Norman Bird Sanctuary > a 300+ acre wildlife refuge near Newport RI, offering over 7 miles of hiking trails.

Programs for Elementary Students (Grades 1-5)

Inquiry-Based Nature Discovery
The Norman Bird Sanctuary’s engaging field trips and in-school outreach programs are designed to introduce learners to the natural world through a variety of instructional methods. Our innovative classes feature live animals, role play, experiments, and hands-on discovery and exploration. Your students will see the pages of their science textbooks come to life as they participate in a variety of multidisciplinary and age-appropriate activities!

Click here to download our 2008-09 School Programs Brochure!

O - Outreach option. This class can take place in your classroom.
F – Fieldtrip option. This class can take place at the Norman Bird Sanctuary.

For additional options, please visit our Special Programs page!

Program Choices

Schoolyard Safari- Discover amazing wildlife without ever boarding a bus! Your group will investigate the hidden ecology of your own schoolyard through experiments, data collection, and exciting activities. After this interactive program, you’ll never look at your school the same way again! (O)

Exploring Ecosystems – This field program allows students to collect data, make observations, and use scientific tools to investigate the ecology of Norman Bird Sanctuary habitats. Choose from three diverse ecosystems – the field, forest, pond, or ridge – and watch as your students take on the role of scientists! (F)

Rotten to the Core - Join us as we journey into the forest in search of nature’s garbage collectors- decomposers! We’ll investigate fungi, lichens, insects, and other plants and animals who take on nature’s real-life “Dirty Jobs!” (F)

The Pond and Beyond – Dive into the life aquatic as we study pond ecology! Students will use dip nets, microscopes, and charts to identify a variety of plants and animals in the pond. (F)

Geology Rocks! – Your class will become amateur geologists as they investigate the fascinating sedimentary, volcanic, and metamorphic rocks of Aquidneck Island. During an exciting hike along the beautiful Sanctuary ridges, students use magnets, compasses, and magnifying lenses to explore the changing landscape. (F)

Can You Dig It? – Budding geologists who prefer to work “in the lab” will enjoy this interactive look at rocks and minerals. Fossils, erosion and accretion, and a variety of other earth science concepts will be discussed. (O)

Which Niche? – Every living thing has a job to do, as your class will discover in this interactive field program. Students will examine each organism’s role, or niche, in its environment through outdoor exploration, games, role play, and case studies. (F)

The Balancing Act – In this class, students examine the interrelationships among plants, animals, and their environment. Animals, games, and other activities help to illustrate the delicate balance between predator and prey, the elements of a food web, and the many connections that hold each ecosystem together. (O,F)

Sandy Shores – Explore the diversity of life that inhabits the beach and learn about the geology of the Rhode Island shoreline. Using journals, students will record observations on a variety of coastal organisms and will compare and contrast different beach habitats. Scavenger hunts, games, and experiments are also featured. (F)

Ocean Motion – In this interactive class, students will be introduced to the watery world of marine invertebrates and vertebrates. The classification of the different animal groups in the ocean will be discussed, and students take on the role of marine biologists as they “discover” a new undersea species. A fish dissection, led by the instructor, identifies aquatic adaptations. Recommended for grades 3+. (O, F)

Meet the Animals - Meet a variety of our “animal ambassadors” and identify the characteristics of the different animal groups. This hands-on class features student favorites such as our snakes, turtles, and hissing cockroaches! (F,0)

Amazing Animals – Animals have the most incredible adaptations to help them survive! Students will gain an understanding of what adaptations are and the unique features of organisms in Rhode Island. Live animals, student presentations, and interactive experiments are highlights of this awe-inspiring class! (O, F)

Hunters of the Sky – Meet a live bird of prey up close, as we examine their unique natural history and the adaptations that make raptors such powerful and successful predators. Live animals, skulls and biofacts, and student experiments are featured in this fascinating class. (O,F)

For the Birds – We’ll discuss all things flighted and feathery as we learn about bird behavior, natural history, and conservation. Your class will meet a live bird of prey and will dissect owl pellets to examine, observe, and classify the bones of the owl’s prey.

What’s Bugging You? – An introduction to insects, spiders, and other invertebrates. Students will look under logs and explore a variety of field habitats in search of these spineless wonders! A visit from a live invertebrate will also highlight the group’s many adaptations for survival. (F)

Get Your Bearings - Get lost - and then find your way out again! In this outdoor adventure, we’ll learn to use compasses to navigate in the great outdoors. After a few introductory activities and games, students will put their skills to use on the NBS compass course. This class will help your students to develop their orienteering skills to a fine “degree!” Recommended for grades 3+. (F)

Getting Ready for Winter – How do Rhode Island animals know that winter is on its way? We’ll use biofacts, live animals, and role play to discover how plants and animals prepare for the chilly months ahead. Migration, hibernation, and brumation are only a few tricks of the cold-weather trade! October-December only. (F,O)

Native Ways – Join us on a cultural journey back in time as we examine what life was like for the Native Americans that inhabited Aquidneck Island and coastal Rhode Island. We’ll learn how they used natural resources and will play traditional games, learn their legends about local wildlife, try out their tools and weapons, and discuss their connections with nature and respect for the earth. (O,F)

Oooey Gooey Science – Investigate polymers and other basic science principles as we create slime, make things foam, fly, and fizz, and much more. Prepare to get messy in this wacky science lab! (O,F)

Pricing and Scheduling Options

Field Trip Programs (at NBS): Pick TWO 1.5 hour programs or THREE 1 hour programs for $10 per student. Teachers and chaperones are free. This option includes a picnic lunch period in the NBS apple orchard.

Single Program Field Trip (at NBS): One 1.5 hour program for $7 per student.

In-School Outreach Programs: One hour program for a flat rate of $75 for up to 25 kids. $50 for each additional one hour program at the school during the same visit. (All classes must be the same program choice in order to receive the discounted rate.) An additional travel fee of $25 is charged for outreach visits outside of Newport County.

Scholarships may be available for qualified schools; please call for more information.

Please click here for more information about scheduling a fieldtrip or outreach program with NBS.