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 w/ Miss Alex STEM Dino Art Myths
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(878)
Star Educator
Popular
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. 2025 WINTER PASSPORT Week of January 5 - Mysterious Gray Wolf Week of January 12 - Bold Bearded Dragons Week of January 19 - Colossal Kangaroos Week of January 26 - Fabulous Flamingos Week of February 2 - Gentle Groundhogs Week of February 9 - Peaceful Peacocks Week of February 16 - Tenacious Tigers Week of February 23 - Adorable Axolotls Week of March 2 - Zany Zebras Week of March 9 - Private Pangolins Week of March 16 - Building Beavers Week of March 23 - Aquatic Orcas Week of March 30 - Animal Fun Week 2025 SPRING PASSPORT Week of April 6 - ** NO CLASS ** Week of April 13 - Beautiful Bunnies Week of April 20 - Earthy Earthworms Week of April 27 - Silent Sloths Week of May 4 - Charming Hermit Crabs Week of May 11 - Tenderhearted Toucans Week of May 18 - Animal Fun Week Week of May 25 - ** 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 1 - Savanna Week of June 8 - ** NO CLASS ** Week of June 15 - Terrific Tropical Rainforests Week of June 22 - Polar Expedition Week of June 29 - Cruise to the Coral Reef Week of July 6 - Wild Wetlands Week of July 13 - Forest Walk Week of July 20 - Freshwater vs Saltwater Week of July 27 - Unusual Urban Habitat Week of August 3 - Backyard Bugs & Creepy Crawlers Week of August 10 - ** NO CLASS ** Week of August 17 - Recently Extinct Animals Week of August 24 - Real Hybrid Animals Week of August 31 - Animal Fun Week 2025 FALL PASSPORT Week of September 7 - Curious Chimpanzee Week of September 14 - Adaptable Antelopes Week of September 21 - Fine, Feathered Friends of the Sky Week of September 28 - Sincere Squirrels Week of October 5 - Nocturnal Neighbors: Barn Owl Week of October 12 - Scary Spiders Week of October 19 - Vocal Raccoons Week of October 26 - Bashful Bats Week of November 2 - Brave Black Bears Week of November 9 - Cunning Foxes Week of November 16 - Feathery Turkeys Week of November 23 - ** NO CLASS ** Week of November 30 - Empathetic Emperor Penguin Week of December 7 - Nostalgic Narwhal Week of December 14 - Animal Fun Week Week of December 21 - ** NO CLASS ** Week of December 28 - ** NO CLASS ** Future themes TBD. If your student has a request, please let me know! 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.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined April, 2020
5.0
878reviews
Star Educator
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
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!Reviews
Live Group Class
$16
weekly1x per week
45 min
Completed by 52 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 5-8
2-8 learners per class
