Program “We are growing at the zoo”

The program “Growing at the Zoo” on the basis of Tula regional Exotarium exists since 2006. During this time a cycle of developing studies was worked out designed for 1 year. The program consists of 12 units corresponding to each month. During each unit children get acquainted with different animals and different aspects of their life.

Each lesson lasts for 45 minutes and takes place once a week on Mondays and Tuesdays. The group consists of not more than 6 children and their parents. The lessons are conducted in several stages. At first we repeat the previous material. Then the child and the adults get acquainted with the new animal: they stroke it, try to find all parts of its body, at the same time they show these parts o their own bodies. In the form of a game children learn about the characteristic features of the life of the animal: how they protect themselves, how they feed, where they live, about the methods of adaptation to its habitat. Children play mobile and finger games. Colorful teaching aids help in all activities. And at last the third final part of the lesson develops the creative abilities of the child. Here children can paint with their fingers, glue cereals, thread macaroni and many other interesting things. In the result children create merry beetles, funny snakes and other animals with which children already got acquainted. At the end of the course so many things are collected that it is possible to open at home a real zoo of the first masterpieces of your child.

The studies are conducted on the following topics:

-         September, Unit N 1: Terrestrial and aquatic frogs. Ferret. Turtle. Autumn phenomena in nature.

-         October, Unit N 2: Toad. Chinchilla. Snail.

-         November, Unit N 3: Lizard. Rabbit. Cockroach.

-         December, Unit N 4: Beetle. Snake. Rat.

-         January, Unit N 5: Hedgehog. Tailed amphibians. Mouse.

-         February, Unit N 6: Hen. Guinea-pig. Fish.

-         March, Unit N 7: Arboreal frogs. Skunk. Legless lizards.

-         April, Unit N 8: Parents and children (insects and frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals).

-         May, Unit N 9: Invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles of the Tula Region.

-         June, Unit N 10: Exotic pets. Domestic poultry. Domestic animals. Homes of domestic animals.

-         July, Unit N 11: Defensive behavior, feeding and footprints of animals.

-     August, Unit N12: Reviewing final topics: Amphibians. Reptiles. Mammals. Birds.