragmentation relative to local species.
- Inspire and empower students to take actions to preserve and protect wild habitats, including tropical forests.
Wetland Wonders (K-8)
What’s a wetland worth? It’s priceless! Not only do healthy wetlands support an abundance of plant and animal life, but they provide lots of environmental ‘services’ as well. Learn about the importance of wetland habitats to the lives of alligators and other amazing wildlife. Discover the many ways wetlands are valuable, the impact of human activities on wetland environments and ways you can help preserve these amazing ecosystems.
Program objectives:
- Develop an appreciation for the importance of cypress swamp habitats to the lives of alligators and other wildlife.
- Create an awareness of the characteristics of wetland environments.
- Develop an understanding of human induced pressures on wetlands.
- Inspire and empower students to take actions which preserve and protect wetlands.
Glorious Grasslands (K-8)
Giraffes, zebras and ostriches are just a sampling of the wondrous diversity of wildlife supported by Africa’s grassland and bushland biomes. Learn about the connections between human population growth in Africa and the growing competition between people and wildlife for precious natural resources. Make comparisons with similar issues relative to local species and learn ways to preserve and protect wildlife habitats.
Program objectives:
- Inspire an appreciation for the role giraffes, zebras and ostriches play in grassland ecosystems and the competition between people and these species for natural resources.
- Develop an awareness of the connections between human population growth in Africa and the increasing use of land for agricultural purposes.
- Make connections between habitat fragmentation and the resulting consequences on local and global species.
- Inspire and empower students to take actions to preserve and protect wildlife habitat.
Masters of the Night (K-8)
Do bats really drink blood and get tangled in your hair? Dispel the myths, learn the great value of bats and discover ways to assist with their conservation.
Program objectives:
- Develop an appreciation for the role bats play in the ecosystem.
- Dispel myths and misperceptions about bats.
- Create an awareness of human induced pressures on bat populations.
- Inspire and empower students to preserve and/or create habitats suitable for bat survival.
Financial assistance is available to cover the cost of the program
Many thanks to GlaxoSmithKline for contributing funding which provides grant money to selected North Carolina schools to cover the cost of Keepers in the Classroom presentation/s and ‘action’ projects to benefit the environment.
Grants to cover program fees and up to $500 per school to support a classroom environmental project may be awarded to applicants who verify that the keeper presentation/s and environmental project meet appropriate interdisciplinary curriculum objectives. Applicants must also agree to participate in an evaluative survey and provide documentation of the project through photos, samples of students’ work or other methods. All funding applications for action projects must include a request for a Keeper in the Classroom presentation.
To apply for a grant, complete the application at least six weeks prior to the requested date of the keeper presentation. Notification of the status of grant awards will be made within four weeks of the receipt of the application.
Scheduling without grant funding
For more information or to schedule a program without applying for a grant, contact the Zoo’s Education Division at 336-879-7714.
Ideas for projects to benefit the environment
Feel free to be creative! Encourage students to come up with their own ideas.
- Plant a wildlife attraction garden
- Create a mini pond to attract wildlife
- Establish a compost site for the school
- Establish a school-wide recycling program
- Create a bird feeder station
- Create a nature trail
- Adopt a stream, monitor water quality
- Plant a vegetable, herb or flower garden
- Plant trees
- Make field guides specific to plants/animals commonly found around your school
- Organize and implement a "Use Less Water" campaign
- Organize and implement a "Use Less Stuff" campaign
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N.C. Zoo is a member institution of AZA and an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr. Secretary; Michael F. Easley, Governor. A part of the North Carolina Government portal.
The Zoo is closed Christmas day and during severe weather. Call our information line at: 1-800-488-0444.
