Fifth graders transformed into budding zoologists as they prepared for their annual field trip to the St. Louis Zoo. The visit was much more than a day of sightseeing; it was the capstone of an in-depth research project. Each student selected an animal to study, diving into research on its habitat, diet, offspring, and conservation status. The trip on October 15th provided a unique opportunity to observe these animals up close, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world observation. Upon their return, the students will synthesize their findings and present them to their classmates, completing a comprehensive learning cycle from research to discovery and reporting.