The Sabino Canyon Kindergarten program was introduced in 1995. Since then, tens of thousands of kindergarten students have attended a Sabino Canyon field trip. The program introduces young people to the Sonoran Desert in which they live and promotes interest in the environment.
Kindergarten field trips are conducted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Each field trip lasts about two hours and fifteen minutes. Additionally, classes may bring sack lunches for a picnic following the field trip.
GEOLOGY
Physical Science Standards
Core Ideas
- P1: All matter in the Universe is made of very small particles.
- P2: Objects can affect other objects at a distance.
- P3: Changing the movement of an object requires a net force to be acting on it.
- P4: The total amount of energy in a closed system is always the same but can be transferred from one energy store to another during an event.
- P2U1.1: Investigate how senses can detect light, sound, and vibrations even when they come from far away; use the collected evidence to develop and support an explanation.
Earth and Space Standards
Core Idea
- E1: The composition of the Earth and its atmosphere and the natural and human processes occurring within them shape the Earth’s surface and its climate.
- E1U1.4: Observe, record, and ask questions and predict seasonal weather patterns; and how those patterns impact plants and animals (including humans)
Social Studies Standards
- SP1.2: Explore how events of the past affect students’ lives and community.
- SP2.1: Explain how water and weather impacts humans.
MYSTERY BOX
Physical Science Standards
Core Ideas
- P2: Objects can affect other objects at a distance.
- P4: The total amount of energy in a closed system is always the same but can be transferred from one energy store to another during an event.
- P2U1.1: Investigate how senses can detect light, sound, and vibrations even when they come from far away; use the collected evidence to develop and support an explanation.
Life Science Standards
Core Idea
- L1: Organisms are organized on a cellular basis and have a finite life span.
- L2: Organisms require a supply of energy and materials for which they often depend on, or compete with, other organisms.
- L1U1.6: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how organisms use different body parts for survival.
- L1U1.7: Observe, ask questions, and explain how specialized structures found on a variety of plants and animals (including humans) help them sense and respond to their environment.
Social Studies Standards
- C1.2: Follow agreed upon rules for discussions when responding to others and making decisions as a group.
- C1.3: Compare one’s own thoughts and opinions with those of others.
NATURE WALK
Physical Science Standards
Core Ideas
- P2: Objects can affect other objects at a distance.
- P3: Changing the movement of an object requires a net force to be acting on it.
- P4: The total amount of energy in a closed system is always the same but can be transferred from one energy store to another during an event.
- P2U1.1: Investigate how senses can detect light, sound, and vibrations even when they come from far away; use the collected evidence to develop and support an explanation.
Earth and Space Standards
Core Idea
- E1: The composition of the Earth and its atmosphere and the natural and human processes occurring within them shape the Earth’s surface and its climate.
- E1U1.4: Observe, record, and ask questions and predict seasonal weather patterns; and how those patterns impact plants and animals (including humans)
Life Science Standards
Core Ideas
- L1: Organisms are organized on a cellular basis and have a finite life span.
- L2: Organisms require a supply of energy and materials for which they often depend on, or compete with, other organisms.
- L3: Genetic information is passed down from one generation of organisms to another.
- L1U1.6: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how organisms use different body parts for survival.
- L1U1.7: Observe, ask questions, and explain how specialized structures found on a variety of plants and animals (including humans) help them sense and respond to their environment.
- L2U1.8: Observe, ask questions, and explain the differences between the characteristics of living and non-living things.
Social Studies Standards
- C1.2: Follow agreed upon rules for discussions when responding to others and making decisions as a group.
- C1.3: Compare one’s own thoughts and opinions with those of others.
PREDATOR/PREY
Physical Science Standards
Core Idea
- P4: The total amount of energy in a closed system is always the same but can be transferred from one energy store to another during an event.
- P2U1.1: Investigate how senses can detect light, sound, and vibrations even when they come from far away; use the collected evidence to develop and support an explanation.
Life Science Standards
Core Ideas
- L1: Organisms are organized on a cellular basis and have a finite life span.
- L2: Organisms require a supply of energy and materials for which they often depend on, or compete with, other organisms.
- L1U1.6: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how organisms use different body parts for survival.
- L1U1.7: Observe, ask questions, and explain how specialized structures found on a variety of plants and animals (including humans) help them sense and respond to their environment.
- L2U1.8: Observe, ask questions, and explain the differences between the characteristics of living and non-living things.
Social Studies Standards
- C1.2: Follow agreed upon rules for discussions when responding to others and making decisions as a group.
- C1.3: Compare one’s own thoughts and opinions with those of others.
- C4.2: Explain why rules are important within the classroom and school.
PUPPET SHOW
Physical Science Standards
Core Idea
- P2: Objects can affect other objects at a distance.
- P2U1.1: Investigate how senses can detect light, sound, and vibrations even when they come from far away; use the collected evidence to develop and support an explanation.
Life Science Standards
Core Idea
- L2: Organisms require a supply of energy and materials for which they often depend on, or compete with, other organisms.
Earth and Space Standards
- L1U1.6: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how organisms use different body parts for survival.
- L1U1.7: Observe, ask questions, and explain how specialized structures found on a variety of plants and animals (including humans) help them sense and respond to their environment.
Social Studies Standards
- C1.3: Compare one’s own thoughts and opinions with those of others.
- C2.1: Describe roles and responsibilities of people in authority
Puppet Show: We begin your visit with a short puppet program. This will introduce the children to some Sabino Canyon animals and the terms we will be using and explain how to be safe while enjoying their Sabino Canyon experience. After the puppet presentation, each group of children (maximum 10 per group) is assigned to a naturalist with whom they will spend the rest of the visit. Each child will receive a sticker with a picture of an animal that lives in Sabino Canyon.
Each group will rotate through the following activities (time permitting):
Mystery Box: skulls and skins from animals that inhabit Sabino Canyon. Children guess what they are and discuss them.
Purpose: To introduce adaptations common to predators or to prey.
Geology: an introduction to some of the minerals found in Sabino Canyon and a demonstration of erosion and canyon formations, in which the children create “rainstorms” on an artificial mountain.
Purpose: To introduce rocks, minerals, and sand and how each differs, and to demonstrate the role of water in forming Sabino Canyon.
Predator/Prey: the children play a predator/prey game to demonstrate the importance of protective coloration in animal survival. Prior to the game, camouflage and predator/prey relationships are discussed.
Purpose: To reinforce the concept of protective coloration and its importance in the predator/prey relationship.
Nature Walk: a short walk along a desert trail during which the children use a checklist to identify some Sabino Canyon animals (life-sized color pictures), which are camouflaged in their natural habitats; animal adaptations for living in the desert, food sources, and anything interesting discovered along the trail may be discussed. Upon returning to the ramada, the children may play a habitat game.
Purpose:To reinforce concepts: habitat, predator, prey, and camouflage.
We encourage you to arrive on time. If you are delayed, we may have to eliminate or shorten some activities to accommodate your departure time. All of the children will see the puppet show and participate in the nature walk, however.
Many of these links are to external websites. They will open in a new Tab.
Praying Mantis
- Interesting Facts about Praying Mantises
- Praying Mantis Facts for Kids
- Pregnant Mantis Laying Too Many Eggs-Baby Mantis So Cute
- Praying Mantis Eggs Hatching-Babies Praying Mantis Hatching
- Children’s Song About a Praying Mantis
- Praying Mantis for Kids
Javelina
- Animal Fact Sheet: Collared Peccary or Javelina
- Baby Javelinas
- Critter Spotlight: The Javelina
- Javelina Babies! And why a peccary is NOT a pig
- Javelina | Desert Animals | Preschool | Read Aloud | Story | DON’T CALL ME PIG
- Sabino Canyon Classroom: Episode 9 – Javelinas
Western Diamond Back Rattlesnake
- Rattling Rattlers
- I’m a Rattlesnake
- Sabino Fun Facts: Episode 7
- Why do Snakes Shed their Skins
- Watch as a Rattlesnake Sheds her Skin
Desert Cottontail Rabbit
Bobcat
Mule Deer
Gila Woodpeckers
Saguaro Cactus
Mountain Lion
Desert Tortoise
- Desert Tortoise Facts
- Tortoise Fun Facts/Animals 4 Kids/Junior Toons
- Tortoise-Animal Facts for Kids-Tortoise Photos with Classical Music for Children by Oxbridge Baby
Northern Cardinal
Coyote
Regal Horned Lizards
- Horned Lizards
- Horned Lizard Squirts a Bobcat/The Secret Life of Animals
- Blood Squirting Lizard/National Geographic
Gambel’s Quail
- Gambel’s Quail: Surviving the Wild West
- Gambel’s Quail Chicks About 2 Days Old
- Baby Quail Chicks with Mother and Father
Camouflage
Schedule a Field Trip
Field trips are offered from mid-October through mid-April.
We will begin accepting field trip requests for the ’25-’26 school year at 12:01 a.m. (midnight) on August 1st, 2025.
Please check back here at that time.
Please tell us about your Field Trip experience
Thank you for participating in the Sabino Canyon Field Trip Program. We are constantly striving to make our program valuable for children and teachers. Could you help us evaluate our performance by completing this quick survey?