Percy’s Pals: Plant & Animal Classification

Lewis and Clark made a record of 178 plants and 122 animals previously unknown to European Americans. How did they know what to call things, or whether a plant they saw in early April would eventually have flowers? How did they know if a beaver was more closely related to a squirrel or a cat? Captain Lewis took classes in botany and zoology before he went on the expedition. Together, we will learn some of the same things Lewis did so that we can begin to classify the plants and animals we find in nature!

Students in Percy’s Pals will be divided into two groups, based on school grade. Kindergarten through Second Grade will meet at 1:00 p.m., and Third through Fifth Grades will meet at 2:00 p.m. Each section of students will meet for one hour, once a month to engage in a series of scientific adventures inspired by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Programs will include topics such as Jefferson’s gadgets, mapmaking, geology, plant and animal classification, and medicine and first aid.