Authors:

Tina Serdjenian Multiage George J. Mitchell School Waterville, ME 04901 Tel. (207) 873-0695 Email: tserdjenian@fc.wtvl.k12.me.us

Elaine Breton Grade Two George J. Mitchell School Waterville, ME 04901 Tel. (207) 873-0695 Email: ebreton@fc.wtvl.k12.me.us

 

Grade Level: One

Group Setting: three 30 minute sessions

Time Requirement: eight 45 minute sessions (2 sessions each for: mammals, fish, birds, insects)

Curriculum Area: Science
Topic: Animals

Maine Learning Results Performance Indicators:

A4: Design* and describe a classification system for objects (*see math curriculum)
B1: Identify ways that organisms depend upon their environment

Waterville Curriculum Document Indicators:

Communicate how animals are suited to their environment (Ecology, 1a)
Describe the homes of different animals (Ecology, 1b)

Task Description:

Students will gather information about animal homes and ways in which they are dependent upon their environment. The teacher will then guide students as this information is collected and recorded on a table (see model). When the chart is complete students take pictures of animal homes and sort them according to their own individually designed classification system and describe it.

Student Products/Performances:

Model of table used for this lesson: (These are just examples)

Animal	Habitat	Home and Description of Home	How Animal is Suited to Environment	How Home is Suited to Environment
Chickadee	Woodlands	Nest-high above ground Made of natural & man-made materials	Coloring Able to withstand cold	Uses available materials to build the home Is located away from predators.
Etc.

Teaching Materials/ARC Resources:

These are suggested ARC titles for your work with this lesson plan.

Code Number	Material Title
VC574.5-54	Secret of the Pond
VC574.5-55	Puzzle of the Rotting Log
VC574.5-56	What's in Your Backyard?
VC574.5-59	Down on the Forest Floor
VC574.5-75	Totally Tropical Rain Forest
FSC574.92-11	Life in the Sea
VC574.92-25	Life in the Sea-video
FSC591-41	Room to Live: Animal Homes and Territories
VC591-48	Forest Animals
SP595.7-16	Insects of Home and Neighborhood
ARC/CB	Birds (Golden Field Guide)
ARC/CB	Beetles (Peterson Field Guide)
ARC/CB	Bird Watching For All Ages
ARC/CB	Insects (Peterson Field Guide)
ARC/CB	Insects (Golden Field Guide)
ARC/CB	Mammals (Peterson Field Guide)
ARC/CB	Butterflies (Golden Field Guide)
SP595.7-9	Common Insects

 

Made Possible by:

The Colby Partnership for Science Education
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute
The Bell Atlantic Foundation