This summer, Kingsbury 4th-grade teacher Ms. Miller traded her classroom for something a little wilder: the Detroit Zoo. As part of the Detroit Zoo Summer Teacher Institute, she joined a group of passionate educators for a week of hands-on learning focused on animal behavior, inquiry-based science, and real-world classroom connections.

Through up-close encounters with zoo animals, collaborative projects, and innovative lesson design, Ms. Miller discovered new ways to spark curiosity and deepen understanding in her students.

“It was a really good week. I really liked the collaboration with other teachers and gaining other perspectives,” Miller said.

Throughout the week, Ms. Miller not only gained new insights from fellow educators but also discovered how observing the animals themselves could inspire meaningful, real-world lessons to enhance her classroom environment.

Throughout her time, she met: 

Lifeguard, a Gentoo penguin

Zara, a Masai giraffe

And Hannibal, a one-eyed ostrich

Miller explored the similarities between human and animal vision through a lesson inspired by Hannibal, the zoo’s one-eyed ostrich, which she plans to bring to the classroom and teach her kids. She also plans to teach students how to use ethograms to observe and track animal behavior over time, a new resource she gained from the Detroit Zoo Summer Teacher Institute.

“It’s a great way for students to collect data and observe trends over time, especially since we have access to so many animals,” Miller said.

Ms. Miller’s experience reflects the growth mindset and dedication that define Kingsbury, where seeking meaningful and engaging ways to inspire students is part of our everyday culture.

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