Animals Are Everywhere!

By Steven Hicks

Animals Come in All Shapes and Sizes

Through these center-based activities, children will explore the animals that inhabit the earth.

OBJECTIVE
The students will:

Describe similarities and differences in the appearance of animals (e.g., size, shape, body coverings)
Distinguish similarities and differences in how animals grow and behave
Identify major structures of animals (e.g. arms, wings, legs, beaks, claws)
Compare various habitats of animals

LESSONS FOR THIS UNIT
Lesson 1: A Planet Full of Animals
Lesson 2: Magnificent Mammals
Lesson 3: Something's Fishy!
Lesson 4: Beautiful Birds

REPRODUCIBLES
Animal Safari Observation (PDF) (PDF)

CULMINATING ACTIVITY

If possible, teach this unit using live animals as examples, either in the classroom or on a field trip. After building plenty of background knowledge about animals, we visit The Natural History Museum and the zoo. Students bring clipboards with a recording sheet for the different kinds of animals they see. They record one animal for each category (see printable). We make "binoculars" out of empty toilet paper rolls that we use to "spot" the animals on our Animal Safari.

SUPPORTING BOOKS

Books for Teaching About Animals

Teacher Store

The Teacher Store

Guardians Of Ga'hoole: A Guide Book To The Great Tree

by Kathryn Huang

Studious by nature, fortunate to have been present at the most glorious moments in the tree's recent history, and above all honored to count as friends its most ardent champions, I, Otulissa, have decided to write a compendium, a catchall -a guide, in short- to the history, life, and spirit of the tree. Pause a moment before the next adventure begins to read of its natural history, its origin, and yearly changes. Read of its lesser-known heroes: of Joss, brave messenger of legends; of the brot

$7.99
Paperback Book | Grades 4-7

Guardians Of Ga'hoole: A Guide Book To The Great Tree

Grades 4-7 $7.99

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Rain Forests

A complete list of the titles in this collection appears below.

$56.00 You save: 30%
Book Collection | Grades 3-5

Rain Forests

Grades 3-5 $56.00

ARTICLE	Activity Plan 5-6: Pet Survey Children will create a survey to gather information about the types of pets people have, encouraging social interaction and early-math (sorting and graphing), geography, and language skills in this ready-to-use teaching idea for five- and six-year olds. Activity: Social Studies/Math/Literacy.

LESSON PLAN	Taking a Stand on Sled Dogs Students learn abut the Iditarod, a dogsled race across Alaka, and take a stand on the treatment of sled dogs through persuasive writing.

ONLINE ACTIVITY	Grade 2 - Hello, Baby Panda! Most pandas live in China, but 2nd grade readers can visit a baby panda born right here in the United States with this audio article with photographs.

BOOK INFORMATION	The Last Battle The well-loved and renowned series from C.S. Lewis is here in its entirety for new readers to discover and treasure for their own.