Educator Guide: Who Lives There? : Who Lives There Educator Guide

Before you visit the Genovesi Environmental Study Center (GESC) with your class, review the Educator's Guide to prepare for your students.

• Read the Essential Questions (p. 1) and Connections to Standards (p. 2) to decide how you want to link your curriculum with your field trip
• Complete the Pre-Visit Lesson with your class activating student interest and engagement
• Come to GESC ready to engage and learn with our experiential, hands-on field trip program, Who Lives There? 

• What is a living thing vs. a non-living thing?
• What do all living things need to survive?
• What is a habitat?
• How does a habitat affect an animal or plant?

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• Mudskippers are a group of 32 living species of amphibious fish. They can survive both in and out of water! They live in intertidal zones, where the ocean moves in and out with the tide.
• Carnivorous plants evolved to eat insects and other living things because they live in nutrient-deficient soil.
• Whales once lived on land! Over 50 million years ago, Pakicetus, an ancestor to modern whales and dolphins, had four legs and lived its life on land, hunting for fish and small land animals. Over time, relatives to this species were found to live entirely in water, developing fins and other characteristics to help them survive in an aquatic environment.
• Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are microorganisms that have been found everywhere on Earth. From the ocean depths, to volcanoes, and even Antarctica, these organisms are able to survive in extreme habitats – including in experiments in outer space!
• New York City is home to more than just squirrels, sparrows, and honey bees. Coyotes, owls, and even humpback whales call the city, and the surrounding waters, their home!