In the fall, the entire seventh grade took a field trip to Zoo Atlanta, where students observed and learned about many animals, including gorillas, giraffes, turtles, snakes, elephants, and much more!
Katherine Mullis, a seventh-grade ELA teacher, explained the purpose of the field trip.
“We wanted to give students an experience to observe the different ecosystems in terms of the relationships among and between organisms as required by the Georgia Standards of Excellence for seventhgrade science. Students saw how ecosystems are uniquely created to meet the needs of each animal,” Mullis said.
According to Ann DuPree, a seventh-grade science teacher, the field trip also aligns with units students will learn in class, including an ecosystem unit and an animal kingdom unit.
DuPree added the students were particularly intrigued by the red pandas at the zoo and their unique appearance. The red pandas appear slightly larger than a cat and resemble the appearance of a fox more than a panda, the teacher explained.
Another seventh-grade teacher, Kasey Young, remarked that the highlight of the field trip was the students’ ability to see the giant pandas before the zoo sent them back to their home in China. The Gray Station Middle School seventh graders were among the last to see the giant pandas at Zoo Atlanta, making for quite a memorable experience.
The seventh-grade field trip to the zoo was an excellent informational and fun trip for students and teachers alike.
