African Savanna Cheetah Conservation Station keepers provide the animals with enrichment—enclosures, socialization, objects, sounds, smells and other stimuli—to enhance their well-being and give them an outlet to demonstrate their species-typical behaviors. An exhibit’s design is carefully and deliberately planned to provide physically and mentally stimulating toys, activities, and environments for the Zoo’s animals. Each enrichment is tailored to give an animal the opportunity to use its natural behaviors in novel and exciting ways. As with any enrichment activity, an animal can either choose to participate or not. To encourage the animals to forage as they would in the wild, keepers scatter food throughout the exhibit or place it in various puzzle feeders in the yards. They receive numerous feedings in various locations to keep them moving throughout the day. In addition to environmental enrichment, many animals participate in training sessions.
The M16: a history in pictures Safari Theme — PreKinders Pre-K & Preschool theme ideas for learning about African animals Books Check here for a complete list of Safari Animal Books! Rhymes Rhymes that go well with a Safari theme: Songs Alphabet Zoo CD: Jack HartmannThe Jaguar: Mrs. Printables Wild Animal Picture-Word Cards Wild Animal Dice Race Games (2 Versions) Look for the Elephant & Lion Grid Games on the Grid Games page. Look for the Elephant Bingo printable on the Bingo page. Zoo Field Trip Checklist Lions Reader Lions PowerPoint Lions PowerPoint and printable book. On Safari Reader On Safari PowerPoint On Safari PowerPoint and printable reader. Giraffe Play Dough Math Mats Giraffe and Lion pattern block mats. Look for the Safari Cards on the Picture Cards for Themes Page. Activities Elephant Conga Line [Large Motor] Children walk like an elephant on all four legs, trying to keep their balance while lifting a front leg and a back leg. African Drums [Art, Music] This is a good activity to go with the book, Jungle Drums, by Graeme Base. Letter Game Scent Hunt
Amazonia Frogs and Amphibians In 1999, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) scientists worked with a researcher at the University of Maine to describe a chytrid fungus that causes the deadly amphibian skin disease chytridiomycosis. Since then, the understanding of amphibian decline and this disease has improved greatly. Scientists now suspect that amphibian chytrid fungus originated in southern Africa. The Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project (PARCP) was launched in 2009 as a partnership between Africam Safari, Defenders of Wildlife, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Houston Zoo, the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Summit Municipal Park, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and Zoo New England. Corals Throughout the world, coral reefs are dying. Using procedures similar to those used in human sperm banks, Smithsonian scientist Dr.
Retrotechtacular: Examining Music in 1950’s Russia If you had told 12-year-old me that one day I would be able to listen to pretty much any song I wanted to on demand and also pull up the lyrics as fast as I could type the artist’s name and part of the title into a text box, I would have a) really hoped you weren’t kidding and b) would have wanted to grow up even faster than I already did. The availability of music today, especially in any place with first world Internet access is really kind of astounding. While the technology to make this possible has come about only recently, the freedom of music listening has been fairly wide open in the US. However, the landscape of musical freedom and discovery has been quite different in other corners of the world, especially during the early years of rock ‘n roll. But the draw of music tends to upstage politics. Someone soon figured out that x-ray film was a good medium for making records. These bootlegs were fittingly referred to as “bones” or “ribs” by those in the know.
Safari Crafts for Kids Lions, Tigers, Elephants and Giraffes make wonderful Safari Crafts for kids. What a great opportunity to learn about these large interesting animals! Macaroni LionAges 3 and upThis Macaroni Lion is an easy craft for kids. The best part is you only need a few simple craft materials to make this cute creature! Giraffe CollageAges 2 and upThis Giraffe Collage is made from simple craft materials and is the perfect craft for older toddlers and preschoolers! Easy ElephantAges 3 and upThis Easy Elephant craft is a great idea for preschoolers and kindergartners, on up! Scissor Skills TigerAges 3 and upThis Scissor Skills Tiger craft is a perfect craft for preschoolers and kindergartners to practice those important scissor skills! Bendable MonkeyAges 3 and upThis Bendable Monkey is made with a pipe cleaners and a printable monkey body to color! Safari BackpackAges 4 and upPack everything you need for a Safari in this Safari Backpack! Editor's Top Product Picks Find more Zoo/Safari Animal Activities
Giant Pandas Sign up to get panda news from the Zoo. Giant pandas are black and white bears that live in temperate-zone bamboo forests in central China. Among the best recognized—but rarest—animals in the world, they have come to symbolize endangered species and conservation efforts. As few as 1,600 giant pandas survive in the mountain forests of central China. Giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian are at the National Zoo under a Giant Panda Cooperative Research and Breeding Agreement, signed in January 2011, between the Zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Seeing Pandas at the Zoo Giant panda cub Bao Bao is now on exhibit! The panda house at the David M. Visitors will be allowed into the panda house on a first-come-first-served basis. Due to the expected number of visitors to see Bao Bao, Asia Trail will be open to one-way traffic only. Visitors will enter the panda house from the west entrance, by the red panda exhibit, and exit the east entrance. Smithsonian's National Zoo
Benches | Architectures As mentioned a while back, I’ve been trying to find a way to classify the numerous ‘Design with Intent’ and architectures of control examples that have been examined on this site, and suggested by readers. Since that post, my approach has shifted slightly to look at what the intent is behind each example, and hence develop a kind of ‘method’ for suggesting ‘solutions’ to ‘problems’, based on analysing hundreds of examples. I’d hesitate to call it a suggestion algorithm quite yet, but it does, in a very very rudimentary way, borrow certain ideas from TRIZ*. Basics of the DwI Method, v.0.1 1. 2. 3. An example This example is one that I’ve covered extensively on this blog: the most common ‘solutions’ are, generally, very unfriendly, but it’s clear to most of us that the ‘wider scope’ mechanisms are, ultimately, more desirable. Sleeping on a bench in Hyde Park, London. Introduction A number of benches in a city-centre park are occupied overnight or during parts of the day by homeless people.
Great Apes and Other Primates Keepers provide the primates with enrichment—enclosures, socialization, objects, sounds, smells and other stimuli—to enhance their well-being and give them an outlet to demonstrate their species-typical behaviors. In addition to the Orangutan Rope-Pull and Wet Zone exhibits at Think Tank, animals have plenty of activities to keep them busy throughout the day. The Zoo’s primates receive between four and eight forms of enrichment every day to keep them physically and mentally active. Keepers maintain a detailed calendar to ensure that the items and experiences remain novel and interesting. Novel items and activities include iPads (for playing with various apps), musical instruments, painting, mirrors, boomer balls, rubber tubs, burlap, paper and boxes among others. No day is routine; keepers offer the primates various activities to stimulate cognition. At the Zoo, gorillas and orangutans use hay, sheets, and a variety of other materials to build nests.
The Woobie A "woobie" is a name for any type of character who makes you feel extremely sorry for them. Basically, the first thing you think to say when you see the woobie is: "Aw, poor baby!" Woobification of a character is a curious, audience-driven phenomenon, sometimes divorced from the character's canonical morality. A story with the Woobie allows the audience to vicariously experience relief from some pain by fantasizing about relieving the Woobie's pain. , or a Linux installer
Great Cats The Great Cats exhibit on Lion/Tiger Hill features Sumatran tigers and African lions—living, breathing, roaring great cats. They are ambassadors for their wild relatives, and for the Zoo's conservation and science initiatives for tigers, lions, and many other cats, which, even if not great in size, are still great! Lions and tigers are on exhibit between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., daily (weather permitting). Lion Update: March 24, 2014 These last two weeks have brought some new and exciting experiences for our lion families! Following Naba's lead, keepers began introductions between Naba, Shera, and Naba's cubs. Shera has not yet introduced her cubs to Naba, but will likely do so in the coming weeks. You can help contribute to the Zoo’s enrichment program by donating to our Giving Tree. Read more about the lion cubs. Tiger Update: March 6, 2014 Sumatran tiger cubs Bandar and Sukacita turned seven months old yesterday! Read more about the tiger cubs. Lots of Cats There are cats all over the Zoo!
My Bed My Bed is a work by the English artist Tracey Emin. First created in 1998, it was exhibited at the Tate Gallery in 1999 as one of the shortlisted works for the Turner Prize.[1] It consisted of her bed with bedroom objects in a dishevelled state, and gained much media attention. Although it did not win the prize, its notoriety has persisted. Inspiration[edit] The idea for My Bed was inspired by a sexual yet depressive phase in the artist's life when she had remained in bed for four days without eating or drinking anything but alcohol.[2] When she looked at the vile, repulsive mess that had accumulated in her room, she suddenly realised what she had created. [edit] The artwork generated considerable media furore, particularly over the fact that the bedsheets were stained with bodily secretions and the floor had items from the artist's room, such as condoms, underwear with menstrual blood stains, other detritus, and functional, everyday objects, including a pair of slippers. See also[edit]