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Science in the Park
Science in the Park offers two hands-on learning opportunities designed to bring science and nature to life.
Our general Science in the Park program serves students in grades K–6, reinforcing classroom science concepts through engaging, outdoor learning experiences. A separate Special Education program serves students in grades K–12 with inclusive, adapted activities offered both in the classroom and in the park.
Both programs are led by experienced instructors and use Prince William County’s natural spaces and hands-on exploration to create meaningful learning experiences for students.
Science in the Park Programs
Expand all- K-6 Science in the Park Program Overview & Registration
This nature-based program was created as an extension to the classroom, reinforcing 2018’s Standards of Learning (SOL’s) through hands-on learning for your young scientists.
Our Science in the Park instructors lead fun, engaging programs for grades K-6 that emphasize core science concepts and vocabulary.Science in the Park is held at the following parks:
- Lake Ridge Park 12350 Cotton Mill Dr. Woodbridge, VA
- Locust Shade Park 4701 Locust Shade Dr. Triangle, VA
- Silver Lake Regional Park 15800 Silver Lake Rd. Haymarket, VA
KINDERGARTEN
- Lesson - Basic Needs of Animals:
- SOLs Covered: K.1, K.6, K.7
- Activities: Living/Nonliving Investigation, Pinecone Bird Feeder, Animal Survival Needs, Simon Says "Oh Deer", Habitat Red Light Green Light
- Activities: Living/Nonliving Investigation, Pinecone Bird Feeder, Animal Survival Needs, Simon Says "Oh Deer", Habitat Red Light Green Light
- SOLs Covered: K.1, K.6, K.7
- Lesson - Basic Needs of Plants
- SOLS Covered: K.1, K.3, K.4, K.7
- Activities: Basic Needs of Plants Investigation, Plant Parts Scavenger Hike, Plant Chant Obstacle Course
- Activities: Basic Needs of Plants Investigation, Plant Parts Scavenger Hike, Plant Chant Obstacle Course
- SOLS Covered: K.1, K.3, K.4, K.7
- Lesson - Investigating Water
- SOLs Covered: K.1, K.4, K.7
- Activities: Who Needs Water?, States of Matter, Where is Water Walk, Sink/Float, Shape of Water
- Activities: Who Needs Water?, States of Matter, Where is Water Walk, Sink/Float, Shape of Water
- SOLs Covered: K.1, K.4, K.7
- Lesson - Senses in Nature
- SOLs Covered: K.1, K.3, K.5
- Activities: Knowing Your Senses, Animal Superpowers, Four Senses Garden, Hug a Tree, Colors we Find, Shapes in Nature, Becoming Botanists
- SOLs Covered: K.1, K.3, K.5
FIRST GRADE
- Lesson - Animal Characteristics
- SOLs Covered: 1.1, 1.5, 1.7
- Activities: Hands on Body Coverings, Body Coverings Based on Temperature, Move Like A…, Lunch for a Bear
- Activities: Hands on Body Coverings, Body Coverings Based on Temperature, Move Like A…, Lunch for a Bear
- SOLs Covered: 1.1, 1.5, 1.7
- Lesson - Habitat Features
- SOLs Covered: 1.1, 1.5, 1.7
- Activities: Habitat Survival Needs, Hibernation, Log Roll, Terrific Turkeys
- Activities: Habitat Survival Needs, Hibernation, Log Roll, Terrific Turkeys
- SOLs Covered: 1.1, 1.5, 1.7
- Lesson - Plant Properties
- SOLs Covered: 1.1, 1.4
- Activities: Plant Needs Exploration, Plant Parts Role Play, Make a Plant Pot, Plant Scavenger Hike, Plant Chant
- SOLs Covered: 1.1, 1.4
SECOND GRADE
- Lesson - Animal Adaptations
- SOLs Covered: 2.1, 2.5, 2.8
- Activities: Form Fits Function, Hands on Body Coverings, Beaks-a-Plenty, Camouflage Yourself, Fashion a Fish
- Lesson - Ecosystems & Habitats
- SOLS Covered: 2.1, 2.5, 2.8
- Activities: Living/Nonliving Hike, Woodland Food Web, Season vs. Weather, Migrations Headaches
- Activities: Living/Nonliving Hike, Woodland Food Web, Season vs. Weather, Migrations Headaches
- SOLS Covered: 2.1, 2.5, 2.8
- Lesson - Life Cycles
- SOLs Covered: 2.1, 2.4
- Activities: Quick Assembly Life Cycle, Frog, Plant, Deer, Butterfly Life Cycles, Seed Scavenger Hunt, Life Cycle of a Mighty Oak, Life Cycle Hike
- SOLs Covered: 2.1, 2.4
THIRD GRADE
- Lesson - Aquatic Explorations
- SOLs Covered: 3.1, 3.4, 3.5
- Activities: Terrestrial vs. Aquatic Relay, Stream/Pond Study
- Activities: Terrestrial vs. Aquatic Relay, Stream/Pond Study
- SOLs Covered: 3.1, 3.4, 3.5
- Lesson - Habitat Hike
- SOLs Covered: 3.1, 3.4, 3.5
- Activities: Habitat Hike, Log Study
- Activities: Habitat Hike, Log Study
- SOLs Covered: 3.1, 3.4, 3.5
- Lesson - Soil Study
- SOLs Covered: 3.1, 3.6, 3.8
- Activities: Dirt vs. Soil, The Soils We Can Use, Sediment Texture/Get Your Hands Dirty, Forest Floor Exploration, Dig a Soil Profile
- Activities: Dirt vs. Soil, The Soils We Can Use, Sediment Texture/Get Your Hands Dirty, Forest Floor Exploration, Dig a Soil Profile
- SOLs Covered: 3.1, 3.6, 3.8
- Lesson - Water Everywhere
- SOLs Covered: 3.1, 3.2, 3.7, 3.8
- Activities: Transpiration, Liquids & Solids: Shake it Up, Water Changes Walk, Water Cycle Relay, Cloud in a Bottle, Cloud Watching
- SOLs Covered: 3.1, 3.2, 3.7, 3.8
FOURTH GRADE
- Lesson - Classifying Nature
- SOLs Covered: 4.1, 4.3
- Activities: Why Classify?, Candy Dichotomous Key, Plant Dichotomous Key, Invertebrate Dichotomous Key
- Activities: Why Classify?, Candy Dichotomous Key, Plant Dichotomous Key, Invertebrate Dichotomous Key
- SOLs Covered: 4.1, 4.3
- Lesson - Earth's Ecosystems
- SOLs Covered: 4.1, 4.3, 4.4
- Activities: Earth's Ecosystems, Tree Ecosystem Study, Quick Frozen Critters
- Activities: Earth's Ecosystems, Tree Ecosystem Study, Quick Frozen Critters
- SOLs Covered: 4.1, 4.3, 4.4
- Lesson - Food Chains & Predator/Prey
- SOLs Covered: 4.1, 4.2, 4.3
- Activities: Food Chains Scavenger Hunt, Build a Food Chain, Web of Life, Hunt Like a Hawk
- Activities: Food Chains Scavenger Hunt, Build a Food Chain, Web of Life, Hunt Like a Hawk
- SOLs Covered: 4.1, 4.2, 4.3
- Lesson - Hands-On Habitats
- SOLs Covered: 4.1, 4.2, 4.3
- Activities: Milkweed Mothers, Monarch Marathon, Oh Deer
- Activities: Milkweed Mothers, Monarch Marathon, Oh Deer
- SOLs Covered: 4.1, 4.2, 4.3
- Lesson - Watershed Investigation
- SOLs Covered: 4.1, 4.4, 4.8
- Activities: Build a Watershed, Watershed Tour
- SOLs Covered: 4.1, 4.4, 4.8
FIFTH GRADE
- Lesson - Light & Sound
- SOLs Covered: 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.5, 5.6
- Activities: Sound Waves, Rope Waves, Sounds of the Forest Hike, Color Walk
- Activities: Sound Waves, Rope Waves, Sounds of the Forest Hike, Color Walk
- SOLs Covered: 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.5, 5.6
- Lesson - Virginia ROCKS!
- SOLs Covered: 5.1, 5.8
- Activities: Rocks Rock!, Rock Cycle Hand Motions & I Have Who Has, Rock Cycle Tag, Virginia Rocks Hike
- Activities: Rocks Rock!, Rock Cycle Hand Motions & I Have Who Has, Rock Cycle Tag, Virginia Rocks Hike
- SOLs Covered: 5.1, 5.8
- Lesson - Weathering & Erosion
- SOLs Covered: 5.1, 5.8
- Activities: Weathering, Erosion, & Deposition, Virginia: Let's Build It!
- SOLs Covered: 5.1, 5.8
SIXTH GRADE
- Lesson - Macroinvertebrate Survey
- SOLs Covered: 6.1, 6.8
- Activities: Macroinvertebrate Collection, Dichotomous Key Identification, Creek Survey
- Activities: Macroinvertebrate Collection, Dichotomous Key Identification, Creek Survey
- SOLs Covered: 6.1, 6.8
- Lesson - Water Quality Testing
- SOLs Covered: 6.1, 6.8
- Activities: Water Testing: Temperature, Turbidity, pH, Phosphate, Nitrate, Dissolved Oxygen
- Activities: Water Testing: Temperature, Turbidity, pH, Phosphate, Nitrate, Dissolved Oxygen
- SOLs Covered: 6.1, 6.8
- Watersheds Examination
- SOLs Covered: 6.1, 6.8
- Activities: Build a Watershed, Watershed Tour
- SOLs Covered: 6.1, 6.8
- K-12 On-Site Special Education Overview & Registration
Prince William County’s Science in the Park Special Education program for grades K-12 is accepting registrations for our Winter and Spring programs. Register now to reserve a date for this hands-on, inclusive and unforgettable program!
Designed exclusively for Special Education students, Science in the Park bring the wonders of Prince William County Parks to life!
In-Class Programs – bring nature directly to your school with dynamic, instructor-led lessons and hands-on exploration in our interactive Discovery Lab. Students will investigate items such as animal furs, snake skins, feathers, shells, skulls, sensory bottles, microscopes, animal track sand tables, and more! Our instructors provide and set up all equipment and materials, transforming your classroom into an immersive learning space.
In-Park Programs – take learning outdoors, where students enjoy exciting, instructor-guided lessons along wheelchair-accessible trails, fields, streams, and creeks. Lessons explore topics such as ecosystems and habitats, rocks and soil, plants and pollinators, and animal’s and their habitats. This hands-on program provides meaningful opportunities for students to connect with nature in a safe and inclusive environment.
($10/student)
