Junior Explorers: Wild Animal Collectors' Club (Zoology + Nature Studies)
Do you love animals? Big, small, scaly, furry, fins or feathered: Let's travel the world in search of earth's wonderful creatures and add them to our weekly "field guide" journal. Includes games, stories, social skills, show+tell, art.
Shiny Happy Kids: STEM DINOS ART MYTHOLOGY & More!
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(853)
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What's included
1 live meeting
45 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
Beginner Level
Our planet is brimming with life in every corner. We'll let our curiosity guide us on our journey to discover the amazing animals all around us. This weekly club will introduce your young explorer to a variety of unique animals--some familiar and others they haven't even imagined. This club will encourage students to observe and discuss a weekly featured creature, its habitat and neighbors, it's physical characteristics, habits, and special adaptations to it's environment. SCHEDULING NOTE: I have 2 children that attend public elementary school, therefore I schedule my classes around their school holidays, breaks, and mandatory digital days. This explains why I have several random days throughout the year that I'm unable to teach. If your class is interrupted by my scheduling, I will be more than happy to transfer your child into another day/time for the same week so they don't miss out on any animal fun! 2024 FALL PASSPORT Week of September 8 - Silent Sloths (beginning of 2024 Fall Passport) Week of September 15 - Charming Hermit Crabs Week of September 22 - Fine, Feathered Friends of the Sky Week of September 29 - Meticulous Meerkats Week of October 6 - Vocal Raccoons Week of October 13 - Scary Spiders Week of October 20 - Cunning Foxes Week of October 27 - Bashful Bats Week of November 3 - Brave Black Bears Week of November 10 - Curious Chimpanzee Week of November 17 - Feathery Turkeys Week of November 24 - ** NO CLASS** Week of December 1 - Empathetic Emperor Penguin Week of December 8 - Nostalgic Narwhal Week of December 15 - Animal Fun Week (end of 2024 Fall Passport) Week of December 22 - ** NO CLASS** Week of December 29 - ** NO CLASS** 2025 WINTER PASSPORT Week of January 5 - Mysterious Gray Wolf (beginning of 2025 Winter Passport) Week of January 12 - Bold Bearded Dragons Week of January 19 - Colossal Kangaroos Week of January 26 - Scary Snakes Week of February 2 - Gentle Groundhogs Week of February 9 - Radiant Red Panda **NO CLASS on February 12** Week of February 16 - Ornamental Ostrich **NO CLASS on February 17** Week of February 23 - Crazy Cheetahs Week of March 2 - Assertive Anglerfish **NO CLASS on March 5** Week of March 9 - Gracious Sugar Gliders Week of March 16 - Fabulous Frogs Week of March 23 - Amazing Alpacas Week of March 30 - Animal Fun Week (end of 2025 Winter Passport) Week of April 6 - ** NO CLASS** 2025 SPRING PASSPORT Week of April 13 - Bright Butterflies (beginning of 2025 Spring Passport) Week of April 20 - Humble Horses Week of April 27 - Dazzling Ducks Week of May 4 - Agile Alligators and Crocodiles Week of May 11 - Lively Leopards Week of May 18 - Bubbly Bees Week of May 25 - Adorable Axolotls Week of June 1 - Animal Fun Week (end of 2025 Spring Passport) Week of June 8 - ** NO CLASS ** 2025 SUMMER PASSPORT (during the summer, we pause on learning about a single animal per week and instead focus more on unique environments, habitats, and other fun animal facts!) Week of June 15 - Biggest & Smallest Animals on Earth (beginning of 2025 Summer Passport) Week of June 22 - Mythological Animals Week of June 29 - Animals in Unique Places (chickens in a city, goats in trees, pigs on a beach, etc) Week of July 6 - Bare Tundra Habitat Week of July 13 - Animals in Space Week of July 20 - Captivity and Rescue Week of July 27 - Intertidal Zone Week of August 3 - Underground Habitat Week of August 10 - Microscopic Animals Week of August 17 - Albino Animals Week of August 24 - Animal Fun Week (end of 2025 Summer Passport) Week of August 31 - ** NO CLASS ** 2025 FALL PASSPORT Week of September 7 - Optimistic Ocean Rays (beginning of 2025 Fall Passport) Future themes TBD. If your student has a request, please let me know! Previous themes: Week of March 24 - Zany Zebras (beginning of 2024 Spring Passport) Week of March 31 - ** NO CLASS ** Week of April 7 - Beautiful Bunnies Week of April 14 - Building Beavers Week of April 21 - Earthy Earthworms Week of April 28 - Private Pangolins Week of May 5 - Aquatic Orcas Week of May 12 - Kindred Komodo Dragon Week of May 19 - Nocturnal Neighbors: Barn Owl Week of May 26 - Animal Fun Week (end of 2024 Spring Passport) Week of June 2 - ** NO CLASS ** Week of June 9 - ** NO CLASS ** Week of June 16 - Terrific Tropical Rainforests (beginning of 2024 Summer Passport) Week of June 23 - Polar Expedition Week of June 30 - ** NO CLASS ** Week of July 7 - Cruise to the Coral Reef Week of July 14 - Wild Wetlands Week of July 21 - Forest Walk Week of July 28 - Freshwater vs Saltwater Week of August 4 - Unusual Urban Habitat Week of August 11 - Recently Extinct Animals Week of August 18 - Real Hybrid Animals Week of August 25 - Animal Fun Week (end of 2024 Summer Passport) Week of September 1 - ** NO CLASS** Each week, I will present a brief lesson about a featured wild animal: what it looks like, what traits it possesses, what habitat it lives in, who it's neighbors might be. This lesson will be age-appropriate in content and themes. As we practice our skills of scientific observation by examining photos of the creature together, we will discuss any noticeable special attributes our weekly animal displays. Once we have shared our observations, students will draw/color the creature in their "field guide" journal and label it. Weekly printed fact sheets will be provided, which students may cut out and add to their journals, plus a coloring page for students who are not as adventurous about drawing on their own. We will also intermittently play related interactive games, movement activities, and more (see below). Students will be encouraged to bring something to share each week (ie: an animal-themed book, toy, or stuffed animal), and will also occasionally be provided with extension activities between meetings. In each short, introductory lesson, students will learn about the weekly featured creature through a variety of approaches, such as read aloud stories, informative slides, video clips, and graphics, and more. We will also intermittently add playful learning activities such as: building and sculpting, movement activities, games, discussion, repetition and more. Vocabulary words such as observe, investigate, wildlife, conservation, ecology, habitat, eco-system, endangered, extinct, geography, parts of the globe, and more will be introduced and used during these interactive, engaging lessons. While the main focus of this weekly club will be on allowing young animal enthusiasts to share their love of earths' coolest creatures, we will also be practicing important primary-age social and educational skills as we learn about habitats, adaptation, and other concepts. The short creature lesson at the beginning will provide a framework for these discussions and will help the young explorer to build and develop observation, recreation, and communication skills, as well as foster curiosity, wonder, and interest in the world around them, with an eye to honoring and protecting nature and its inhabitants. The field guide will serve as a fun keepsake and reference for future animal studies and reflection.
Learning Goals
While the main focus of this weekly club will be on allowing young animal enthusiasts to share their love of earths' coolest creatures, we will also be practicing important primary-age social and educational skills as we learn about habitats, adaptation, and other
concepts. The short creature lesson at the beginning will provide a framework for these discussions and will help the young explorer to build and develop observation, recreation, and communication skills, as well as foster curiosity, wonder, and interest in the world around them, with an eye to honoring and protecting nature and its inhabitants. The field guide will serve as a fun keepsake and reference for future animal studies and reflection.
Other Details
Learning Needs
Shiny Happy Kids is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, affirming space for all kinds of learners. Growing up as ND and gifted kids, our ND teachers understand the need for classrooms where everyone gets to shine!
Parental Guidance
All material will be presented in a sensitive, age-appropriate manner. The approach will be light-hearted, fun, and often silly. The emphasis will be on what these creatures look like, their main features, their unique traits and habits, where we find them. Carnivores will be carnivores...but we will keep all of our discussions "kid-friendly."
Regarding supplies/activities:
Movement activities are basic in nature (animal moves, etc) but please be sure to provide adult supervision if you feel it is necessary. Participation in movement activities is not required. Please contact the teacher with any concerns.
Allergy Note: Playdough may contain wheat, which could cause an allergic reaction if ingested in those sensitive to wheat gluten or with Celiac disease. I am happy to provide a recipe for gluten-free playdough upon request, or suggest alternative supplies.
Please provide adult assistance with cutting/scissor-use as needed per the parents' discretion and child's ability.
Supply List
Access to a printer is required for this class. A notebook, preferably spiral bound for ease of use, at least 8X10 inches or larger, with a side-by-side format if possible. Colored pencils, crayons, or markers. Pencil and eraser. Scissors and glue. Other creative materials may occasionally be requested, such as creative construction blocks or other building bricks, clay, playdough, or other building/making supplies. Extension activities may require additional materials, but will mostly be easy-to-find, common household items, and are never required.
Joined April, 2020
5.0
853reviews
Star Educator
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Teacher expertise and credentials
2 teachers have teaching certificates
Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate in Music/Theater/Arts
Florida Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
Shiny Happy Kids teachers have been working with students ages 3-18 in a variety of settings, from art schools and STEAM labs to libraries, summer camps, forest school, and even RPG game tables. One thing we all have in common is a dedication to creating safe, positive, inclusive spaces and experiences where kids can connect, experiment, be challenged, share their passions, and just be their wonderful selves. We want you to SHINE!
From Miss Ashley: I have always loved to work with young children! Ever since I was a kid, I was very creative in coming up with unique ways of expressing myself. That uniqueness carried over into my adult life, and that is what brings me here today! I love being a part of a child’s yearn to learn and I believe that learning is always fun. I’m a mom to two amazing kiddos, both currently in elementary school. Before having my kids, I had 7 years experience in working with children primary-aged through elementary school. I was an assistant Pre-K teacher followed by working at various summer camps through my local Parks & Recreation department. I’ve worn many hats throughout life but my favorite one is being a mom. I love my wonderful husband, my amazing kiddos, my 3 crazy cats, sewing and gardening. Reviews
Live Group Class
$16
weekly1x per week
45 min
Completed by 51 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 5-8
2-8 learners per class
