= Live animals
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KINDERGARTEN
Bears
Students will discover the different species of bear, their different habits, and range of habitats. Using taxidermy specimens and photographs students become familiar with the bears of our world.
PA State Standards: 3.3.4A, 3.3.4C, 3.5.4C, 3.3.7A, 3.3.7D, 4.3.4A, 4.3.4C, 4.3.7C, 4.6.4A, 4.6.7A, 4.7, 4.7.4A, 4.7.7A, 4.7.4B
Night Animals 
In order to understand our world we look, listen, smell, touch and taste. Students will practice using a few of their five senses, and learn how some animals use their senses to survive at night in nature. Examine how nocturnal animals understand their world through puppets, artifacts, pictures, and taxidermy.
PA State Standards: 3.2.4 B, 3.3.4A, 3.3.7C, 4.7.4B
Track Stories
Scientists track animals by observing the signs they leave behind. Students will be able to identify the different signs left behind by animals and decipher the stories they can tell. After seeing examples of animal signs, students will create their own track stories.
PA State Standards: 3.2.4 B, 3.2.4C, 3.2.7B, 3.3.4A, 3.3.7C, 4.7.4B
Feathers, Fur, and Scales 
Animals do not have to dress to protect themselves from the weather - they depend on their fur, feathers and scales. Live animals and artifacts help students discover the importance of animal coverings and learn some of the differences between mammals, birds and reptiles.
PA State Standards: 4.7.4A, 4.7.4B, 3.2.4B, 3.3.4A
Turtles 
The lives and survival of turtles often mimic the health of the environment in which they live. Through artifacts, pictures and live examples, students will explore the habits and habitats of our sheltered friends.
PA State Standards: 3.3.4A, 3.3.4C, 3.5.4C, 3.3.7A, 3.3.7D, 4.3.4A, 4.3.4C, 4.3.7C, 4.6.4A, 4.6.7A, 4.7, 4.7.4A, 4.7.7A, 4.7.4B
Owls of Pennsylvania
Owls are one of the best adapted predators of the night. Students will view several species of owls that reside in this area in the form of taxidermy, while learning of their adaptations, habits and diet.
PA State Standards: 3.3.4A, 3.3.4C, 3.5.4C, 3.3.7A, 3.3.7D, 4.3.4A, 4.3.4C, 4.3.7C, 4.6.4A, 4.6.7A, 4.7, 4.7.4A, 4.7.7A, 4.7.4B
Seasonal Walk
*On-site/Off-Site Program*
Students take a short walk (either on school ground or at Briar Bush Nature Center) that focuses on events and organisms of particular interest to that season.
PA State Standards: 3.3.4A, 3.3.4C, 3.5.4C, 3.3.7A, 3.3.7D, 4.3.4A, 4.3.4C, 4.3.7C, 3.5.7A, 4.6.4A, 4.6.7A, 4.7.4A, 4.7.7A, 4.7.4B
Butterflies
Through interactive activities and artifacts, students will gain a basic introduction to the life cycle, anatomy, and habitats of these amazing insects. Students will learn about the adaptations that help butterflies live and plant a seed to take home that will help attract butterflies to their yards.
PA State Standards: 4.6.4A, 4.7.4A, 3.3.4B
Honeybees
Honeybees play a vital role in the perpetuation of our natural world, which students will learn about through pictures and models. Students will also get to sample 100% organic honey produced by the honeybees at Briar Bush Nature Center.
PA State Standards: 4.6.4A, 4.7.4A, 3.3.4B
Insects 
Insects are fascinating creatures that we would not be able to survive without. Students will develop a connection with the smaller members of our ecosystem through interaction with some notorious live creepy crawlers, while exploring their adaptations and behaviors through models and artifacts.
PA State Standards: 4.6.4A, 4.7.4A, 3.3.4B, 4.5.7A
Winter Survival 
Using artifacts and pictures, this lesson introduces students to hibernation, habitats, and winter survival strategies.
PA State Standards: 3.3.4A, 3.3.4C, 3.5.4C, 3.3.7A, 3.3.7D, 4.3.4A, 4.3.4C, 4.3.7C, 4.6.4A, 4.6.7A, 4.7, 4.7.4A, 4.7.7A, 4.7.4B
How Do You Know It’s Alive? 
There are 7 main signs that indicate whether or not something is (or ever has been) alive. Through the use of simple experiments, models, taxidermy and live animals, students will discover and explore the common characteristics of living things, with an emphasis on animals.
PA State Standards: 3.2.4 B, 3.2.4C, 3.2.7B, 3.3.4A, 3.3.7C, 4.7.4B
Pets and Wild Animals 
Not every animal is capable of being a child’s best friend, and most of our pets are not native to the United States. Students learn the differences and connections between pets and wild animals using pictures, artifacts, and live animals from the BBNC museum. They also explore what is involved in the caring for of pets and understand animal behaviors.
PA State Standards: 3.3.4A, 3.3.4C, 3.5.4C, 3.3.7A, 3.3.7D, 4.3.4A, 4.3.4C, 4.3.7C, 4.6.4A, 4.6.7A, 4.7, 4.7.4A, 4.7.7A, 4.7.4B
Where Do Seeds Come From?
Seeds are perfect examples of form fitting function. Students will follow the life of a seed from pollination, through its journey to find the perfect home, and the growth and maturing process. The students will define the different parts of a flower and explore the pollination process. Activities involve exploration of seed anatomy through dissection and observation of a plant’s earliest days. Students will discover that inside each seed is a baby plant, just waiting to be planted.
PA State Standards: 4.6.4A, 4.6.4B, 4.6.7A, 4.7.4A, 4.7.7A
Native Americans: Lenape Living
This active indoor lesson explores the lives of the Lenape people and how they survived in Pennsylvania 500 years ago. Activities include grinding corn and examining deerskin clothing and stone tools.
PA State Standards: 8.2.6A, 8.2.6C, 8.2.6D
Butterflies and Moths
Students learn about the similarities and differences of butterflies and moths through activities, pictures and artifacts. This lesson covers the adaptations, behaviors, habitats and roles of butterflies and moths in nature.
PA State Standards: 3.3.4A, 3.3.4B, 3.3.7A, 3.3.7C,
4.6.4A, 4.7.4A, 4.5.7A
Life in a Pond 
Learn about ponds, and other bodies of water, as well as the amazing creatures that inhabit these watery worlds. Live animals and fun activities encourage investigation into the features that make aquatic animals unique.
PA State Standards: 4.1.4A, 4.1.4B, 4.1.4C, 4.3.4A, 4.7.4B, 4.7.7B
Who Would Hurt A Butterfly?
Everyone loves butterflies and no one would purposely hurt them. But some butterflies are endangered species. Using the PA Endangered Regal Fritillary as an example, students will learn how people’s actions might unintentionally be harmful to butterflies. What can we do to help?
PA State Standards: 4.6.7A, 4.7, 4.7.4A, 4.7.4B, 4.7.4C, 4.7.7A, 4.7.7B, 4.7.7C
What Is Soil?
Students will discover, first-hand, what ingredients makeup the composition of soil. Students learn the difference between organic and inorganic materials, determine the different layers in the soil, and discover which organisms live in the decaying matter below our feet.
PA State Standards: 4.6.4A, 4.6.4B, 4.6.7A, 4.7.4A, 4.7.7A
Clues from the Earth
Students act as paleontologists as they infer information about dinosaurs from observing artifacts. Teams examine sets of bones, teeth, shells, and other artifacts; sharing information and conclusions. Later, all of the teams “report their finds” to compare and discuss what can be deduced from the objects themselves.
PA State Standards: 4.7.4C, 3.2.4A, 3.2.4B, 3.2.7A, 3.2.7B, 3.5.4A
Where Did Your Food Come From?
Students will uncover the process their food goes through from field to grocery store shelves and into their stomachs. By tracing the ingredients of potato chips back to the farm, students draw connections between the food they eat and its origins.
PA State Standards: 4.2.4A, 4.2.4B, 4.2.7A, 4.3.4A, 4.3.4B, 4.3.7B, 4.3.10B, 4.4.7A, 4.5.4A, 4.5.7A
Insects and Arachnids
They may both be creepy crawlers, but insects and spiders are actually quite different in anatomy and behaviors. Using Briar Bush Nature Center’s pictures, models, artifacts, and live animals students learn about the adaptations and habits of these fascinating creatures.
PA State Standards: 3.3.4A, 3.3.4B, 3.3.7A, 3.3.7C, 4.6.4A, 4.7.4A, 4.5.7A
Investigating Plant Parts – Students become junior botanists as they rotate through hands-on learning stations and examine the basic structures, functions, and importances of plants. Students will identify the basic plant parts and their functions, while determining what plants need to survive. Participants will also discover some of the different and helpful uses of plants.
PA State Standards: 4.2.4A, 4.2.4B, 4.2.7A, 4.6.4A, 4.6.4B, 4.7.4A, 4.7.7B
Honeybees and Pollination
Students will investigate the very busy and interesting life of the honeybee, while learning the role that honeybees play in the important process of pollination. Students question what would happen to the production of fruits, seeds, and nuts if the honeybees all disappeared. Students will also get to enjoy 100% real honey made from the honeybees at Briar Bush Nature Center.
PA State Standards: 3.3.4A, 3.3.4B, 3.3.7A, 3.3.7C, 4.6.4A, 4.7.4A, 4.5.7A
Introduction to Rocks and Minerals
This introductory lesson teaches students about the three main rock types, and how they all came from one parent material! Students will examine the rock cycle and the sediments that went into making sandstone, limestone, and shale. Participants will also realize that geology is used in everyday life as they discover some helpful and everyday uses of minerals.
PA State Standards: 4.2.4A, 4.2.4B, 4.2.7A, 4.2.7B, 3.5.4B, 3.5.7B
Introduction to the Cave
*Briar Bush Nature Center On-Site*
The Briar Bush Cave is composed of living and non-living parts and demonstrates its own unique ecosystem. Students will gain a better understanding of limestone caves, their geology, and the life dependent upon the cave habitat. This particular program also investigates the processes of stalactite and stalagmite formation.
PA State Standards: 3.5.4A, 3.5.4C, 3.5.7A, 3.5.7D, 4.3.4C, 4.6.4A, 4.6.4B, 4.6.7B, 4.6.7C
Trading Circle Food Chains 
Students participate in an interactive activity where they explore the food chain. They also discover the concepts of competition, availability, and necessity. Teams of students form their very own food chain and observe the interaction between various organisms for survival.
PA State Standards: 4.3.4A, 4.3.4C, 4.6.4A, 4.6.4B, 4.6.7A, 4.6.7B, 4.7.4B
Invertebrates and Vertebrates 
Grouping animals into categories of invertebrates and vertebrates is a primary step in the classification process. Using live animals, models and artifacts, students will explore the similarities and differences between these two distinct groups.
PA State Standards: 3.3.4A, 3.3.4B, 3.3.7A, 3.3.7C, 4.6.4A, 4.7.4A, 4.5.7A
Pond Study
*Briar Bush Nature Center On-Site *
*Only offered in Spring and Fall*
What exactly is a watershed? Students will have the opportunity to investigate this question while acting as aquatic biologists to determine the water quality through experimentation and testing. Students will also explore the pond and its inhabitants as they work together to determine the health of the aquatic ecosystem by searching for macro- invertebrates.
PA State Standards: 4.1.4A, 4.1.4B, 4.1.4C, 4.1.4E, 4.1.7C, 4.1.7E
Feathers, Fur, and Scales 
Live animals and artifacts help studetnts to discover the importance of animal coverings and learn some of the differences between mammals, birds and reptiles.
PA State Standards: 4.7.4A, 4.7.4B, 3.2.4B, 3.3.4A
Classifying Life
How do scientists go about classifying the enormous variety of living things on the planet? How do we determine the differences between birds, mammals, and reptiles? Explore the relationships between different organisms through hands-on activities and examination of specimens.
PA State Standards: 3.2.4A, 3.2.4B, 3.2.4C, 3.2.7A, 3.2.7C3.3.4A, 3.3.7A, 4.7.4A, 4.7.4B, 4.7.7A, 4.7.7B,
MicroWorlds
Students will have the opportunity to observe the “smaller picture.” Participants will learn about the microscopic world by examining how nature recycles itself with the help of fungus, bacteria, and microscopic organisms. Students will have the opportunity to look at the very beginning of a pond food chain and discover the wondrous world of phyto– and zooplankton.
PA State Standards: 4.1.4C, 4.3.4C, 4.6.4C, 4.7.7B, 3.2.4A, 3.2.7A, 3.2.7B,
Red Maple Pond
Students play the role of town planners as they develop, and build, a small town around a Pond. They will discover the human impact on the watershed and what effects development and terrestrial pollution have on the plant and animal populations in and around the pond.
PA State Standards: 4.1.4A, 4.1.4C, 4.1.4E, 4.3.4A, 4.3.4B, 4.3.4C, 4.6.4A, 4.6.4B, 3.2.4A, 3.2.4C, 3.5.4D
Endangered and Extinct Species
Students will explore the concepts of endangered and threatened species by investigating the factors leading to extinction. Through hands-on activities and artifacts, students will understand what it is to be endangered/threatened and about endangered wildlife locally and around the world.
PA State Standards: 4.2.7A, 4.2.7B, 4.3.7B, 4.3.7C, 4.6.7C, 4.7.10A, 4.7.7C, 4.8.7C, 4.8.10D, 3.1.7E, 3.8.10A
Owl Meal Plan
How many stomachs do owls have? Have you ever seen an owl “hair ball?” Students will find out by sorting through the contents of actual “owl fluff.” This exercise focuses on owls and the food web they occupy.
PA State Standards: 3.3.4A, 3.3.4C, 3.5.4C, 3.3.7A, 3.3.7D, 4.3.4A, 4.3.4C, 4.3.7C, 4.6.4A, 4.6.7A, 4.7, 4.7.4A, 4.7.7A, 4.7.4B
Colonial Games
Children throughout the world, and throughout time, are often quite the same in that they love games! This lesson exposes students to the games children played during colonial times.
PA State Standards: 8.2.6A, 8.2.6C, 8.2.6D
Cherokee Trail of Tears
Using the example of the Cherokee Removal Act of 1838, this simulation focuses on Native American values towards the land, and the government policy of manifest destiny.
PA State Standards: 8.2.6A, 8.2.6C, 8.2.6D
Greek Constellation Mythology
Students hear stories of Greek gods and heroes and learn how many of our constellations got their names. Students are provided with a seasonal star chart.
PA State Standards: 3.4.4D, 3.4.7D
Intro to Stargazing
A companion class to Greek Constellation Mythology, this class focuses on the techniques of good stargazing and provides key strategies for getting the most out of the experience.
PA State Standards: 3.4.4D, 3.4.7D
Archaeological Dig
Students act as archeologists! Excavating artifacts, making sketches and drawing maps; students discover what it was like to be an explorer and discover unknown facts and organisms.
PA State Standards: 4.7.4C, 3.2.4A, 3.2.4B, 3.2.4C, 3.2.7A, 3.2.7B, 3.2.7C, 3.5.4A, 8.4.3B
Reptiles 
Why do snakes stick out their tongues? Live animals and taxidermy specimen help children identify some of the features that make reptiles so unique.
PA State Standards: 4.7.4A, 4.7.4B, 3.2.4B, 3.2.4C, 3.3.4A
Reptiles and Amphibians 
Why isn’t a frog a reptile? Learn the difference between reptiles and amphibians through fun activities and encounters with live animals.
PA State Standards: 4.6.4A, 4.7.4A, 4.7.4B, 3.2.4B, 3.2.4C, 3.3.4A
Our Only Home
Participants will become familiar with greenhouse gases and how they cause our atmosphere to become warmer, creating extremes in weather. Students will learn about the short and long term carbon cycle and how human activities have disrupted these cycles. Students will also learn some easy things they can do to help limit their use of energies which cause greenhouse gases.
PA State Standards: 3.1.7A, 3.1.7C, 3.1.7E, 3.2.7A, 3.2.7D, 3.4.7B3.5.7B, 3.5.7C, 3.6.7A, 3.6.7C, 3.8.7A, 3.8.7B, 3.8.7C