What really is a “bug” and why do they bother us? We’ll cover insect anatomy, their lifecycles and just what is metamorphosis. Then we will observe insects in some common areas outside with our field tools.
PEEC into the Classroom
Environmental Education Classes
for Students
PEEC’s trained naturalists are ready to bring our unique knowledge and resources to your classroom. Each program below is 1-hour in length and includes interactive lessons, activities, and time outside when possible. Best suited for grades k-8th.
PEEC programs for children and teenagers align with Learning and Academic Standards for PA, NY, and NJ. Contact us for more information.
Outside & In-Person Curriculum (1 hour per class)
Entomology
Forest Ecology
Do you know what grows in your backyard? We will review what makes a forest and then discuss how to identify different leaves. Discover the basic needs of a tree to not just survive, but to also thrive.
Geology
There’s more to rocks than meets the eye. Learn about the rock cycle and what makes up our different rock types. Students will also be able to test and identify different types of rocks.
Herpetology
Meet the animal ambassadors of PEEC in this creature-focused presentation on cold-blooded amphibians and reptiles. Discuss their different life cycles and learn their importance in our environment.
Intro to Camping
How do you plan and prepare for spending time outdoors? What skills are needed? We’ll teach you the basics! Topics and activities may include Leave No Trace Principles, knot tying, setting up a shelter, and how to prepare a campsite.
Mammal Study
People are mammals! We’ll discuss our characteristics and adaptations that make us mammals so special. We’ll bring our mammal pelts and skulls for a truly unique hands-on experience.
Ornithology
Our fine feathered friends are seen throughout the year, but sometimes it is difficult to see them up close. Students will get a personal look at our bird artifacts to discover the art of bird identification in the field. We’ll also touch upon the differences between birds of prey and songbirds, but also how their wing style affects their flight.
Seasonal Survival
Explore animal strategies for survival. Have a fun time exploring different adaptations, pelts, shells, and learn to catalog different plants (leaves, twigs, flowers, etc) in a booklet the students can keep!
Sensory Awareness
How do we observe the world? Through our senses! Focusing on touch, smell, and sight, we’ll offer hands-on activities to learn more about how we perceive our environment.
Town Meeting
Students simulate a meeting of community members with different interests in an environmental resource and try to convince the ‘panel’ that their interest in the resource is its best use. Develops individual opinions, personal values, and an understanding of how resource decisions can be made. (1.5 hours required)
Watershed
Learn what a watershed is and how everyone affects each other with interactive activities such as dragonfly pond, day in the bay (with build your own filter), and enviroscape. They will see what creates pollution as well as how hard it truly is to try and remove what enters the environment
Wildlife Study
Survival in the wild is hard, but animals do it every day with their adaptations. There will be hands on learning experiences with live critters as well as interactions with persevered pelts and skulls. Students will also study how different animals will change to their environments, and how they co-exist.