Jane Goodall Educators Institute
July 25, 2001, Revised April 9, 2002  Action Plan
Program Title: Primates
Tami Wisniewski
Liberty Science Center
Liberty State Park
Jersey City, NJ 07305-4699
Tel: 201-451-0006 x415
Fax: 201-451-6383
Email: twisniewski@lsc.org
Program Audience: School Programs, Grades 4-12
Program Overview: Students will learn about primate behavior and social organization
through a three or five day series of mediated experiences with Liberty Science Center
staff and local experts. As part of that experience, students will be exposed to current
research practices, both in the field in Gombe and within the United States, specifically
those of Elizabeth Vinson, Dr. Lisa Parr, and Dr. William Hopkins. Additionally,
students will explore issues of biodiversity and how chimp conservation is essential to
maintain the delicate balance of the world’s ecosystems.
Program Goals: To educate students about primate social organization and behavior,
current primate research and conservation practices already in place.
To develop a science based project as a culmination of the residency.
To inspire students to take action as part of their daily lives.
Program Components: The content will cover three topical areas relative to primates:
Behavior and Social Organization, Primate Research and Conservation Efforts. Teams of
students will be required to develop a science based project on a relevant topic they wish
to research further. They will be required to present their project to the class and display
it on LSC’s exhibit floors. Listed below are some examples of activities that will be
implemented throughout the course of the residency.
Behavior and Social Organization
 Animal Observations using LSC reptiles and fish
 Non-opposable thumb activity
 Primate characteristics and comparisons to humans (Bones exhibit)
 Tool making activity
 Field trip to Bronx Zoo/American Museum of Natural History, primate
observations
Primate Research
 Dr. Parr: Chimps and Emotions
 Elizabeth Vinson: Chimp Learning Styles
 Dr. Hopkins: Digital Imaging of Chimp Brains
 Videoconference, using Cardiac Classroom equipment, with a researcher
 Chimp videos and images
 Chimps and computers, chimps and painting
Conservation Efforts
 LSC Confiscated Articles exhibit leads into bushmeat trade
 Worldwide populations of chimps
 The impact extinction would have on humans and ecosystems (Food
Web activity)
 Global, national and local efforts (demonstrate with outdoor clean-up
and discuss effects)
Student Projects
 Introduce project guidelines.
 Ask students to list areas of interest.
 Separate students into groups based on interest.
 Provide research and development time.
 Provide presentation time.
Implementation Procedure:
• Research and prototype hands-on activities relevant to goals.
• Create connections with LSC permanent and featured exhibits in a crosscurricular format.
• Develop basic curriculum for the residency with Ken Brino.
• Align curriculum with New Jersey, New York and National Science Education
Standards.
• Identify and recruit speakers from LSC and the field.
• Develop science based project guidelines for students.
• Customize curriculum with teachers of resident schools to include speakers.
Program Dates and Times: Dates will be customized to accommodate school schedules.
The length of each day will be comparable to the regular school day, from approximately
9:00am-2:30pm.
Materials: Materials will be conditional on hands-on activities. Additional materials
include LSC exhibit floors, Jane Goodall’s Wild Chimpanzees film and local
environments such as Liberty State Park and the Hudson River.
Location: The residency will be primarily situated at Liberty Science Center. Additional
locations, such as field excursions, will be determined by budget.
Internal Contacts: Animal Husbandry staff, Dr. Betty Faber; Staff Scientist, Ken Brino;
School Residency Coordinator, Steve Baumann;Vice-President Education and Programs,
Ann Zanghi-Ferreira; Manager School and Youth Programs, Tim McElroy; Manager
Educational Technology, Jonathan Ullman; Director Guest Experience, Elizabeth
Romanaux; Vice-President Public Relations.
External Contacts: Elizabeth Vinson, Dr. Lisa Parr, Dr. William Hopkins, Jane Goodall
Educator’s Institute participants, Bronx Zoo, Liberty State Park Nature Center, American
Museum of Natural History.
Possible Financial Support: To be determined.
Venue Dates for Film: October 2002, premiere.
Timeline for Planning/Implementation:
 Fall, 2001: Prototype Residency Program.
 Winter, 2002: Based, on results of success of residency program, begin
planning curriculum; make initial contacts with possible speakers and possible partners
with other institutions, conduct preliminary content and field research, create master list
of LSC staff expertise relevant to subject matter. Develop brochure, deliver to graphics.
 Spring, 2002: Continue development of curriculum. Mail brochures to schools.
 Summer, 2002: Finalize curriculum (as much as possible without customizing
for schools).
 Fall, 2002: Customize program with teachers. Implement program.
Evaluation Method: Evaluations will be conducted by School Residency Coordinator
and/or School Programs Developer.
Related Programs: Teacher Professional Development Workshop, Kickoff Event for
Teacher Connection on Jane Goodall’s Wild Chimpanzees Film, Exhibit Floor Activity
Programming; Chimp Day/Conserve Your World Day?, Member’s Night Activity
Programming, Staff Training (Exhibit Floor and Education staff), Activity Programming
for Film premiere and possible guest speakers. Website presence with link to Science
Museum of Minnesota Jane Goodall website.