The John Cooper School Second Grade Students Take First Ever Field Trip to the Zoo

By: Jessica Holloway

| Published 04/01/2022

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The John Cooper School’s Second Grade class is trekking to the Houston Zoo today – their first field trip since the COVID pandemic began in 2020.

Learning Adventures Tied to Opinion Writing Exercise Creates Unique Experiential Learning Opportunity for Students

“They are all excited to see the giraffes and zebras,” teacher Jessica Ott says about her class. Going on a field trip for the first time in two years has brought a new sense of normalcy to the school year.

“I think it’s comforting to them,” said Ott. “It’s a sense of going back to the way things were.”

For Rupa Samuel in Mr. Wyllie’s class, this will be her first field trip ever.

“It feels very scary and exciting,” she said. Her favorite animal is the lion. “I’m really excited to see the lions, and I’m excited because my dad is going to be a chaperone,” said Samuel.

Student Isabella Cautilli said she is excited to be with her friends, and “to see the tigers and all the animals.” Classmate Piper Glenn has a list of must-see animals.

“I have to visit the snakes for my brother,” she said. “I love snakes because they’re interesting and cool.” This is also her first field trip.

The group of 70 students are learning about opinion writing. While at the zoo, they will study animals, choose their favorite, and explain why in a report.

“The field trip is coordinated with our opinion writing unit. Students will choose an animal to take notes on and write an opinion piece on that animal when they return to school. This learning adventure will enhance our students’ opinion writing lessons,” said Mr. Wyllie, Second Grade Teacher.

“We follow The Units of Study Framework to provide comprehensive, cross-grade curriculum in which skills are introduced, developed, and deepened. This model supports explicit instruction in reading and writing strategies and skills,” said Teresa Robson, Head of Lower School.

A few more field trips are being planned for this school year, with other grades visiting the zoo, and the Fifth Grade class traveling to the Winedale Historical Center in Austin, TX.

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