Some Ozone Park kids are getting hands-on lessons about animals and nature right in their classroom. NY1's Clodagh McGowan filed the following report.
First graders at PS 316 in Ozone Park don't have to travel far to learn about aquatic animals.
That's because they're taking part in the Wildlife Conservation Society's Sea and Land program.
Once a week, instructors from the New York Aquarium and the Queens Zoo bring environmental science lessons directly to the classroom.
"The best part is that we're learning crazy things about animals that we never even learned,” said Caiden Pierre-Louis, a student at PS 316.
The curriculum is designed to encourage young people to learn and discover more about different animals and their habitats.
"The idea is for kids to be able to take some extra time to learn more about nature both terrestrial and in the marine environment these are places that are featured in some of our zoos and aquariums but more importantly they're places kids are fascinated with,” said Jon Forrest Dohlin, the director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium.
PS 316 is also known as the Queens Explorers Elementary School.
Staff members say the sea and land program is a perfect fit for their science and social studies based curriculum.
"It gives them an opportunity to use their hands, to move around and to explore, to discover on their own,” said Maureen Abernethy, a Guidance Counselor at PS 316.
"The zoo and the aquarium those are great springboards for learning about science, technology, engineering and math," said Melissa Compson, the school’s principal.
As part of the Land and Sea program, the students also take field trips to the aquarium and the zoo bringing their lessons to life.
"The sea lion, he did a lot of tricks. He flipped over and like he said hi to us," said Desma Vega, a student at PS 316.
"We [saw] sharks there and we were really excited to see them," added Mya Diaz, also a student at PS 316.
The kids are excited to see their instructors too.
The staff says almost 50 kids stay after school for the lessons every week, proving that learning about science is really fun.