Second & Third Grade
Registration & Fee Information
ECO EXPLORERS
1.5 hours
180 students maximum
Plants and trees are an important part of the food web in all ecosystems. In this popular and engaging program, students hunt for producers, consumers and decomposers in three different ecosystems: woodland, aquatic and meadow. Through hands-on activities, students compare the unique characteristics of living things in each ecosystem. For a full day experience, add a lab to this program!
Pre-Visit Vocabulary List
This program emphasizes the following Illinois Learning Standards:
11A-1f: Observation Comparisons
12B-1a: Ecosystems
12B-1b: Interdependence
12B-2a: Food Webs
ANIMAL HOUSES
1.5 hours
150 students maximum
Trees provide shelter as well as food for animals (even humans!). In return, animals are vital to the life cycle of trees by dispersing seeds, contributing to soil production, and aiding pollination. Explore the layers of the woodland looking for animal homes and signs of interdependence, then build an animal habitat with everything an animal needs to survive.
(This program pairs nicely with our Leave No Child Inside program.)
Pre-Visit Vocabulary List
This program emphasizes the following Illinois Learning Standards:
11A-1b: Scientific Questions
12B-1a: Habitats
12B-1b: Interdependence / Survival
TERRIFIC TREES
1.5 hours
180 students maximum
Every tree is unique! Gain an appreciation for the diversity of trees by comparing their shapes, sizes, leaves, barks and seeds. Discover the unique characteristics of Illinois oaks and other trees. Through hands-on discovery and field notes, discover what all trees have in common and what makes each species different and easy to identify.
Pre-Visit Vocabulary List
This program emphasizes the following Illinois Learning Standards:
11A-1d: Recording Observations - Field Notes
12A-1a: Component Parts of Living Things
12A-1b: Observable Features of Living Organisms
12A-2a: Simple Life Cycles
LEAVE NO CHILD INSIDE
1.5 hours
200 students maximum
A growing body of research is telling us that unstructured time spent outdoors in nature is critical to children's physical, social, and emotional development. Such outdoor experiences can foster creativity, emotional well-being, independent learning, and problem solving. The beauty of the Arboretum changes daily, and your students will have an opportunity to explore whatever is most interesting on the day of your visit. One of our guides can be on hand to answer questions and guide students to exciting questions and observations, but the focus is on free exploration of nature.
(This program pairs nicely with Animal Houses described above.)
This program is not meant to address any specific Illinois Learning Standards.
FULL DAY OPTION FOR 3RD GRADE
ECO EXPLORERS PLUS LAB
3 hours (1.5 field hours and 1.5 lab hours with lunch in between)
180 students maximum
Enhance your experience at the Arboretum by spending the entire day with us. Students participate in the field Eco Explorers program for half of the day, and use microscopes the other half of the day in the lab to closely examine the adaptations of plants and animals from aquatic, woodland, and meadow ecosystems.
Pre-Visit Vocabulary List
This lab emphasizes the following additional Illinois Learning Standards:
11A-1c: Scientific Instruments
12A-1a: Component Parts of Living Things
12B-2b: Basic Adaptations