Adaptations
Location: Onsite or Traveling
Length: 1.5 hours onsite, 1 hour in classroom
Ages: 2nd-4th
Survival is the key as students learn how animals and plants adapt to different environmental conditions. Participants will discover how various animal mouthparts are adapted for eating certain foods, while other animals have found ways to avoid predation. Differences between nocturnal and diurnal animals will also be explored through hikes, games, and activities. Meets the following Ohio Academic Content Standards: 2nd grade Life Sciences 2,6; 3rd grade Life Sciences 2; 4th grade Life Sciences 2.

Caretakers In-Depth
Location: Onsite only
Length: 3.5 hours
Ages: 3rd and up
This full day experience illustrates how human activities affect the environment and our limited natural resources. Students learn about the harmful effects of littering and pollution through fun, active games while also being encouraged to think of solutions to make the world cleaner and healthier. Other topics include solid waste management, recycling, composting, energy conservation, and being a smarter consumer. Meets the following Ohio Academic Content Standards: 5th grade Earth & Space Sciences 5-6, Life Sciences 6, Science & Technology 1; 6th grade Physical Sciences 6-8.

Caretakers Intro
Location: Onsite only
Length: 1.5 hours
Ages: 3rd and up
This introductory lesson provides a brief overview of the same concepts covered in Caretakers In-Depth. Focus is narrowed to topics such as recycling, composting, littering, pollution, natural resources, and consumerism. Students will be challenged to discover ways they can improve the health of the environment and conserve natural resources. Meets the following Ohio Academic Content Standards: 5th grade Earth & Space Sciences 5-6, Life Sciences 6, Science & Technology 1; 6th grade Physical Sciences 6-8.

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Classification
Location: Traveling only
Length: 1 hour
Ages: 1st-4th
This in-class presentation focuses specifically on animal classification. Students will learn how and why organisms are classified and how an indentification key works. Differences between vertebrates and invertebrates will be discussed followed by an in-depth review of the characteristics used to classify vertbrates into the five major families. Lots of hands-on items will be used to illustrate these characteristics including furs, eggs, bones, shells, and wings. Meets the following Ohio Academic Content Standards: 1st grade Physical Sciences 1; 3rd grade Life Sciences 3.

Exploring the Seasons Series
Location: Onsite only
Length: 1.5 hours
Ages: 1st-2nd
One of two new programs for this school year, this repeat-visit series allows the students to observe seasonal changes firsthand. Through hikes, crafts, journaling, and other activities, students will follow the Earth Center through fall, winter, and spring while learning about how the natural world adapts to the changing climate. A minimum of two scheduled visits is required, although three is recommended. The fall visit can be scheduled anytime from September to November; the winter visit from December to February; and the spring visit from March to May. Meets the following Ohio Academic Content Standards: 1st grade Life Sciences 5, Physical Sciences 8, Scientific Inquiry 1-2,6,8; 2nd grade Earth & Space Sciences 4-5, Life Sciences 8-9, Scientific Inquiry 7.

Habitats
Location: Onsite Only
Length: 1.5 hours
Ages:1st-4th
The Earth Center forests, pond, and prairie serve as the perfect place to study the habitats of this bioregion. Using hikes, games, and scientific inquiry students will learn the components of a habitat and the layers of a forest. They will discover a variety of wildlife homes and be able to distinguish between a habitat and a shelter. In addition, they will discuss how habitat loss leads to species endangerment and how humans have a role in protecting wildlife habitats. Meets the following Ohio Academic Content Standards: 1st grade Life Sciences 1,4, Scientific Inquiry 1-4; 2nd grade Life Sciences 1-3,5,7, Sciientific Inquiry 1,3; 3rd grade Life Sciences 6, Scientific Inquiry 2-3,5-6.

Insects
Location: Onsite or Traveling
Length: 1.5 hours onsite, 45 minutes-1 hour in classroom
Ages: PreK-2nd
These invertebrates are the most successful group of animals on the planet! Spend a day exploring their world with this fun, active program. Basic insect concepts such as anatomy and metamorphosis will be covered in addition to survival techniques like camouflage and communication. Appreciation and understanding are stressed as students discover the benefits and importance of these crawling, flying, swimming, tunneling, and jumping animals. Meets the following Ohio Academic Content Standards: Kindergarten Life Sciences 5-6, Scientific Inquiry 4, Scientific Ways of Knowing 3; 1st grade Life Sciences 1,3-4; 2nd grade Life Sciences 1,5.

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Native American Combination
Location: Onsite Only
Length: 3.5 hours
Ages: 1st and up
Spend an enitre day with your class at the Cincinnati area's premiere center for Native American culture. This Earth Center program features a replica village complete with wigwams, garden, and pond. Within the village students will have a variety of hands-on experiences including storytelling, clothes making, food preparation, and handling various hunting, gardening, and animal artifacts. The day is completed with lessons on naming, face painting, and several skill games. Meets the following Ohio Academic Content Standards: 1st grade History 3-5, People in Societies 1-3; 2nd grade History 4-5, People in Societies 2-3, Economics 1; 3rd grade People in Societies 1,3; 4th grade History 2, People in Societies 1; 5th grade History 2, People in Societies 1-2; 6th grade People in Societies 1.

Native American Overview
Location: Onsite or Traveling
Length: 1.5 hours Onsite, 1 hour in classroom
Ages: All
This shorter Native American encounter features the highlights of our full-day experience. Students will learn how local Native Americans lived in the forests with particular attention paid to the hunting, gathering, and growing of food, the making of clothes, and the tools associated with everyday life. Face painting and a skill game will also be included. Meets the following Ohio Academic Content Standards: 1st grade History 3-5, People in Societies 1-3; 2nd grade History 4-5, People in Societies 2-3, Economics 1; 3rd grade People in Societies 1,3; 4th grade History 2, People in Societies 1; 5th grade History 2, People in Societies 1-2; 6th grade People in Societies 1.

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Nature Hike
Location: Onsite Only
Length: 1.5 hours
Ages: All
Bring your group out for some fun in the woods. Participants will explore our trails and pond while enjoying fun games and activities along the way. Hunt for animals tracks, learn the names of blooming flowers and trees, listen for the birds, and spy on the crawling insects. Great for groups with a variety of ages.

Nature Story Times
Location: Traveling Only
Length: 45 minutes-1 hour
Ages: PreK-K
Note: Class size is limited to 20 children per session.
Invite an Earth Center naturalist into your classroom for a fun-filled story hour that preschoolers and kindergartners will all enjoy. With stories, crafts, and activities centered around various topics, the little ones are bound to be excited about nature. Meets the following Ohio Academic Content Standards: Kindergarten Life Sciences 2.

Story time topics for the 2005-2006 school year:
Spinnin' Spiders Story Time (September-November): Although you may find these eight-legged critters a little creepy, they are an essential part of the forest. See a giant spider up close and find out something new that may change your view about arachnids.

Nature Detectives Story Time (December-February): Who's been here? Get the magnifying glasses out as we become nature detectives, learning and looking for the clues animals leave behind.

Beautiful Butterflies Story Time (March-May): It's a sure sign that spring has arrived once you've spotted these colorful insects fluttering about. Learn all about the lives of these winged wonders.

Slitherin' Snakes Story Time (June-August): Summer's the best time to spot these sunbathing reptiles. Join a real snake and our naturalist for an hour full of sidewinding stories and fun.

Plants
Location: Onsite Only
Length: 1.5 hours
Ages: 1st and up
Come on out and discover the amazing world of plants. Students will review basic plant concepts such as anatomy, lifecycles, and photosynthesis through active games and lessons. Plant adaptations will be explored during a short hike, while emphasizing the importance of plants to our world. Meets the following Ohio Academic Content Standards: 1st grade Earth & Space Sciences 1, Life Sciences 1-2,3; 2nd grade Life Sciences 5-7; 4th grade Life Sciences 1-3,5; 5th grade Life Sciences 2; 6th grade Life Sciences 8.

Plant Explorer
Location: Onsite Only
Length: 1.5 hours
Ages: 4th and up
This program is specifically designed for older students who have already had sufficient introductory classroom plant lessons. Students will dive into the more complex topics of photosynthesis, pollination, and using dichotomous keys in order to expand their understanding of plants. Whether they are the roots collecting water or a flower trying to get pollinated, the students will be actively engaged in all of the activities. Meets the following Ohio Academic Content Standards: 4th grade Life Sciences 1-3,5; 6th grade Life Sciences 4,8; 7th grade Life Sciences 2,7.

Sensory
Location: Onsite only
Length: 1.5 hours
Ages: PreK-2nd
Touch, taste, smell, see, and hear your way through nature either at the Earth Center or in your classroom. This program give the five senses lesson a twist be relating the activities and games to the natural world. Children's senses will be hard a work as they adopt a tree, listen to the birds, look for insects, smell the flowers, and feel a variety of natural objects. Meets the following Ohio Academic Content Standards: Kindergarten Science & Technology 1, Scientific Inquiry 4; 1st grade Life Sciences 1,3; 2nd grade Physical Sciences 1-2.

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Teambuilding
Location: Onsite Only
Length: 3.5 hours
Ages: 5th and up
Challenge your group to be leaders with this full day of physical and mental activities designed to enhance group communication and leadership skills. Through the unique and challenging activities, your group will discuss communication techniques, strategies for problem solving, all within a concept of respect for each other. Meets the following Ohio Academic Content Standards: 5th grade Social Studies Skills & Methods 9; 6th grade Social Studies Skills & Methods 7; 7th grade Social Studies Skills & Methods 4; 8th grade Social Studies Skills & Methods 5.

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