Riverbanks Zoo and Garden : Education : School Programs

School Programs

Whether you teach preschool or high school, we have a school program to fit your needs. All programs are carefully crafted around South Carolina Science Academic Standards and are developed to involve your students in active, inquiry-based learning.

Levels:

All programs must be reserved in advance by calling the Education Department at 803.779.8717 x1113 Monday through Friday between 9:00am and 4:30pm.

Cost:	A program fee of $50.00 is charged for each program reserved.
Capacity:	Each classroom can hold up to 25 people, including teachers and chaperones.

If you have any questions, please email astewart@riverbanks.org.

- Riverbanks on the Road Coming Soon -
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is going to bring zoo-style fun and conservation education to your door. We are currently asking teachers, students, and other educators how to make the program of their dreams! If you would like to contribute or receive updates about Riverbanks outreach programs, please email the Coordinator of Outreach.

Close Encounters

Get "up close" and personal with some of our coolest residents!

Animals Around the World Tour

Take a trip around the world in less than an hour. This tour will introduce students to animals in biomes around the world.

Lions, Tigers, and Bears, OH MY!

Have you ever wondered what makes a mammal a mammal? Learn about the traits that make lions, tigers, bears, and YOU, mammals.

Critters that Crawl

Grab your magnifying glass and net. We're going to investigate fascinating facts that make insects so cool.

Animals in Winter

What do you do when the cold wind blows? Find out how animals keep warm in the wild.

Field Trip Resource Preschool packet (*requires Acrobat Reader)

Are You My Mother?

Not all babies look like their parents when they’re born. Learn how some animals change as they grow up.

Meets South Carolina Science Curriculum Standards: K-2.3; K-2.4; K-2.5

Survival Senses

Animals need to see, hear, feel, smell and taste the world around them. Find out how animals use their survival senses.

Meets South Carolina Science Curriculum Standards: K-3.2

Field Trip Resource Kindergarten packet (*requires Acrobat Reader)

Flower Power

Plants are an essential part of life. Come learn how plants grow, what they do and why animals need them too.

Meets South Carolina Science Curriculum Standards: 1-2.1; 1-2.2; 1-2.3; 1-2.4; 1-2.5; 1-2.6

Field Trip Resource Grade 1 packet (*requires Acrobat Reader)

Circle of Life

Different animals have different life cycles. Discover how animals change as they grow from child to adult.

Meets South Carolina Science Curriculum Standards: 2-2.5

Wild World

Can a polar bear live in the desert? Do you find a whale in the jungle? Come discover the different habitats around the world and who calls them home.

Meets South Carolina Science Curriculum Standards: 2-2.1; 2-2.3; 2-2.4

Scales, Feathers & Fur

Why is a fish a fish or a bird a bird? Have you ever wondered why animals are grouped in a certain way? Students will discover the answers to these questions and much, much more!

Meets South Carolina Science Curriculum Standards: 2-2.2

Field Trip Resource Grade 2 packet (*requires Acrobat Reader)

I’m a Survivor

How can animals live in such extreme places? Why do some animals have spikes and horns? Why do wolves show their teeth? Students will learn about the different ways animals have adapted to survive in the wild!

Meets South Carolina Science Curriculum Standards: 3-2.2

Growing Up

We’ve discovered how animals are born, now let’s look at how they grow into adults. Students will explore the life cycles of amphibians, insects and much more!

Meets South Carolina Science Curriculum Standards: 3-2.1

Happy Homes

Habitats are animals’ homes in the wild. Learn where animals find shelter all over the world.

Meets South Carolina Science Curriculum Standards: 3-2.3; 3-2.4; 3-2.5

Field Trip Resource Grade 3 packet (*requires Acrobat Reader)

Where is Your Backbone?

The animal kingdom is divided into animals with backbones, and animals without. Students will learn how to tell the difference between the two.

Meets South Carolina Science Curriculum Standards: 4-2.1

A Place to Call their Own

What comes to your mind when you hear the words forests, wetlands, and grasslands? Students will learn about the different characteristics of these habitats, and meet some animals that call these habitats home.

Meets South Carolina Science Curriculum Standards: 4-2.2

Field Trip Resource Grade 4 packet (*requires Acrobat Reader)

Populations & Ecosystems

All animals play an important role in the environment and food web. Discover the important players that keep these ecosystems on our planet running.

Meets South Carolina Science Curriculum Standards: 5-2.2; 5-2.4; 5-2.5

Who's Eating Who?

Everything on Earth, living and dead, is connected by the food web. Learn about the connections that keep the world alive.

Meets South Carolina Science Curriculum Standards: 5-2.2; 5-2.4

Water World

Oceans make up the largest source of water on the planet, but it’s not the only place you can find water. Come dive in as we learn about oceans, marshes, lakes and ponds.

Meets South Carolina Science Curriculum Standards: 5-2.3

Field Trip Resource Grade 5 packet (*requires Acrobat Reader)

Spineless Wonders

The majority of the animals found on Earth are invertebrates. Students will learn how to identify some groups of spineless animals.

Meets South Carolina Science Curriculum Standards: 6-3.1

Animal Enrichment

What do paper maché, peanut butter, rubber balls and empty boxes have in common? All are items used for animal enrichment at the Zoo. Students will find out why this is important to the animals, and the variety of ways it can be done.

Biodiversity

Where do you fit? Biodiversity is the variety of all life on this planet. Through looking at the wealth of habitats that house all forms of life and the interconnections that tie everything together, students will examine their role in this ever-changing world.

	Field Trip Resource Grade 6 packet (*requires Acrobat Reader)
	Field Trip Resource Grade 7 packet (*requires Acrobat Reader)
	Field Trip Resource Grade 8 packet (*requires Acrobat Reader)
	Field Trip Resource High School packet (*requires Acrobat Reader)

If you are interested in college level programs or teacher training programs, please contact the Education Department at 803.779.8717x1113 to arrange a presentation by the Curator.