One of our highly educated, professional program leaders will deliver a virtual classroom program about natural sciences and DuPage County's cultural history. Programs are designed to meet national learning standards, including Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.
Program reservations for the 2022 – 2023 academic year are now open. We offer programs throughout the academic year (Sept. 1 through June 2), and most are available Monday through Friday.
View the available virtual school programs and descriptions below. Then, click the green button to complete and submit a form to request a virtual school program.
Wildlife and You
Students explore local wildlife species, where they live, why they live there, and how they survive, grow and meet their needs through interpreter guidance and the use of biofacts, animal photos, physical movement, and discussion. Students also learn ways to respectfully interact with and observe native wildlife in their own communities. Thirty-minute virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.
Academic year
Monday – Friday
Standards Explored
Common Core:
ELA/Literacy
NGSS:
Loan Box Links:
Pre-Activity Sheets:
Coloring Page (PDF)
Vocabulary List (PDF)
Farm Food Chain
Students explore the role of water and what plants need to grow; learn what lambs need to grow and develop; learn how honeybees 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. Forty-five minute virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.
Academic year
Monday - Friday
Standards Explored
Common Core:
ELA/Literacy
NGSS:
Pre-Activity Sheets:
Suggested Reading List (PDF)
Baby Farm Animals (PDF)
Vocabulary List (PDF)
Meet the Reptiles
Students are introduced to the scientific concept that animals are grouped by shared characteristics. This program focuses on reptiles and how they differ from other terrestrial vertebrates through activities, discussions, and presentation of live reptiles. Forty-five minute virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.
Academic year
Monday – Friday
Standards Explored
Common Core:
ELA/Literacy
NGSS:
Loan Box Links:
Illinois' Amphibians & Reptiles
Pre-Activity Sheets:
Reptile Groups (PDF)
Vocabulary List (PDF)
Suggested Reading List (PDF)
Wildlife and You
Students explore the diversity of local wildlife species and investigate the traits and habitat relationships that help them survive environmental changes through interpreter guidance and the use of biofacts, animal photos, and discussion. Students also learn ways humans impact wildlife and their habitats. Forty-five minute virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.
Academic year
Monday – Friday
Standards Explored
Common Core:
ELA/Literacy
NGSS:
Loan Box Links:
Raptor Adaptations
Students explore the characteristics that make a raptor different from other birds and identify the different groups of raptors. While examining real biofacts such as skulls, wings and feet, students learn about the adaptations these birds have to help them in their role in the food chain. One-hour virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.
Academic year
Monday – Friday
Standards Explored
Common Core:
ELA/Literacy
NGSS:
Loan Box Links:
Pre-Activity Sheets:
Crossword (PDF)
Vocabulary List (PDF)
Suggested Reading List (PDF)
Wildlife and You
Students compare local wildlife species' structures and functions related to energy flow in organisms and through ecosystems with interpreter guidance and the use of biofacts, animal photos and discussion. Students also explore how humans fit into and impact the web of life. Forty-five minute virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.
Academic year
Monday – Friday
Standards Explored
Common Core:
ELA/Literacy
NGSS:
Loan Box Links:
Behinds the Scenes of a Wildlife Hospital
Students take a virtual tour behind the scenes of Willowbrook Wildlife Center, a native wildlife rehabilitation center, and explore the process of caring for an animal from admission to the final goal - release back into the wild. One-hour virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.
Academic year
Monday – Friday
Standards Explored:
Common Core:
SL.7.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
SL.8.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
NGSS:
Wildlife and You
Students learn how access to resources and interdependent relationships in ecosystems affect the growth and reproduction of local wildlife through interpreter guidance and the use of biofacts, animal photos and discussion. Students will also explore humans' influence on biodiversity and ecosystem services. One-hour virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.
Academic year
Monday – Friday
Standards Explored
Common Core:
ELA/Literacy
NGSS:
Loan Box Links:
Blanding's Turtle Recovery
Students discover what factors have led to the decline in Blanding's turtle populations, then explore the different management techniques that have gone into the recovery effort of this endangered species. One-hour virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.
Academic year
Monday - Friday
Standards met:
Common Core:The Evolution of Agriculture
Students investigate and discuss crucial changes in farming technology over the past 125 years including transportation, expanding markets, the development of agri-business, and modern issues such as genetic engineering, feed additives, consumer safety, and environmental effects. One-hour virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.
Academic year
Monday - Friday
Standards Explored
Common Core:
Social Studies Standards
NGSS:
Pre-Activity Sheets:
Vocabulary List (PDF)
Wildlife and You
Students explore local wildlife and ecosystem functions in terms of resources, habitat availability and carrying capacities through interpreter guidance and the use of biofacts, animal photos and discussion. Students will also discuss how human activity can disrupt local ecosystems and threaten species' survival, and the benefits of developing solutions to sustain biodiversity. One-hour virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.
Academic year
Monday – Friday
Standards Explored
Common Core:
ELA/Literacy
NGSS:
Loan Box Links:
Conservation Biology: Blanding's Turtle Recovery
Students discover what factors have led to the decline in Blanding's turtle populations, then explore the different management techniques that have gone into the recovery effort of this endangered species. Ninety-minute virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.
Academic year
Monday - Friday
Loan Box Links:
The Evolution of Agriculture
Students investigate and discuss crucial changes in farming technology over the past 125 years including transportation, expanding markets, the development of agri-business, and modern issues such as genetic engineering, feed additives, consumer safety, and environmental effects. One-hour virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.
Academic year
Monday - Friday
Wildlife and You
Students explore relationships of local wildlife species to ecosystem dynamics and functions. Students may also discuss applications of engineering, technology and science in developing solutions to preserve and conserve biodiversity. A wide range of wildlife-related topics can be covered based on the class needs. One-hour virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.
Academic year
Monday – Friday
Loan Box Links:
Do you have a topic that requires expert advice but don't see it here? A Forest Preserve District expert will meet virtually with your students to explore your questions. For examples of the types of questions we can answer, please visit our Inquiry and PBL page.
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Meet the Experts
3S580 Naperville Road
Wheaton, IL 60189
630-933-7200
forest@dupageforest.org
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Help keep our forest preserves beautiful and safe places. If you have a concern, let us know.
The Forest Preserve District is committed to making its facilities accessible to all visitors. Contact 630-933-7683 or TTY 800-526-0857.
