Curriculum Materials

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Tie it all together!

Review our park's lesson plans and use some of our activities to bring your in-class lessons and park visit together. Our programs reflect what teachers in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia teach to. We also use Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.

Want to visit the park?

You can plan a field trip to visit Rock Creek Park. Programs are free but must be scheduled a minimum of two weeks in advance. Contact us to make a reservation.

 

Environmental Education

1-2 Sensory Stroll (1 hr) Observe nature in a whole new way! Discover how animals use their senses to survive.

1-3 Meet A Tree (1 hr) Meet a new friend.., a tree! Learn how trees are similar to people and find out why they are so important.

2-3 Habitat Hunt (1 hr) Explore a section of Rock Creek Park's 1750 acres of habitat and find out why it is so important to the animals of Washington DC

2-3 Be a Junior Naturalist! (1 hr) Learn about the skills and tools naturalists use while observing nature.

2-4 Adaptations (1 hr) Win, loose, or adapt! Discover how animals must adapt to thrive in their environment.

4-6 Protecting our Park (2 hrs) Help a Park Ranger protect Rock Creek Park by completing a service learning project such as a watershed cleanup or an invasive plant removal.

Planetarium Programs

Pre-K The Sky Above Us (30 minutes) This program will introduce young learners to tonight's night sky by enabling them to observe the movements of the sun, moon, and stars. Stories about the constellations will peak their imagination and their desire to learn more.

1-3 Native Americans' Night Sky (45 minutes) Explore the night sky with an emphasis on Native American legends from various peoples..

4-6 Our Universe (60 minutes) The conceptual science of astronomy is made tangible through the combination of active demonstrations and a planetarium program focusing on our universe. If you would like to schedule a planetarium program for older students, please call the Nature Center and we will tailor a program specifically for your group.

4-8 Under African Skies (45 minutes) learn some of the night sky stories from African cultures. Also explore how and why African Americans escaping slavery used the night sky to help lead them to freedom.

Last updated: September 7, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

5200 Glover Rd, NW
Washington, DC 20015

Phone:

202 895-6000
Rock Creek Park's main phone line.

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