One March 14 we took a field trip to Busch Gardens Zoo School with the 3rd and 4th graders. It was a chilly day, but that did not affect the kids' excitement one bit! Our trip began with a train ride that featured animals from the African savanna. We saw rinos, hippos, zebras, giraffes, ostriches, and even wildebeest! (The wildebeest are one of my personal favorites thanks to the BBC's series Planet Earth. If you have never seen the series, you absolutely must! My family loves the series as well.)
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After our train ride, we took a attended a presentation about various animals that live in the different levels of the rainforest. One of our 1st graders was chosen to see a rainforest animal up close and personal on the auditorium stage!
The best part of our trip (in my opinion) was when we trekked on foot around the amusement park learning about all the different animals that live at Busch Gardens. Our tour guide, Ms. Megan, was a phenomenal zoo school leader. She was a natural with the kids. In fact, she was so good at keeping the kids engaged, I asked if she had any classroom experience. On top of that, Ms. Megan knew her stuff. Favorite animal fact that the kids learned from her - spotted hyenas have white poop because their jaws are strong enough to eat their prey's bones. The kids still talk about it.
On our tour we met a bald eagle. She's a teenager that got shot in her wing. Amazing bird. I was happy that the kids got to see a bald eagle up close especially since we studied a little bit about the bird during our national symbols unit back in February.
We said hello to the American alligators. We are in Florida, after all. Thankfully, I still have yet to see one out in the wild.
Towards the end of our tour with Ms. Megan, she let the kids pet a flamingo. That was a definitely another highlight of our trip!
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After many years of school field trips, I must say that this trip definitely ranks as one of the best I've ever taken with my students. As a native Chicagoan, that says a lot considering that the city has top notch museums, zoos, and other children's attractions. Can't wait to visit Busch Gardens Zoo School again!
For any of you Floridian teachers out there planning a trip to Busch Gardens Zoo School, you must request Ms. Megan as your tour guide. She really was that good.
