Welcome to the Grade One Program
at the
Click
here for a PDF of this page
Click
here for a MAP to the Affinity Learning Centre
The Grade One program is a joint effort of the
Saskatoon Zoo Society and the Saskatoon Public School Division.
For more information call the Saskatoon Zoo Society
at 975-3395.
This
information is for Saskatoon Public School Board teachers who have been
scheduled by the Out of School Education
department to take part in the Grade One program. This program is intended to supplement the
Animal Unit covered in the grade one curriculum.
Similar programs
can be booked through the Saskatoon Zoo Society for classrooms not
participating in the formal Grade One Program.
To participate in
the Grade One program
you need to sign up with the Out of
School Education Office for the program.
You will need to select your date preferences. Pick three dates (from the tables below) to
allow the Out of School Education Office
to schedule the program for all classes. Once the schedule has been set, the
Out of School Education Office will inform you of your date.
2010-2011 Dates
available for the Saskatoon Public Schools Grade One program:
Note:
all times are a.m. unless otherwise noted.
|
October 2010 |
November 2010 |
December 2010 |
|
Tues. 12 |
Mon. 1 |
Thur. 2 |
|
Fri. 15 |
Tues. 2 |
Fri. 3 |
|
Mon. 25 |
Tues. 9 |
Mon. 6 |
|
Tues. 26 |
Mon. 29 |
Thur. 9 |
|
Fri. 29 |
|
Fri. 10 |
2011
dates:
|
January 2011 |
February 2011 |
March 2011 |
|
Tues. 4 |
Tues. 1 |
Tues. 1 |
|
Wed. 5 |
Wed. 2 |
Wed. 2 |
|
Thur. 6 |
Thur. 3 |
Thur. 3 |
|
Fri. 7 |
Fri. 4 |
Fri. 4 |
|
Mon. 10 |
Mon. 14 |
Mon. 7 |
|
Tues. 11 |
Tues. 15 |
Tues. 8 |
|
Wed. 12 |
Wed. 16 |
Wed. 9 |
|
Thur. 13 |
Thur. 17 |
Thur. 10 |
|
Mon. 24 |
|
Fri. 11 |
|
Tues. 25 |
|
Mon. 14 |
|
Wed. 26 |
|
Tues. 15 |
|
Thur. 27 |
|
Wed. 16 |
|
Mon. 31 |
|
Mon. 21 |
|
|
|
Tues. 22 |
|
|
|
Wed. 23 |
|
|
|
Thur. 24 |
Note:
in May and June afternoon (p.m.) spaces are available
|
April 2011 |
May 2011 |
June 2011 |
|
Tues. 5 |
Wed. 4 p.m. |
Wed. 1 p.m. |
|
Wed. 6 |
Fri. 6 a.m. |
Fri. 3 a.m. |
|
Thur. 7 |
Fri. 6 p.m. |
Fri. 3 p.m. |
|
Mon. 18 |
Mon. 9 a.m. |
Mon. 6 a.m. |
|
Tues. 19 |
Mon. 9 p.m. |
Mon. 6 p.m. |
|
Wed. 20 |
Tues. 10 a.m. |
Tues. 7 a.m. |
|
Thur. 21 |
Tues. 10 p.m. |
Tues. 7 p.m. |
|
|
Wed. 11 p.m. |
Wed. 8 p.m. |
|
|
Fri. 13 a.m. |
Mon. 13 a.m. |
|
|
Fri. 13 p.m. |
Mon. 13 p.m. |
|
|
Mon. 16 a.m. |
Tues. 14 a.m. |
|
|
Mon. 16 p.m. |
Tues. 14 p.m. |
|
|
Tues. 17 a.m. |
Wed. 15 p.m. |
|
|
Wed. 18 p.m. |
Fri. 17 a.m. |
|
|
Fri. 20 a.m. |
Mon. 20 a.m. |
|
|
Fri. 20 p.m. |
Mon. 20 p.m. |
|
|
Tues. 24 a.m. |
Tues. 21 p.m. |
|
|
Wed. 25 p.m. |
Wed. 22 p.m. |
|
|
Fri. 27 a.m. |
|
|
|
Mon. 30 a.m. |
|
|
|
Mon. 30 p.m. |
|
|
|
Tues. 31 a.m. |
|
|
|
Tues. 31 p.m. |
|
This
schedule has 100 possible spots for the Saskatoon Zoo Society Grade One
program. Spots that are not taken by
Grade One teachers will be filled with other Zoo Society programs and will not
remain open throughout the school year.
Re-scheduling a program is possible, but the teacher must contact the
Saskatoon Zoo Society first before switching to a new date as it may no longer
be available.
Program
Themes:
Meet the Creature, Birds of Prey & Carnivores, Pond Dipping (Pond dipping is only available in May
and June)
From
January to April the program consists
of two sessions with a snack break between sessions (snacks are not
provided). All sessions are
indoors. If the weather co-operates, an
outdoor walk will be incorporated
into the program. One session is
entitled “Meet the Creature” and looks at the various types of vertebrate
animals (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians) and their different
characteristics and skin coverings. The
second session is a close up look at the carnivores and birds of prey with help
from some of the raptors at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo.
In
May and June other outdoor options
become available for the second session such as pond dipping and outside
tours of the Birds of Prey & Carnivores. In the event of inclement weather, the May
and June programs will move indoors (similar to the January-April program).
In
May and June afternoon programs are available.
There is no snack break in the
afternoon programs.
The
Program:
A
confirmation e-mail will be sent to you prior to the program. If you have not
received an e-mail within 7 days of your program, please contact the Saskatoon
Zoo Society.
Please
read over the following information carefully:
Click here for a MAP
to the Affinity Learning Centre
We ask that you meet at the Affinity Learning Centre and NOT the front entrance to the Zoo. To get to the Affinity Learning Centre, you
will need to instruct your bus driver to take the first left-hand turn once they are in the Forestry Farm Park. If
you are familiar with the Forestry Farm, the Affinity Learning Centre is
located near the overflow parking area and beside the Administration
Office. Follow the signs that direct you
to the “Affinity Learning Centre”. If you end up in the main parking lot to the
Zoo, you have gone too far.
Morning Program:
The morning program will start at 9:30 a.m.
unless you have arranged for the bus to come for a 10:00 a.m. late start (check
your schedule from Lynn to confirm).
The morning program includes time for a
snack as the Saskatoon Zoo Society (SZS) educators will be preparing animals
during your snack time. The Saskatoon
Forestry Farm Park and Zoo is not a nut-free facility, however we ask that all
snacks are nut-free. We encourage a
waste-free snack, however that is not always possible, so please reinforce to
your students that all garbage is placed in the garbage bins and all recycling
is put into the recycling boxes located in the snack room. The Saskatoon Zoo Society will provide water
cups for the students to use as there is no water fountain in the building.
Morning
Program
·
There
are two types of morning programs –one for good weather and one for the winter
months or inclement weather. We schedule
a short outside visit on all programs (unless conditions inhibit student
safety), so students need to dress appropriately.
·
Teacher
is asked to divide students into 2 groups.
Students should have name tags and be
prepared to go outside for a portion of the time.
·
There
is time for a “snack break” if you
are coming for the morning program and you are not a “late start” school.
Morning schedule:
(The 10:00 a.m. Late Start will look
similar to the “Afternoon Schedule”)
This is
the schedule when the weather is nice and the students can be out for a
considerable amount of time.
Groups 1 & 2: 9:05 a.m. Depart School
Groups 1 & 2: 9:30 – 9:35 Arrive at Affinity Learning Centre.
Introductions,
rules, etc.
Group 1: 9:35 – 10:15 Meet the Creature program – Indoors
(lead by a Zoo
Society guide)
Group 2: 9:35 – 10:15 Theme Portion - Outside
(Birds
of Prey/Carnivores or Ponds
Lead
by a Zoo Society guide)
Groups 1 & 2: 10:15 – 10:25 Snack and bathroom break. – Indoors.
The Zoo Society will be preparing an animal
during this time for your class.
Supervision is lead by the classroom teacher and/or parent volunteers
Groups 1 & 2: 10:25-10:45 Meet Georgia - Indoors.
Group 1: 10:45 – 11:30 Theme Portion – Outside.
(Birds of
Prey/Carnivores or Ponds.
Lead by a Zoo Society guide).
Group 2: 10:45 – 11:30 Meet the Creature Program – Indoors.
(lead by a Zoo
Society guide).
Groups 1 & 2: 11:30 a.m. Board
the bus for back to school.
Morning schedule for
winter or other inclement weather situations:
(will be determined by the SZS staff).
NOTE:
the
pond program is not available during inclement weather even if booked by the
teacher. Please be prepared to have a
bird of prey/carnivore theme portion.
Group 1 & 2: 9:05 a.m. Depart
School
Groups 1 & 2: 9:30 – 9:35 Arrive
at the Affinity Learning Centre
Introductions,
rules, etc.
Groups 1 & 2: 9:35 – 10:00 Bird
of Prey Presentation – Indoors
(Hawk
or Owl)
Group 1: 10:00
– 10:40 Meet the Creature Program
- Indoors
(lead
by a Zoo Society guide).
Group 2: 10:00
– 10:40 Meet the Creature Program
– Indoors
(Lead
by a Zoo Society guide).
Group 1 & 2: 10:40 – 10:50 Snack
and bathroom break – Indoors.
The Zoo Society will be preparing an animal
during this time. Supervision is lead by
the classroom teacher and/or parent volunteers.
Groups 1 & 2: 10:50 – 11:10 Meet
Georgia – Indoors
Group 1: 11:10
– 11:30 Short outdoor theme
program.
(Birds
of Prey/ Carnivores)
Pond is unavailable
during inclement weather.
(Lead by a Zoo
Society guide).
Group 2: 11:10
– 11:30 Short outdoor theme
program.
(Birds
of Prey/ Carnivores)
Pond is unavailable
during inclement weather.
(Lead by a Zoo
Society guide).
Group 1 & 2: 11:30 Board
the bus for back to school.
Afternoon
Program
·
The
program consists of two 45 minute sessions.
·
Teacher
is asked to divide students into 2 groups.
Students should have name tags and be
prepared to go outside for a portion of the time.
·
There
is NO time for a “snack break”
·
Available
only in May and June
Afternoon
Program Schedule (May and June only):
Groups 1 & 2: 12:20 p.m. Depart
School.
Groups 1 & 2: 12:55 – 1:00 Arrive
Affinity Learning Centre.
Introductions,
rules, etc.
Group 1: 1:00
– 1:45 Meet the Creature
Program – Indoors
(Lead
by a Zoo Society guide).
Group 2: 1:00
– 1:45 Theme program – Outside
(Bird
of Prey/Carnivores or Ponds.
Lead
by a Zoo Society guide).
Group 1: 1:45
-2:30 Theme program –
Outside
(Bird
of Prey/Carnivores or Ponds.
Lead
by a Zoo Society guide).
Group 2: 1:45
– 2:30 Meet the Creature
Program – Indoors
(Lead
by a Zoo Society guide).
Groups 1 & 2: 2:30 p.m. Board
the bus for back to school.
Transportation:
First
Student bus lines has already been booked by the Out of School Education
Secretary (8273) for your trip. Payment
for the bus is covered by the Out of School Education Office. Please be on time
for your bus. There is a 10 minute
waiting period. If you do not board the
bus within that time frame there is a $10.00 surcharge (which will be forwarded
directly to your school for payment).
Bus
Pick-up Times: if you would like to
change your pick-up or drop-off times contact the Out of School Education
Secretary at 8273.
Morning
Program: The bus will pick the students up at 9:05 a.m. and return for them at
Afternoon
Program (May and June): The bus will pick the students up at 12:30 p.m. and
return for them at
Full
Day session: The bus will pick up at
9:05 a.m. and return for them at
In
the event of an emergency:
We recommend that a parent volunteer bring their
personal vehicle so that a student can be transported to an emergency
centre.
(Schools buses do not make great vehicles for rushing a single child to an
emergency centre).
Cancellation:
The
teacher makes the decision to cancel.
It
is YOUR responsibility to contact:
1)
First Student Bus Lines to cancel the bus (343-2125)
2)
Contact the Saskatoon Zoo Society and leave a message
3)
To re-schedule, contact the Zoo Society (975-3395) for available dates. Then call the Out of School Secretary (at the
Athletics Office) (683-8273) and Lynn will make the new bus arrangements.
Resources:
Curriculum
materials are available at the Saskatoon Public School Board Central
Office. There are three biofact
(biological artifact) boxes available for loan.
Telephone 8329 or 8301 to book.
Carnivore
Biofact
Herbivore
Biofact
Bird
Biofact
The
yellow book Forestry Farm Resource is in every school’s Learning Resource
Centre. The additional material in this
book is somewhat dated, but still useful.
If you cannot locate it, a copy can be e-mailed to you. E-mail Lynn at allardycel@spsd.ca with your
request.
Your Day at the Zoo:
A
confirmation e-mail will be sent to you prior to the program. If you have not
received an e-mail within 7 days of your program, please contact the Saskatoon
Zoo Society.
Following are
some suggestions to make your day at the Saskatoon Zoo go smoothly.
Before coming to
the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo:
Zoo Society
Interpreters will conduct both sessions of your program.
Review the Zoo
Rules, so that every student knows the proper behaviour when they arrive at the
Saskatoon Zoo. Zoo Rules can be found in the Yellow Forestry Farm Manual in
your Learning Resource Centre.
· No feeding of the animals (they have their own special diet).
· No loud noises, running or chasing the animals.
· Do not hit or bang on the animal’s houses.
· Do not pick any flowers, plants, seeds, or other living material.
Divide your students into two groups. Make sure each student knows which
group they are in. (Coded name tags help).
Upon arrival at the Zoo:
Zoo
Society interpreters will meet your class at the Affinity Credit Union Learning
Centre. The class will divide into its
two groups and enter the Zoo.
The Affinity
Learning Centre
is located west of the main parking lot.
Take the first left-hand turn once you are in the Saskatoon Forestry
Farm Park and follow the signs to “Administration”. Classes can disembark the bus in the
administration parking lot. A Zoo
Society interpreter will be there to meet your bus.
Other
Notes:
Cancellation:
The grade one program will NOT be cancelled in the event of
inclement weather. Thanks to a
year-round, dedicated programming space, the Saskatoon Zoo Society will adapt
the program in the case of inclement weather.
The Saskatoon Zoo Society’s schedule is
very full, so there is not much room for changing dates especially in May and
June. Please contact the Saskatoon Zoo
Society directly, via e-mail (see below), if you need to make a change. If the Saskatoon Zoo Society confirms that a
switch can be made, then it is YOUR
responsibility to contact Lynn Allardyce at the school board and arrange for a
change in the bus times.
The
teacher makes the decision to cancel.
It
is YOUR responsibility to contact:
1)
First Student Bus Lines to cancel the bus (343-2125)
2)
Contact the Saskatoon Zoo Society and leave a message
3)
To re-schedule, contact the Zoo Society (975-3395) for available dates. Then call the Out of School Secretary (at the
Athletics Office) (683-8273) and Lynn will make the new bus arrangements.
Allergies:
Children will be in contact with
animals. Please check with your students
to ensure there are no severe allergies
to animal fur, straw/hay, feathers, etc.
The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo is
not a nut-free facility.
Wheelchair Access:
The
Affinity Learning Centre is wheelchair accessible.
Parent Volunteers:
Please, no more than four parent helpers on
this trip. Our preferred number is two –
one for each group. Remember that your
class will be divided into two groups, so you will need another adult to
supervise the second group. The parents’
job is to supervise the students and to ensure that they are on-task and
listening to the Saskatoon Zoo Society educators. They are also responsible for ensuring that
the students are with the group at all times and not wandering off or getting
mixed up with other schools.
No pre-school children or siblings allowed
in the program.
Food is allowed only in designated
areas:
No
food or drink is allowed while we are working with the animals. There is a designated area for snack time in
the building and food/drink is restricted to this area for safety reasons.
Self Guided Materials:
If you are visiting the Saskatoon Forestry Farm
Park & Zoo for the whole day and wish to see more of the Zoo, you can request
self-guided Biofact Bags from the Zoo Society to assist with your self guided
tour. Two Biofact Bags available include Hoofed Stock and Birds of Prey
& Carnivores. The Pond Study equipment may also be available.
(Check with the Zoo Society). Biofact Bags must be booked in advance by
calling the Saskatoon Zoo Society at 975-3395.
Lunch at the Zoo:
If you eat lunch at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm
Park and Zoo:
We recommend eating lunch in the Forestry Farm Park.
The Park offers more picnic tables, shade, grassy areas, and space to run as
opposed to the Zoo. There is a small playground located in the
Have the students bring a waste free lunch. Try to
get the children to take their garbage home with them. This will build
awareness of the garbage we create. Inform the students that animals that eat
garbage often die. Ask where all the garbage goes: most goes into our expanding
landfills, which are often built on prime wildlife habitat. For
more information on Waste Free Lunches contact the Ecology Club at the
University Extension Division (966-5484). The Ecology Club for Kids will even
come to your classroom and do a Waste Free Lunch Skit.
What’s new!
The Saskatoon Zoo Society celebrates its 35th
anniversary in 2011.
Two Lions are on display in the PotashCorp Ark
interpretative display.
Did you know the same species of lion that lived in Saskatchewan prior
to the last ice age is the same species of lion that lives in Africa and Asia
today?
Ariel, the Swainson Hawk (Hatched 1992), and Spirt
(Spirit), our one-eyed Great Horned Owl (hatched May 2002), now have a proper
home at the Zoo. In 2001 sufficient funds were raised to build a new
"raptor roost". It opened in June 2001 and finally completed in
August 2002.
Other notes of interest:
We are not the Zoo!
The Saskatoon Zoo Society is a non-profit organization run by volunteers.
We are responsible for most guided education programs at the Saskatoon Forestry
Farm Park and Zoo (not the self-guided interpretation signs at the zoo).
We operate independently from the
The Zoo Society is funded through a membership
program, Paws Inn Concession and Gift Shop, grants and donations, special
fundraising events and cost-recovery on programs.
The
The Forestry Farm Park gets its name because it was
once a Federal Tree Nursery Station.
Between 1913 and 1966 over 147 million trees were sent to prairie
farmers from the Forestry Farm. Today
the Forestry Farm has been designated a National Heritage Site. The
Park and Zoo also comprise part of the Sutherland Migratory Bird Sanctuary
(established 1924).
Have fun!
If you have any questions, please feel free
to e-mail the Saskatoon Zoo Society educators at zoosociety@sasktel.net.
Regards,
Kathleen Zary, B.Ed
Greg Fenty, B.Ed, B.Sc
Cathy Bartsch, B.Ed