This past Wednesday, amid beautiful spring weather, students from grades 1 to 3 at Puxi Campus of the Shanghai High School International Devision put on their little backpacks and arrived at school with great excitement, ready to head out for a spring field trip.

The first-graders' destination was Shanghai Zoo. Before departure, each class received safety instructions, with teachers explaining the rules for visiting the zoo in a civilized manner. Upon arrival, the children's first stop was the Amphibian and Reptile House, where they began their exploration of amphibians and reptiles.

Inside the Amphibian and Reptile House, the children saw a variety of snakes—some coiled quietly on branches, flicking their tongues, others hiding in rock crevices with only their small heads visible. They also got to know the rare Chinese alligator, which lay motionless by the water's edge like pieces of silent driftwood. The children remembered not to tap on the glass or make loud noises that might disturb the animals. They observed carefully and whispered to one another, their curious little eyes taking in as much as they could.

Next, they visited the Giraffe House and the Elephant Pavilion, getting an up-close look at the calm yet endearing nature of these land giants. The children listened to the explanations, read the information boards, and learned about the animals' living habits and natural environments. They observed, thought, asked questions, and exchanged ideas, picking up plenty of interesting facts along the way.

At noon, the students sat on the ground and shared lunch with their friends. Amid laughter and chatter, they exchanged snacks and stories, enjoying a warm and cheerful time together.

After a short break, the children cleaned up their trash, organized their backpacks, and continued their journey. They visited the Lion and Tiger Hill and the Giant Panda Pavilion, where they witnessed the majesty of the big cats and enjoyed the adorable sight of giant pandas nibbling on bamboo shoots. At every stop, the children were thrilled, wide-eyed as they observed and discovered, vying to be the one who asked the most questions, and taking in the unique charm of nature with all their hearts.

The second-graders set off for Shanghai Wildlife Park with great anticipation for their spring field trip. As soon as they arrived at the park, they stepped joyfully into this vibrant "animal kingdom" and, accompanied by their teachers and guides, embarked on a delightful journey of nature exploration.

Along the way, the students encountered a wide variety of wildlife: adorable giant pandas nibbling earnestly on bamboo, tall giraffes stretching their long necks to reach fresh leaves, and lively alpacas dashing across the grass. Agile golden monkeys leaped and played among the branches, graceful swans glided effortlessly through the water, and lively little raccoons darted among the tree branches, their bushy tails shimmering in the sunlight. The round, plump capybaras looked wonderfully cute with their sleepy expressions. Each time they met a new animal friend, the children eagerly gathered around to observe and enthusiastically shared their discoveries.

Later, the children boarded sightseeing vehicles and entered the free-roaming area for wild animals. Looking out through the windows, they saw majestic lions, tigers lounging lazily in the sun, sleek cheetahs, and black bears strolling leisurely — all displaying the natural postures of wildlife, as if the children had stepped into a real natural habitat.

This spring outing allowed the students to truly appreciate the wonder and grandeur of nature. Through close encounters with wild animals, they gained happiness, expanded their knowledge, and quietly planted the seeds of caring for living creatures and protecting nature.

The third-graders headed to Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park, where they embarked on a fascinating spring exploration of the blue ocean world.

In the early morning, the children arrived at the park filled with excitement. They first visited the Penguin Pavilion and the Arctic Pavilion. Inside the bright and spacious Penguin Pavilion, a group of endearing penguins waddled about leisurely. With their round bellies and signature tiny steps, their clumsy yet adorable movements immediately captured the children's attention. The students gathered by the glass windows, watching intently. Whenever a penguin struck a particularly funny pose, bursts of cheerful laughter rippled through the crowd, filling the entire pavilion with a lighthearted and joyful atmosphere. At the Arctic Pavilion, the teachers and students were deeply captivated by the graceful presence of polar bears and beluga whales, lingering for a long time, reluctant to leave. These animals, living in simulated polar environments, swam leisurely through the water or walked calmly on land, their every move radiating natural vitality and enchanting everyone present.

Around noon, the group had lunch near Polar Town. They sat together, sharing carefully prepared food with their friends, while laughter and chatter drifted through the spring breeze. After a joyful picnic, they regained their energy and headed to the Kids' Paradise, where they enjoyed various fun rides and activities.

In the afternoon, the children crossed the Antarctic Bridge and continued their journey into the underwater world. At the spectacular Volcano Shark Pavilion, majestic sharks glided gracefully overhead through the curved glass ceiling. Their massive silhouettes and calm movements drew quiet gasps of amazement from the crowd. Stepping into the dreamlike Jellyfish Pavilion, the scene became serene and dazzling. Countless jellyfish in vibrant colors drifted like elegant dancers in the dim blue light, their translucent bells opening and closing, trailing long tentacles as if performing a silent underwater ballet. The children pressed against the glass, watching in utter fascination, unable to look away. After crossing the Arctic Bridge, they boarded the bus back to school, carrying with them a wealth of memories and newfound knowledge.

Back at school, under the guidance of their teachers, the children took part in reflection and evaluation activities. They reviewed their performance for the day in areas such as self-management and civilized travel, even giving themselves scores to help prepare for future outings. In addition, the children shared and recorded their most memorable animals, writing down the interesting natural behaviors they had observed. They also came up with two questions that had popped into their minds during the day. Once home, they looked up information and tried to find the answers themselves — making this field trip a truly rewarding and enriching experience.

(Written by Yuanjing Zhang, Yu Lin, Jiahui Wen

Pictures by Siying Li

Reviewed by Ms. Zhang Yi, Shiyu Wu, Hannah Kloeber)