Education Program

Bring the wild into your classroom!

Napa Wildlife Rescue offers lesson plans for grades K-5. Thanks to our donors, these lessons are FREE to you! Our curriculum is developed based on Next Generation Science Standards, covering topics in ecology, biodiversity, and human impact.

  • HOW ANIMALS GROW AND DEVELOP

    Core Concept: Inheritance of traits (LS3.A) and Variation of traits (LS3.B).

    Objective: Students will learn that many animals are born or hatch out of eggs that already look a lot like their parents, while other animals look very different from their parents when they are born or hatch.

    EXPLORING ANIMALS: Habitats and Biodiversity

    Core Concept: Biodiversity and humans (LS4.D)

    Objective: Students will learn to identify various life forms in two different environments.

    EXPLORING ANIMALS: Creature Features

    Core Concept: Structure and Function (LS1:A)

    Objective: Students will learn to identify prominent features of various animals, and learn how they use these features to survive.

    EXPLORING ANIMALS: Helping our Earth

    Core Concept: Human Impacts On Earth's Systems (ESS3:C)

    Objective: Students will learn about things that people can do to help the Earth, and how they can do this as well.

  • HOW ANIMALS GROW AND DEVELOP: Life Cycles

    Core Concept: Growth and Development of Organisms (LS1.B)

    Objective: Students will learn about the life cycles of different animals, with a concentration on mammals and birds.

    HOW ANIMALS GROW AND DEVELOP: Senses

    Core Concept: Information Processing (LS1.D)

    Objective: Students will learn how different animals have different senses that are meant to give them the information they need to know and how to act in their environment.

    BIRD ADAPTIONS

    Core Concept: Structure and Function (LS1:A)

    Objective: Students will learn that bird beaks are adapted for eating specific types of food.

    MAMMAL ADAPTATIONS

    Core Concept: Structure and Function (LS1:A)

    Objective: Students will learn that different mammal species have developed adaptations in which to survive.

  • ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES AFFECT WILDLIFE: Help and Harm Core Concept: Human Impacts On Earth's Systems (ESS3:C)

    Objective: Students will learn about some of the negative impacts humans have on the environment, and things that can be done to change them, and even help the Earth.

    ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES AFFECT WILDLIFE: Oh Deer

    Core Concept: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience (LS2:C)

    Objective: Students will learn that ecosystems are changing, and that certain factors influence the amount of wildlife that can live in a certain area.

    HOW ANIMALS GROW AND DEVELOP: Food Webs

    Core Concept: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems (LS2.A)

    Objective: Students will learn the interdependent relationships of plants and animals in ecosystems.

Testimonials

“Napa Wildlife Rescue Educational Outreach has been an invaluable resource for us.  The program is inquiry-based and engaging, allowing students ample opportunities for making observations, asking questions, and sharing connections.  Thanks to their presentations, our children, future stewards of the environment, walked away with not simply greater knowledge, but also an appreciation for their role in preserving our local ecology.”

Catherine Carmichael, Napa Valley Language Academy

“The students and I had a blast, it was incredibly fun, engaging, and interesting to learn all these new facts and of course getting to host the opossum.  I hope to do this every year that we teach an adaptation PBL.  Thank you Napa Wildlife Rescue for coming to our class, we enjoyed every minute!”

Heather Marshall, Napa Junction Elementary

“Our students were able to be curious, investigate, and collaborate with each other during these lessons. It was very engaging and informative. Ms. Terra was fabulous with the kiddos as well!”

Jacki Van Housen, Bel Aire Park Elementary

“It is so great to have an outside agency come to the school and present to students. It’s one thing to read about wild animals, but is a whole different ballgame to see one in person! You could have heard a pin drop in my room when the hawk came to visit!

Jen Veveiros, Philips Elementary School

Schedule a Classroom Visit

To create a program that suits your curriculum:

  1. Find your grades section above.

  2. Pick up to three lessons that will support your lesson plans.

  3. Email Terra Standish at education@napawildliferescue.org with your selection. We will discuss scheduling once we know your schedule.

We can’t wait to teach with you!