Kindergarteners at Ashbury Elementary School recently got an up-close look at the world of animal care when Evergreen Veterinary Clinic brought a special collection of animals to the school for a hands-on educational presentation. The visit gave students a rare opportunity to connect classroom learning directly to real-world science — and to meet some memorable guests in the process.

The experience was coordinated by PLCS Cooperation BEST as part of the Kindergarten unit on living and nonliving things, a foundational science concept that helps young students begin developing scientific thinking and observation skills. Veterinary professionals guided students through information about how veterinarians care for a variety of animals, bringing the abstract concept of "living things" to vivid life. Students then rotated to visit each animal individually, asking questions and engaging hands-on — including listening to a dog's heartbeat and breathing through a stethoscope.

That kind of tactile, inquiry-based learning is especially impactful at the Kindergarten level, where concrete experiences are among the most effective ways to build lasting understanding. By pairing curriculum goals with a real-world professional context, the visit also gave students an early glimpse into a career field — animal care — that many young learners find fascinating. Ashbury Elementary and PLCS Cooperation BEST's coordination of this visit reflects the district's broader commitment to enriching classroom instruction through community partnerships that make learning memorable and meaningful.