Curricula & Lesson Plans

While you and your students may not be able to visit Shedd as a group, you can adapt our post-visit exhibit and trip lesson plans to fit the needs of your classroom.

NextGen Animal Responders Curriculum and Science Tech Trek Lesson Plans

Young students write pledges onto small slips of paper and add them to a "pledge sheet" at the front of their classroom as part of a Shedd NextGen classroom program.

NextGen Animal Responders Curriculum

Shedd's NextGen Animal Responders curriculum guide leads your learners through those questions and more with expert guidance and engaging activities. Incorporating Next Generation Science Standards, our inquiry-based curriculum guide offers an inside look at animal rescue and recovery efforts.

Lesson 1: Shedd Habitat Designer
Lesson 2: Otter Enrichment Design
Lesson 3: Penguin Rescue and Rehabilitation
Lesson 4: Coral Rescue and Rehabilitation
Lesson 5: Citizen Science

See the lessons

Two young students do exercises on an iPad in Shedd's historic galleries.

Science Tech Trek Post-Trip Lessons

These lessons are meant to be facilitated by a teacher in the classroom after the class completed a Science Tech Trek program during their field trip to Shedd. Science Tech Trek Summaries from each tablet will be emailed to the primary teacher after the program is complete.

Exhibit Guides

A small clownfish sits among the fleshy fronds of the anemone it calls home.

Wild Reef

Wild Reef teacher and student guides cover topics of ecology, evolution and the relationships between organisms.

Teacher Guides
Grades K–2 teacher guide
Grades 3–5 teacher guide
Grades 6–8 teacher guide
Grades 9–12 teacher guide

Student Guides
Grades K–2 student guide
Grades 3–5 student guide
Grades 6–8 student guide
Grades 9–12 student guide

Clouded archerfish have narrow, lemon-shaped bodies with upturned mouths.

Rivers

Rivers are home to a great diversity of plant and animal life. In these lessons, student will explore adaptations that make animals well-suited to rivers.