Trip to zoo lets first graders learn about animals

On Wednesday, four first-grade classes, (96 students in total) from North Elementary School went on a special field trip to the Boise Zoo.

The purpose of the field trip was for students to be able to participate in connecting the information and events in their texts to real world applications and for the students to discover different facts about animals, homes, and habitats, through hands-on activities.

As the children boarded the buses, the eager anticipation on their faces was plain as they wondered which animals that they had studied in class they be able to see in person.

As the buses, made their way to Boise, the children sang "Old McDonald had a farm."

Once the buses arrived at the park near the Boise Zoo, the children gathered together in their assigned groups and either walked or ran towards the front gate.

The children first visited the monkey exhibit and were in awe over the swiftness of the monkeys as they moved from one tree (the smell in the building that was another story).

The children continued throughout the zoo seeing such animals as a giraffe, zebra, llama, porcupine, rock hyrax, bald eagle, lemur, Komodo dragon, Patagonian Cavy, Gila Monster, snow leopard, sloth bear, ocelot and a red panda.

Another high moment, for the children was when they visited the lion exhibit. Not only were the children curious to see the lions, but two female lions roamed back and forth on the other side of the partition staring just inches away as the children looked on.

Following the lions, the children made their way to the frogs exhibit, and not only did the exhibit hold several species of frogs, but it also featured two Frogger video games. Oddly enough, the children were more enthused by the video games.

Once the children completed their trek through the zoo, they made their way to the Julia Davis Park Shelter for a group lunch and a mass recess at the park before making their way back to school.

Following their journey, the children all shared the same positive sentiment over their zoo trip.

"It was fun. I liked the penguins, because they're fun to play with," said six-year-old Desiree Sers.

"It was good. I liked seeing the python, because I like snakes and they're fun to pet," said seven-year-old Michael Milford.

The parents, like the kids, enjoyed their time at the zoo.

"It was great, really fun. The kids I was with were good. It was a good learning experience for them," said parent Grant Bucks.

The teachers that took part also acknowledged the success of the trip.

"This is the best experience I've had bringing the first graders to the zoo, and the opening of the Africa exhibit made it even better. I know that for the children it was a rewarding and educational experience," said teacher Linda Lord.

North Elementary School had also taken part in a charitable effort to raise money for the zoo's new African Grasslands Exhibit. North joined several schools in the cause, including East Elementary, West Elementary and Base Primary.

North raised over $1,000 so the zoo, in appreciation, recognized North with a memorial brick to be laid onto the exhibit's walkway.