Exploring The Needs of Living Things
This lesson focuses on the basic necessities of life: energy, water, shelter/space, and air. Students learn how animals meet these needs in their environment and how changes to the environments affect the survival of animals.

Student Expectations: Describe the needs of all living things; understand that these are also human needs; demonstrate the similarities between the necessities for good health in humans and in animals.

Using the Senses to Learn About Senses!
This lesson focuses on the five senses and how they help animals, including people, survive. Students learn about the fascinating variation in sensory abilities of different types of animals and they begin to learn about how senses are needed for survival. Best of all, students use their senses of sight, smell, touch, and hearing to learn about the animals we bring to your classroom (however, we hope none of the students taste the animals!)

Student Expectations: Describe the five senses and the organs associated with them; illustrate variation in the sensory abilities of animals; explain that senses are needed for survival.

Animal Life Cycles: Birth, Growth, Reproduction, and Parental Care
Just as there is variation in the appearance of vertebrates, there is variation in the life cycles of vertebrates. This lesson focuses on the life cycles of vertebrates and introduces students to the many different ways animals are born, grow, reproduce, and care for their young.

Student Expectations: Identify the stages of a life cycle; identify variation in life cycles of different animals; discuss differences in the way animals care for their young.

Exploring The Characteristics of Vertebrates
Students learn all about the five classes of vertebrates and compare their characteristics. Reptilia’s staff describe the physical characteristics, behavioral characteristics, and life cycle characteristics of reptiles and amphibians and compare them to birds, mammals, and fish.

Student Expectations: Describe the characteristics of all five classes of vertebrates; understand the difference between a vertebrate and an invertebrate; demonstrate an understanding of the differences between the five vertebrate classes.

Humans and Habitats: What is our role?
Human activities have an effect on the environment. Our day-to-day activities affect the air we breathe, the water we need to drink, and organisms we depend on for survival. This lesson focuses on humans the interrelationship between our activities and habitats.

Student Expectations: Demonstrate an understanding that humans alter and change habitats; understand that changes are both positive and negative; identify ways in which we depend on organisms in our environment; demonstrate an understanding of what humans do to protect habitats.

Habitats and Communities: The Essentials
The diversity of animals and habitats in which they live is astounding. Students learn about the essential elements of any habitat and they begin to understand the interactions between organisms within habitats. The concept of food chains be introduced and discussed.

Student Expectations: Identify the basic elements essential for survival in any habitat; understand the variation in the availability of these elements in different habitat types; demonstrate an understanding of the term community and the interactions that occur within a community of organisms.

Humans and Ecosystems: How do we fit in?
Humans do not operate outside the laws of nature. The laws that govern ecological processes apply to our activities. This lesson focuses on the links between our actions and the health of ecosystems. Students apply their basic knowledge of ecosystems to better understand the role of the human population in ecological processes.

Student Expectations: Demonstrate an understanding that humans alter and change ecosystems; understand that changes are both positive and negative; identify ways in which we depend on ecosystems; demonstrate an understanding of what humans do to protect ecosystems.