In-School
Programs
**Due to COVID-19, all TINS In-School Programs can be adapted for virtual delivery, outdoors on or off of school campus, or in classrooms depending upon current school and district policies.
Let us bring the natural history of the Tahoe region into your classroom! Our in-school programs are highly engaging, hands-on, and place-based specific to the Tahoe region. These fun programs allow every student to become active in the learning process, and are a great complement to traditional science curriculum. Each one of our programs are aligned with national and state Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), all using experiential learning techniques to help students not only meet expectations in science, but in every subject.
Our series of programs are designed to build on students' knowledge as they advance through the grades, starting with bugs for Kindergarten and 1st Grade, moving on to bats for 2nd and 3rd Grades, and progressing to birds for 4th and 5th Grades. We also offer on mammals, amphibians, and more. Additionally, each program is designed to be able to adapt to multiple grade levels, individual classroom requests, and needs.
For inquires, registering your class, or more information, please contact Katie Stegemerten at 775.298.0064.
Tahoe’s Bountiful Bugs
Students will learn insect body parts through song and while exploring different groups of local insects. The basics of pollination and the butterfly life cycle are examined through activities and observation of specimens. Impressive displays of local insect specimens are brought into the classroom, allowing students a close examination of many insects they can find right in their own backyards.
Program Length: 45 minutes
Class Size: 25 maximum
Grades: Linked to national and state standards for Kindergarten, but can be adjusted for any grade K–6
Tahoe’s Incredible Insects
Students are introduced to the ecological role and importance of insects and arachnids by examining species that live in their own backyards through engaging hands-on activities and visual aids. Students will conduct an in-depth investigation of the body parts of insects. Displays with real local insect specimens are brought to the classroom to allow the students to practice their observation skills while viewing insects from the Tahoe region.
Program Length: One hour
Class Size: 32 maximum
Grades: Linked to national and state standards for 1st Grade, but can be adjusted for any grade K–6
Mysterious Bats
Students will learn about bats native to the Tahoe region during this hands-on, auditory program. The lives, behaviors, and habitats of bats will be explored, showing students that these strange and mysterious creatures are simply misunderstood. Many common myths about bats are dispelled through interactive learning. Students will be able to witness real bat specimens up close and learn about their diversity and ecological importance.
Program Length: One hour
Class Size: 32 maximum
Grades: Linked to national and state standards for 2nd Grade, but can be adjusted for any grade K–6
How Bats Are Like People
Students will learn how scientists use different characteristics of animal species to classify and organize them into taxonomic groups, using bats and humans as the prime example. Students will explore how various species that seem distantly related, can be more closely related than one would think. Students learn many of the similarities between humans and bats, bat adaptations, and interesting facts on bats, through several engaging, hands-on experiential activities.
Program Length: One hour
Class Size: 32 maximum
Grades: Linked to national and state standards for3rd Grade, but can be adjusted for any grade 2–6
Tahoe’s Beautiful Birds
Students will be introduced to many local birds of the Tahoe region through visual, audio, and hands-on activities. Students will explore bird songs and other vocalizations of birds, while learning how to identify local species based off of several characteristics. Students will learn fun facts about local birds and how they contribute to the environment as well as humans. Students will observe specimens of local species up close and in hand to gain a firsthand look at birds they are likely to find in their own neighborhoods.
Program Length: One hour
Class Size: 32 maximum
Grades: Linked to national and state standards for 4th Grade, but can be adjusted for any grade K–6
Beaks & Feet for What Birds Eat
Students will learn that organisms have physical adaptations that make them better suited to their environment, with a special focus on the purpose of bird beaks and feet. This highly interactive program also introduces students to the steps of the scientific method. Students use tools and other materials to perform an experiment that explores how different designs of beaks are used to access different food sources.
Program Length: One hour
Class Size: 32 maximum
Grades: Linked to national and state standards for 5th Grade, but can be adjusted for any grade 3–6
Mammals in My Backyard
Students will learn how mammals are a vital part in shaping the environment. The diversity of Tahoe’s mammals, including their diets, habitats, ecological roles, relationships within Tahoe’s food web, and what a keystone species is, will be covered through visual aids and hands on activities. Students will also explore how skull and teeth structure can tell you about a mammal’s characteristics. Students will have the opportunity to interact with different mammal skulls and furs.
Program Length: One hour
Class Size: 32 maximum
Grades: Linked to national and state standards for 1st grade, but can be adjusted for any grade K-6
Tahoe’s Frogs and Toads
Students will learn about our local frogs and toads in the Tahoe region. The basic differences between frogs and toads, the frog life cycle, adaptations, and the role that frogs play in the ecosystem will be covered during this exciting hands-on lesson.
Program Length: 45 minutes-one hour
Class Size: 25 maximum
Grades: Linked to national and state standards for 1st grade, but can be adjusted for any grade K-6