Field Trip to Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee!!!

Elephant teeth as big as human head

While the students wished we could have actually gone to the zoo in Knoxville, TN, we actually did the next best thing.....Skyped with the zoologist named Jason!  It was awesome!

Jason is a great presenter and really got the students engaged in discussions and learning through Skype.  His focus was on adaptations and food chains, as that is what we were studying in science (another global connection).  He also wanted to talk about some animals that he has in Tennessee that we do not have common in Iowa.  This is the second year I have had my students Skyped with Jason and he always amazes me with his energy and eagerness to engage the students and share information with them.  I know the students loved it just as much.  We invited the other two sections of 3rd grade to join us as well.

Meet Jason from Knoxville Zoo

Some of the things the students learned about were:
* Food chain between a rat (not sure what kind it was) and a constrictor snake
* Elephants teeth are bigger than a human's head
* Adaptations such as the stripes of a zebra are used to help them blend in.
* Predators usually go after their prey that are weak and sick as they are easier to catch
* Hissing cockroaches have many adaptations as well
* Snakes put spit on their tongues to smell the air and sense vibrations (he had the students try, which was funny)
* All food chains begin with the sun
* Even speed is an adaptation for many animals
* Siberian Tigers use their large canine teeth to kill and their smaller front teeth to rip meat off the bones.

Those were just a few of the many opics he covered.  Students also had a little time to ask Jason questions about the zoo and his profession.  I have never been to the Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee but it sounds like an amazing place to visit.  I might have to encourage my family to stop there next summer on our way to the beach in South Carolina as I love visiting a great zoo!  Maybe some of you could visit sometime as well!

Siberian tiger skull and teeth

The students are currently blogging about what they learned from Jason.  Check those out soon as they will be done this week. We will also be emailing him more questions we have as we ran out of time on Friday.

Thanks so much Jason and the Knoxville Zoo for Skyping with us and teaching us more about animals.  It was great!

constrictor snake