Life Science: Animals - Squarespace · PDF fileLife Science: Animals ... Let your child...

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Life Science: AnimalsLesson Plans for K-3rd

http://thesunnypatch.blogspot.com/Tonia

Life Science: Animals

Property of: Tonia http://thesunnypatch.blogspot.com/

Objectives: The major objective is to promote first-hand observation as much as possible. By giving the child opportunities to make collections, take nature walks, and spend time examining things in nature you will enrich their love of science.

Materials Needed:Kingfisher First Encyclopedia of AnimalsGiant Science Resource Book from Evan-Moor (optional)Clam for dissection Clam dissection guide Fish for dissection Fish dissection guide Dissection kit Latex gloves

Process (split over two days):1. Read aloud to child from Kingfisher First Encyclopedia of Animals then do:

a. Narration – write as your child dictates two or three important facts (use complete sentences)

b. Let your child illustrate or paste a picture of the animal onto the pagec. Add the animal to the child’s classification posterd. Read a library book about the animal for more information

2. Do an activity/experiment OR observe the animal you are studying. After completing the activity or observing the animal:

a. Using the experiment page OR animal observation page – write as your child dictates, using complete sentences

b. Optional: Have child illustrate or paste a photo of the experiment or animal3. Other optional activities:

a. Worksheets from the Giant Science Resource Bookb. Coloring pagesc. Read other books or watch videos

Ongoing projects: (optional – keep these projects light and fun – only if the child wants to do them)

1. Animal Classification Poster – Beginning with the first lesson, the major goal of this animal study is to give the child a basic understanding of animal classification. Each week you will add a picture of the animal you are studying to the poster.

2. Nature Journal –Take a weekly nature walk and let your child record his experiences. (be hands-off with this – let the child make this his own creation – just give him a sturdy notebook and some colored pencils)

3. Bird feeder book – Use a plain notebook and a bird identification guide (If you own the Giant Science Resource Book, page 64 is a reproducible bird watching notebook page). Set up a bird feeder and watch the birds that visit. Have the child draw or paste a picture of the bird in their book and add the date to the page.

4. Animal study – worm farm, butterflies, etc. (Choose the ones that interest your child – there is no need to bring them all inside!) Have your child use their nature journal and library books to learn more about the animals they are interested in observing.

Notes: Kingfisher First Animal Encyclopedia – I have 2005 edition and animals are listed according to

class instead of alphabetically (you may need to adjust page numbers according to your edition). For each animal: Using Google image search, find a black and white coloring page of each animal

and shrink to less than 3.3”. Print two copies of each picture. One will be colored and pasted onto the animal observation pages. The other will be colored and added to the classification poster.

Look for the book Pets in a Jar or Google instructions for keeping various animals as temporary pets.

I listed library books where I remembered them! Very often I would just order a bunch from the library without writing down titles.

I didn’t schedule specific mammals to study – the last three weeks – have your child pick three mammals (or more, if you want to extend your study).

**Print 2 copies of animal coloring pages (small pictures) – one set for observation pages, one set for classification poster**

Wk # Topic Reading Activity Worksheet1 Introduction:

Animal classificationLibrary book Sorting activity Pg. 45, Ocean Invert.

2 Simple Animals:jellyfish

KF 128 Just for fun - cooking Pg. 46, Cnidarians

3 Worms:earthworm

KF 126 Keep worms in a jar and observe

4 Mollusks:snails/slugs

KF 127 Catch a snail;Observe a snail

Pg. 43, What is a snailPg. 44, Life cycle

5 Mollusks:clams

KF 130 Dissect a clam Pg. 48, Mollusks

6 Arthropods:insects – ants

KF 135 Observe an ant hill Pg. 31, What is an InsectPg. 32, An AntPg. 33, An Ant Hill

7 Arthropods:insects - butterfly

KF 138 Observe life cycle of a butterfly

Pg. 34, A ButterflyPg. 35, Life CyclePg. 36, Butterfly & Moth

8 Arthropods:arachnids - spider

KF 133 Observe a spider; Preserve a web

Pg. 40, What is a spiderPg. 41, Spiders

9 Arthropods:crustacean - shrimp

KF 131 Raise brine shrimp/sea monkeys

Pg. 50, Arthropods

10 Fish KF 120 Dissect a fish Pages 73-82

11 Amphibians:frogs

KF 115 Observe life cycle of a frog

Pg. 53, AmphibiansPg. 54, FrogsPg. 55, Life cycle

12 Reptiles:turtles

KF 113 Visit the pet store to observe

Pg. 57, ReptilesPg. 59, Life cycle

13 Reptiles:lizards

KF 108 Visit the pet store to observe

Pg. 58, Types of reptiles

14 Birds:overview

KF 84; 97-99 Make a bird feeder; Looking at feathers

Pages 61-72

15 Birds:owls

KF 87 Dissect edible owl pellets

Pages 61-72

16 Mammals:let child choose

Pages 83-105

17 Mammals:let child choose

Pages 83-105

18 Wrap-up:food chains, defense,

habitats

KF 8-18 Sorting animal cards Photocopy cards and pictures for sorting

Key: KF = Kingfisher First Encyclopedia of AnimalsWorksheets = Giant Science Resource Book

WEEK 1: Introduction to the Animal Kingdom

Library book about classification

Narration

Classification Poster

Materials: large poster board and misc. office supplies

Instructions: Draw a large black, vertical line down the center of the poster board. Write ‘Vertebrates’ on one side and ‘Invertebrates’ on the other. Each week, add the animal you are studying to the poster and label.

Activity: Sorting activity

Materials: raisins, various nuts, cheerios, etc.

Instructions: Mix all the foods together and as you help your child sort them discuss classification.

Optional worksheets:http://www.learningtreasures.com/suite101/invertebrates.jpghttp://www.learningtreasures.com/suite101/vertebrates.jpg

Library booksAnimal Classification from Schlessinger Media (video)What is a Living Thing? from Discovery (video)

Ongoing Project

WEEK 2: Simple Animals - Jellyfish

Kingfisher, page 128

Narration


Activity:

Materials: 1 box jellogummy wormssmall bowls

Instructions: Make jello as directed and pour into bowls. Refrigerate until set. Using small plates, lay out gummy worms like tentacles and, turning the bowl upside-down over the plate, remove jello from the bowl and set on top of the tentacles. Eat your jellyfish!

Animal Observation Page

Optional worksheets:Giant Science Resource Book - Pg. 46, Cnidarianshttp://thecoloringspot.com/images/animalpx/jellyfish.jpg

Library books

Ongoing Project

WEEK 3: Worms - earthworms


Narration


Activity: Worm Farm

Materials: large jar or 2 litre plastic bottle with top cut offPringles can with one end closedSoilEarthwormsFood for worms (lettuce, cornmeal, cereals)Heavy black paperNylonsTwineElastic band

Instructions: Put tall can, closed end up, in the jar. Fill jar with soil, level with top of thin can. Put worms in jar. Add food on top of dirt and keep soil moist (but don’t overwater). Cover outside of jar with black paper and use nylon and elastic band to cover. Leave black paper on for at least 24 hours. Uncover and examine the results. Cover for another 24 hours before looking again.


Optional worksheets:http://www.learningtreasures.com/suite101/annelid.jpg

Library books

Ongoing Project

WEEK 4: Mollusks – snails/slugs


Narration


Activity:

Materials: small plastic containerSmall pieces of fruit

Instructions: Dig a small hole deep enough to hold the container so the top is level with the ground. Put pieces of fruit in the container. Cover with a rock, but prop up one side to leave a gap. Leave the trap overnight. Lift the rock the next day to see if you caught anything worth observing.


Optional worksheets:Giant Science Resource Book – Pg. 43, What is a snail; Pg. 44, Life cycle

Library booksWhat Lives in a Shell

Ongoing Project

WEEK 5: Mollusks - Clams


Narration


Activity: Dissect a Clam

Materials: Dissection kit (or tweezers, needle, cookie sheet)ClamDissection guide

http://cas.bellarmine.edu/tietjen/Laboratories/Bio%20Pix%204%20U/Image20.gif

Instructions: Examine the shell and discuss it. Have the child try to pull apart the shell with his hands to see how strong a clam is. After the child realizes that they cannot force the clam open, put it in a pan of very hot water and let it sit for 20 minutes or until the shell begins to open. After removing the clam from the water, cut the shell muscles with a paring knife to open the clam (do this for the child). Help the child force the shells apart. Examine the clam and discuss, using the book for further information.


Optional worksheets:Giant Science Resource Book – Pg. 48, Molluskshttp://www.ellenjmchenry.com/id127.html

Library booksWhat Lives in a Shell

Ongoing Project

WEEK 6: Arthropods – Insects – Ants


Narration


Activity: Observing Ants

Materials: two teaspoons sugarStale bread, broken into small pieces

Instructions: Mix sugar in small bowl of water. Soak bread but remove it before it gets too soggy. Find an ant hill and put a piece of bread near it. Observe the ant’s reaction to the food. Other observations – draw a line or place an obstacle (a small pebble) in front of a line of ants to see their reactions.


Optional worksheets:Giant Science Resource Book – Pg. 31, What is an Insect; Pg. 32, An Ant; Pg. 33, An Ant Hillhttp://www.learningtreasures.com/suite101/arthropods.jpg

Library booksInsects and other Arthropods from Schlessinger Media (video)Ant CitiesMagic School Bus gets Ants in its Pants

Ongoing Project

WEEK 7: Arthropods – Insects – Butterflies


Narration


Activity:

Materials: small stickLarge jarNylon and elastic for lid

Instructions: Find a caterpillar and take some of the plant he was on. Lay the jar on its side and place the stick inside (for the caterpillar to crawl on). Put the caterpillar and some of the plant in the jar. Cover the opening. Supply fresh plants for the caterpillar every day.


Optional worksheets:Giant Science Resource Book – Pg. 34, A Butterfly; Pg. 35, Life Cycle; Pg. 36, Butterfly & Mothhttp://www.butterflysocietyofva.org/life-cycle-for-kids.gif

Library booksMagic School Bus – Butterfly and the Bog Beast (video)Butterflies and Moths from Schlessinger Media (video)The Magic School Bus ButterfliesFrom Caterpillar to ButterflyStarting Life: ButterflyDK Eyewitness Books: Butterfly & Moth

Ongoing Project

WEEK 8: Arthropods – Arachnids – Spiders


Narration


Activity: Preserving a Spider’s Web

Materials: Spray can of clear lacquerHeavy black paper

Instructions: Spray the web with the lacquer. Place the paper under the web and cut the strands holding it in place. Once the web is on the paper, spray again to stick it to the paper.

Activity: Sticky Webs

Materials: Scotch TapeCotton Balls

Instructions: Attach long strips of scotch tape across a doorway in a web pattern. After the sticky “web” is complete, let kids through cotton ball “bugs” at the web.


Optional worksheets:Giant Science Resource Book – Pg. 40, What is a spider; Pg. 41, Spiders

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/images/educators/lesson_plan/spiders/si_parts.gifhttp://www.smithsonianeducation.org/images/educators/lesson_plan/spiders/si_parts_answers.gif

Library booksSee how Insects Grow by Dorling Kindersley (video)The Magic School Bus Spins a Web (video)Spiders from ABC Video (video)Spinning Spiders

Ongoing Project

WEEK 9: Arthropods – Crustaceans - Shrimp


Narration


Activity: Raise Brine Shrimp or get a Sea Monkey’s Kit


Optional worksheets:Giant Science Resource Book – Pg. 50, Arthropodshttp://thecoloringspot.com/images/oceanpix/shrimp.gif

Library books

Ongoing Project

WEEK 10: Fish


Narration


Activity: Dissect a Fish

Materials: Dissecting toolMicroscopeWhole fish

http://cas.bellarmine.edu/tietjen/Laboratories/Bio%20Pix%204%20U/Image36.gif

Instructions: Examine the outside of the fish (fins, gills, look in the mouth, etc.) and discuss it. Remove some scales and look at them under the microscope. Have an adult cut the fish open – Cut a slit in the fishes belly through the skin and flesh to the gills, being careful not to damage the internal organs. Now lay the fish flat and cut off the flesh from one side so you can examine the fish. Remove the organs and examine them. Cut open the heart and try to extract some blood to examine under the microscope. Cut open the stomach to find out what the fish ate. Read the book for further information.


Optional worksheets:Giant Science Resource Book – Pages 73-82

http://www.mbayaq.org/lc/activities/content/images/coloring_pages/g_coloring_salmon.gifhttp://www.fws.gov/r5crc/salmon/workbook/salmon_anatomy_external_key.gif

Library booksFish from Dorling Kindersley (video)Fish and Shark from Dorling Kindersley (video)Magic School Bus Goes UpstreamWhat’s it Like to Be a Fish

Ongoing Project

WEEK 11: Amphibians - Frogs


Narration


Activity: Raise Tadpoles


Optional worksheets:Giant Science Resource Book – Pg. 53, Amphibians; Pg. 54, Frogs; Pg. 55, Life cyclehttp://www.turtletrack.org/Issues03/Co05172003/Art/Frogcycle2.gif

Library booksThe Magic School Bus Hops Home (video)Amphibian and Reptile from Dorling Kindersley (video)All About Amphibians from Schlessinger Media (video)The Magic School Bus Gets Cold FeetFrom Frog to TadpoleSee How They Grow: Pond Animals

Ongoing Project

WEEK 12: Reptiles – Turtles


Narration


Activity: Visit pet store to observe


Optional worksheets:Giant Science Resource Book – Pg. 57, Reptiles; Pg. 59, Life cyclehttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/coloringbook/images/sketches/seaturtle.gif

Library booksTurtles from Discovery (video)Sea Turtle Adventures from National Audubon Society (video)

Ongoing Project

WEEK 13: Reptiles – Lizards


Narration


Activity:

Materials:


Optional worksheets:Giant Science Resource Book – Pg. 58, Types of reptiles

Library booksAll About Reptiles from Schlessinger Media (video)

Ongoing Project

WEEK 14: Birds – Overview

Kingfisher, pages 84; 97-99

Narration


Activity: Make a Bird feeder and keep a log of the birds that come

Activity: Look at Feathers

Materials: Various feathersMicroscope and/or magnifying glass

Instructions: Cut open one feather and examine the inside. Look at the other feathers using the magnifying class. Discuss observations.

Activity: http://www.nwf.org/Kids/Your-Big-Backyard/Fun/Crafts-and-Activities/Birds/Dry-as-a-Feather.aspx


Optional worksheets:Giant Science Resource Book – Pages 61-72

Library booksDucks don’t get WetBackyard Birds from National Geographic (video)Birds from Schlessinger Media (video)All About Birds from Schlessinger Media (video)

Ongoing Project

BIRD FEEDER IDEAS1. Bagel bird feeder

a. Materials: half a bagel, peanut butter, bird seed, stringb. Tie string through hole in bagel (this will be used to hang the bagel). Coat the whole

bagel in peanut butter. Spread bird seed on a cookie sheet and dip bagel into it. Coat completely with seeds. Hang outside.

2. Another bird feeder ideaa. http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/tweet-treats-671034/

3. Peanut feedera. Materials: raw peanuts in the shell, string or yarnb. Tie the peanuts along a length of string, about five peanuts per string and hang from a

tree branch.

WEEK 15: Birds – Owls

Kingfisher, page 87

Narration


Activity: Dissect Owl Pellets

Materials: owl pelletTweezers or toothpicks

Instructions: Using the tweezers or toothpicks pull the owl pellet apart and look at what the owl ate.


Optional worksheets:Giant Science Resource Book – Pages 61-72http://students.umf.maine.edu/~tarrmm/owl.jpghttp://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/color/color_screech_owl.phtml

Library books

Ongoing Project

Edible Owl Pellets for dissectiona. Materials: ¼ cup peanut butter, 1 Tbsp butter (softened), ¼ cup powdered sugar, 2 Tbsp

small pretzel sticks, ¼ cup coconut, 1 Tbsp peanuts, 1 Tbsp oat cereal, 2 Tbsp chocolate chips

b. Mix peanut butter, butter and powdered sugar together. Add the remaining ingredients and stir together. Divide into 3 owl pellets and chill for 30 minutes.

c. Food key: coconut=bird feathers; peanuts=mouse skulls; pretzels=rabbit bones; oat cereal=bird bones; chocolate chips=frog and snake bones

d. Dissect on small plate with tweezers

WEEK 16: Mammals

Kingfisher, pages

Narration


Activity:

Materials:


Library books

Ongoing Project

WEEK 17: Mammals

Kingfisher, pages

Narration


Activity:

Materials:


Library books

Ongoing Project

WEEK 18: Wrap-up – Food Chains, Defense, etc.

Kingfisher, pages 8-18

Narration

Activity: Sorting project

Materials: Pictures of the animals studied

Instructions: Sort the card according to various animal characteristics (what they eat, vertebrates or invertebrates, types of defense)


Library books

Ongoing Project

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