PHILADELPHIA ZOO ON WHEELS CAPTIVATES STUDENTS AT GREY NUN ACADEMY
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Polar Bear at the Philadelphia Zoo. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Zoo’s STEM-based Program Supports Science Curriculum and Biome Studies in The Academy’s Lower Division
July 29, 2016 -- Yardley, PA -- Visitors from the Philadelphia Zoo awed Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade students on site at Grey Nun Academy during the school’s end-of-year STEM event. Specimens from each of the four levels of the tropical rainforest biome were present, including giant insects living underground to vibrant-colored tropical birds that soar high above.
Two ambassadors from the Philadelphia Zoo on Wheels education program introduced the young learners to a variety of living organisms that make their home in the equatorial climate zone of Central and South America.
Students were introduced to some unusually large insects, followed by members of the reptile family, including a giant tortoise and non-venomous constrictor snake. A fragile tree frog remained inside its protective container, while a beautiful macaw spread its brilliantly colored plumage on command that brought gasps of wonder from the student audience.
During the memorable presentations, students learned about this complex ecosystem as they were introduced to animals from among the different layers of the Amazon rainforest. The Amazon rainforest or Amazonia is a vast South American region covering much of northwestern Brazil and extending into Colombia, Peru and other South American countries. It is the world’s largest tropical rainforest and is famed for its immense biodiversity. This STEM-based program from the Philadelphia Zoo proved to be the perfect tactile learning experience in conjunction with classroom studies and the science curriculum at Grey Nun Academy.
“We are pleased to introduce young students to this experiential learning that supports the instruction in the classroom,” says Grey Nun Academy Head of School Deborah Kost. “The Philadelphia Zoo offers a wonderful program and provided our students an opportunity to travel around the world and learn about diverse habitats and how wildlife thrives there in a direct way. I was pleased at how thrilled, unafraid and inquisitive our young students were in being able to see touch, and inquire about these extraordinary living specimens.”
“Grey Nun Academy students are also learning about their role in stewardship of our planet and how our choices at home impact animals all around the world,” continued Head of School Deborah Kost. “We want each student to make a positive difference in the world and this is one way to help build and maintain a sustainable world for all forms of life. At Grey Nun Academy, we pride ourselves on providing an education that celebrates the whole child – mind, heart, body, and spirit that helps to transform the world for good.”
For additional information and application requirements for Grey Nun Academy, please contact Lisa Grabowski, Director of Enrollment at 215-968-4151 or [email protected] or via the school website at www.greynunacademy.org/admission/inquire.
About Grey Nun Academy
Founded in 1963 by the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, Grey Nun Academy is the Catholic, independent, co-educational elementary school in Bucks County, PA for children in grades PreK3 through Grade Eight. The Academy's mission is to offer an academically rich curriculum that meets the unique needs of individual students while respecting the rights, interests, and dignity of each child. Grey Nun Academy is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and dually accredited by Middle States Association and AdvancED. The Academy welcomes children of all faiths and cultures. The school's educational process leads children to embrace and promote peace and social justice in our world. To learn more, please visit www.greynunacademy.org or contact Lisa Grabowski at 215-968-4151.