Teachers were transformed into students as they asked questions, posited hypotheses and learned about nature during Wildly Fun Animal Observers, a professional development course offered by ORAU on June 27.
The seminar was taught by Louise Hargis, the school education coordinator for Zoo Knoxville. Hargis showed the attending teachers what a visit from the ZooMobile looks like: biological specimens from different types of animals were sprinkled around the room as the teachers had to guess what type of adaptation each specimen had in common. Tiger and owl skulls grouped with a shark jaw displayed how carnivores eat. A skunk pelt, monarch butterfly wing and peacock feather showed defensive coloring. And an armadillo skin next to box turtle and conch shells showed the different types of protective animal houses. Teachers were encouraged to pick up, touch and observe the specimens as they asked questions about each one, just as their students would do.
“Observation takes all five senses,” said Hargis. “But I usually ask the students not to lick the specimens.”
The goal of the ZooMobile is to show learners of all ages that science is everywhere. As the teachers got more comfortable with the specimens, they asked questions about the animals represented, learning more about the natural world. The teachers also learned how they can get their students involved with nature when the ZooMobile is not around, such as using citizen science to grow pollinator gardens.
“You can teach a science class with anything,” Hargis said. “It can just be a shell, or a leaf, or a feather, and you can learn so much just from the exploration of that item.”
Hargis demonstrated that philosophy throughout the course, pointing out that while many students may be familiar with a chicken egg, they may not know what a butterfly or reptile egg looks like.
“We’re a small rural school,” said Rebecca Edwards, who teaches STEM at Steekee Elementary. “A lot of the kids don’t get out and do a lot of different things, so bringing the ZooMobile out would be a great way to meet standards, improve our program and create hands-on opportunities for the kids.”
Edwards’ favorite part of the seminar was meeting the animal ambassador, a 30-pound hog island boa constrictor which was large enough for Hargis to wear like an oversized belt. Edwards anticipated that it would also be her students’ favorite thing when the ZooMobile comes to Steekee Elementary.
“This type of snake isn’t native to our area,” she explained. “So the opportunity to see animals that aren’t native will be exciting.”
As the teachers learned more about each specimen, and what adaptations they shared in common, they began asking deeper questions about the animals, mirroring what students do when faced with the same educational tools. Hargis explained that not only is this an excellent way to engage with students, but it also helps create a passion for nature.
“Our vision in the education department of Zoo Knoxville is to create conservation leaders,” Hargis said. “We have to start young to get those conservation leaders to grow, so with ZooMobile, we get to meet hundreds of thousands of students and help them grow to become conservation leaders one day.”