Education: Shutterbugs on Safari©
A camera-based exploration program that can be used at the San Diego Zoo, the Wild Animal Park, or any zoo or animal park.
How
it works
There are three grade-level booklets that teachers can download in PDF form:
Grades Pre-2 helps students discover the difference between mammals, reptiles, and birds.
Grades 3-8 takes your class on a safari in search of unusual and fun animal adaptations.
Grades 9-12 structures your field trip around biological family groups and adaptations related to habitat.
Each booklet includes a chaperone page, to help chaperones to guide the groups as they complete their assignments. The materials were purposely designed to be flexible enough to be used at any animal park or zoo, including the San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park.
How
to get started
Download and print the grade-appropriate booklet.
Grades
Pre-2
Grades
3-8
Grades
9-12
The
Shutterbugs booklets are in PDF format, which can
be read and printed with the free Adobe
Acrobat Reader plug-in.
Decide the size of your student groups. The program was designed for groups of five students to work together, but the program will work well for any small group or individual. If students work in pairs, double prints would allow each to have their own completed booklet.
Make a copy of the master booklet for every group or individual student, plus one for each chaperone.
The week before your field trip
It is easiest if students bring an empty camera and the teacher loads a 24-exposure roll in each. You can also purchase enough single-use cameras for your class. This will prevent any last-minute surprises. Determine how much the film and developing will cost, and add it to the per-person cost of your field trip. If you wish, students loaning cameras can be the photographers for their group.
Send a copy of the booklet to each chaperone or group leader, and ask them to read it prior to the visit.
Review the concepts (animal classification, adaptations, animal orders, and habitats) with your students, so they understand what they will be doing during their field trip.
If a map of the zoo you are visiting is available prior to the visit, give copies to each working group so they can plan their route (as age-appropriate).
On the day of your field trip
Hand out the booklets and distribute the cameras to the photographers.
Your chaperone or group leader follows the directions in the booklet, and the students take turns taking the pictures to complete the assignments.
A photo checklist (in each booklet) allows the group leader to keep track of the photos and photographers during the visit.
After your field trip
Collect the field journals and hold them until the photos are returned from developing.
Have the film developed as 3-1/2 by 5-inch prints.
Provide double-stick tape or photo-safe glue to each group or individual to assemble their field journals.
Additional suggestions for extended activities are included on the last page of each grade level's booklet in the PDF file.
Enjoy Your Safari!
