12:30 pm

This large-format, illustrated book and Teacher's Package look at the history, traditions and culture of the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. Written by Squamish language teacher Khelsilem, the book highlights significant aspects of traditional and contemporary cultures.

The Kit includes lesson plans for intermediate or secondary levels that encourage discussion and critical thinking at all grade levels. Also available in French: Le livre des peuples autochtones a Vancouver Nord.

Format: The Kit comes with one hardcover copy of the book as well as an electrionic copy of it, 22 laminate pages from the book, and lesson plans for intermediate or secondary grades.

Visit https://nvma.ca/education/school-programs/ to view the intermediate and secondary teacher's guides.

Enjoy a tour of Mackin House that incorporates additional learning and interactive components. Perfect for visitors who have already experienced one of our Heritage Tours in a previous visit.

In the Evolution of Music Tour learn the arc of popular music from gramaphones to iPods. This interactive tour incoporates the music listening and history with a different musical age and technology in each room of the musuem.

Heritage Storytelling after your tour of Mackin House settle into our darkened parlour to learn about the journey of storytelling from the fireside to the magic lantern of the Victorian era. The visit ends with a shadow puppet show and a chance for the students to try out the puppets themselves.

The Vancouver Writers Fest is one of the largest, and most prestigious literary festivals in North America. The 2019 Festival takes place October 22-27, 2019. In addition to the programming we offer adults, we also hold events specifically for K-12 students.

Through our youth educational outreach programs, we offer students the opportunity to interact with celebrated writers from across the globe in more than 40 events designed specifically for young people, teachers, schools and student groups. Each year, we reach more than 7,000 students across British Columbia—in the classroom or at the Festival.

Our youth education outreach programming includes:

30+ weekday Festival events featuring presentations and discussions with engaging authors from Canada and around the world, programmed with BC curriculum goals in mind. We offer discounted tickets and bus subsidies for teachers and students for the youth events we organize during the festival. We also have one day of events which are completely free, with the option offered to guests to pay what they can.

6,000 student attendees from the Lower Mainland, the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island.

Writers in the Classroom: 20 classroom-based events where writers visit schools across the Lower Mainland to engage students in important conversations.

We welcome teachers, academics and educators to attend the festival with their students for an inspiring and memorable field trip.    

Make your next play one your actors and audience won’t soon forget! With Academie Duello you can bring a stage combat class or course to your school.

As the practices that actors use are always improving and changing in film, we use a curriculum that is the most practical and proven in actual performances. We teach how to use distance, timing and targets to make things look real, yet keep the actors and audience safe as we develop an eye and awareness for safety.

As classes plant and tend vegetables at local community gardens, students learn about soil and composting, discover the needs of plants, and become environmental stewards.  Throughout the series, they will develop an awareness of environmental issues and social responsibiility as they learn about local food security.  Food grown and harvested is donated to local food banks.

• General admission includes:
  • Educational signage about the animals at each exhibit 
  • Keeper Talks
    • A unique and engaging way for guests to connect with Animal Care staff and some of our animals by observing behaviour training and enrichment
  • Areas dedicated to Conservation
    • Wildlife biologists conducting onsite rearing and recovery of local endangered species
  • Observable focus on the 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)
  • A tour of our behind the scenes compost area upon request
  • Online Animal Library – Information about the Animals at the Zoo
  • Online Teacher Resources with Downloadable Zoo Scavenger Hunts & Educational Activities/Lesson Plans for the Classroom

Please Note: Teachers considering a field trip at the zoo are given a visit free of charge to aid in their lesson planning (identification required)

Please note: all programs are available in French upon request

Inquiry-based learning is incorporated as a main focus for all age groups (encouraging curiosity and observation)

Preschool/Primary

• Pre/K: You and the Zoo
  • Full of fun facts, this is an overview of some of the animals at the Greater Vancouver Zoo. Through observation and questioning, students will learn about animal characteristics, the needs of animals and how these needs are met by their environment. This program also introduces the concept of adaptations and the impact of seasonal changes on living things.
• Grade 1+: Amazing Animal Adaptations
  • Students will use their observation skills to make connections between animals, their unique adaptations and the strategies that facilitate survival, including the impact of seasonal changes, in their different habitats. This program also highlights animal senses and the basic structures and functions of animal body systems.
• Grade 2+: Life Cycles
  • By observing a variety of wildlife, students will learn that all living things have life cycles adapted to their environment and life history path. This program will highlight the importance of life cycles in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
• Grade 3+: The Web of Life
  • Through examination of an ecosystem, students will learn the importance of biodiversity, how animals interact with their environment, and competition within food webs.

Intermediate/Middle School

• Grade 4+: Animal Super Senses
  • Students will explore various animals and how they use their senses in response to their environment. We will highlight the importance of these adaptations to survival, and how they are connected to all other living things within their ecosystem. This program also discusses how different biomes impact animal responses.
• Grade 5-7+: Animal Organs at Work
  • Students will learn how the various body systems function within the animal kingdom and how they have become specialized to best suit the various needs of wildlife.

Secondary

• Grade 11+: Animal Classifications
  • Students will dive into the world of classification using various examples of the kingdom Animalia here at the zoo. Our knowledgeable zoo staff will describe and demonstrate how scientists observe internal and external features to distinguish and classify animals.

Preschool – University

• Conservation and Endangered Species
  • Learn about the Western Painted Turtle, Oregon Spotted Frog, and Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly recovery programs at the Greater Vancouver Zoo and how we’re making a difference. Explore the role of students, accredited zoos, and conservation organizations in protecting species that are threatened with extinction. Students will also learn about the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species and its significance.