School Programs at a Forest Preserve

Farm Food Chain

Students explore the role of water and what plants need to grow; meet lambs and learn what they need to grow and develop; observe the honeybees and learn how bees help pollinate our crops; investigate how food is produced and how transportation changed how people are supplied with food; and learn how farmers changed the land to grow food more efficiently. Ninety-minute guided tour for 10 - 30 students. $5 per student.

Academic year
Monday, Thursday & Friday
Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago

Standards Explored
Common Core:

ELA/Literacy

•  SL.2.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.2.3 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.3.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.3.3 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
  
  Social Studies
  
  
• SS.H.1.2 History: Change, Continuity, and Context
• SS.EC.1.3 Economics and Financial Literacy: Economic Decision Making
• SS.G.2.3 Geography: Human-Environment Interaction: Place, Regions, and Culture
• SS.EC.3.2 Economics and Financial Literacy: Exchange and Markets
• SS.G.3.2 Geography: Human Population
• SS.G.3.3 Geography: Global Interconnections 

• 2-LS2-1 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
• 3-LS1-1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
• 3-LS3-1 Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits 

Pre-Activity Sheets:

Suggested Reading List (PDF)
Baby Farm Animals (PDF)
Vocabulary List (PDF)

Get Outside: Outdoor Education Day

Students explore a variety of nature content while rotating between stations and activities. Teachers pre-select the activities fom the list below. Four-hour interactive program for 50 - 120 students. $10 per student.

Academic year
Monday - Friday
Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center in Oak Brook or St. James Farm in Warrenville.

Activities to choose from include: bird banding, bird watching, fish ID & dichotomous keys, food chains & food webs, geocaching, guided nature hike, habitat restoration, insect investigation, nature art, nature engineers, plant powers, rocks & minerals, team challenge, tracking, and tree ID.

Standards Explored

Will vary based on activities selected.

Nature Hike

Students increase their awareness of nature and their interest in the natural world through observational skills, emphasizing the idea of different habitats. One-hour guided hike for 10 - 30 students. $5 per student.

Academic year
Monday – Friday

Take a guided nature hike at one of the preserves listed below. Each of these preserves includes school-group friendly amenities including bus parking, picnic areas and public restrooms. If you plan to eat lunch onsite and/or require a picnic shelter reservation, please indicate this on your program request form.

Standards Explored (may vary by season)
Common Core:

ELA/Literacy

• SL.2.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.2.3 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.3.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.3.3 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration

• 2-LS2-2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
• 2-LS4-1 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
• 3-LS3-2 Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits
• 3-LS4-3 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
• 3-LS4-4 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

Loan Box Links:

Field Trip Pack

Wildlife Exhibit Hike

A Willowbrook interpreter will take students on a guided tour of the outdoor wildlife exhibits and discuss the natural history of local wildlife as well as the individual stories of the animals living at the center. Willowbrook’s mission as a center will be discussed as well as an overview of how the animals are cared for both in the hospital and as permanent residents. One-hour guided tour for 10 - 30 students. $5 per student. At this time, all Willowbrook indoor facilities are closed to the public.

Academic year
Monday – Friday
Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn

Standards Explored
Common Core:

ELA/Literacy

• SL.2.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.2.3 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.3.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.3.3 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration

NGSS:

• 2-LS4-1 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
• 3-LS4-3 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

Loan Box Links:

Illinois' Birds
Illinois' Wild Mammals
Owls