Children sometimes act like animals, and Thursday morning at Sippican School fourth grade students dressed the part.

That morning, a “student zoo” was held for the first time in the auditorium. Students wore homemade costumes and presented animal facts.

Educators got into the spirit too. Fourth grade teachers M.J. Menezes, Nicole Radke, and Kim Souza kept an eye on the wild scene while dressed as zookeepers.

The event was part of the school’s science unit, Radke said. Each student chose one animal to study and learned about its habitat, physical characteristics, and behavior.

The animal kingdom was well represented at the zoo. Students picked mammals and amphibians, as well as, vertebrates and invertebrates to showcase, Radke said.

Students had six weeks to do the research, which took place at home and in class, Menezes said. Many parents stopped by on Thursday to view the display boards students presented their findings on, Menezes said.

Souza thanked parents for their support. “The kids worked really hard, and the parents are just as excited about this as their children are,” she said. “There’s been a great turnout.”

Arctic explorer Sophie Lynch, age 10, chose to research polar bears: “Because I think they are a really cool animal,” she said. “I know a lot about animals, but I didn’t know a lot about polar bears and I wanted to learn more.”

Sophie was at the zoo prepared with binoculars, ski goggles, and a heavy white coat. A stuffed polar bear was tucked under her arm.

Next to Sophia, Caitlin Sweeney, age 10, wore a panda bear costume. “I think they’re really cute,” she said. “It’s my favorite animal.”

Fourth grade student Sam Parks chose to study raccoons.

“I have a live specimen here,” Parks said, and stepped aside to reveal a cage containing Pete the raccoon. Pete, Sam said, was borrowed from his brother Nick. (Don’t worry Pete is a stuffed animal.)

Parks opted to not dress as a raccoon, instead he came as a zoologist, or as Parks put it: “I’m one of the guys that studies raccoons.”