South Carolina ETV

South Carolina ETV
1101 George Rogers Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29201-4761
Phone: 803-737-3545

A Walk in the Wild (Grade 3)

Master Teacher

Tricia Porter

Time allotment

90 minutes

Overview

Animal structures have adapted according to their needs in order to survive in their habitat. Through these activities students will become familiar with animal tracks and their characteristics and why certain attributes are important in order for survival.

Subject

Science

Learning objectives

The students will be able to:

identify characteristics of animals and their habitat
match animal tracks to the correct animal according to attributes of the footprint
create a mold of a footprint from their desired animal
explain necessary attributes of an animal in order to survive

South Carolina Standards

Visit the South Carolina Department of Education for the South Carolina Science Standards.

Science—Third Grade

II. A.1. Animals have different structures that serve different functions in growth, survival and reproduction II. B.2.a. Investigate how structural adaptations allow animals to survive life's needs

Media Components

Web Sites

Ranger Rick's Kids Zone was created by the National Wildlife Federation and provides interactive games based on animals. The page used in this lesson provides students with animal tracks and asks for identification of the animal.

Materials

Crinkleroot's Book of Animal Tracking by Jim Arnosky (from the third grade Treasury of Literature series)
Animal Tracks by Arthur Doris
animal track molds from Francis Marion
National Forest
plaster
baby wipes
pictures of animal tracks
paper
pencil

Prep for Teachers

Make plaster.
Gather materials.
Bookmark the Internet site.

Introductory Activity: Setting the Stage

Step 1

The teacher will hold up a picture of an animal track (animal tracks are illustrated in the World Book Encyclopedia under animal tracks). The teacher will ask the students to describe the track. Some possible questions to ask include:

Is it large or small?
Are the feet webbed? If so, what would it live near?
Does it have nails?
Is there another object in the tracks? (tail following behind)

Step 2

If the children are not able to guess the animal, give them a riddle.

If it is a mouse, you would say: I am small, I like cheese, I may live in your house, I am a…..

Do this activity for the first two tracks.

Step 3

Hand out various tracks to individual students. They must write a riddle for their animal track. Each students will then show his/her animal track and read the riddle and have children guess what animal the tracks are from.

Step 4

To further expand the students' knowledge about animal tracking read Crinkleroot's Book of Animal Tracking. This book is based on Crinkleroot, a naturalist. He shows how to track animals by looking for the signs they leave behind. Readers go on a journey with Crinkleroot as he follows beavers, otters, raccoons and owls. The book teaches interesting facts about each of the animals such as what they eat and how they play. Students should be encouraged to look for animal tracks in their own backyards.

Another wonderful resource is Animal Tracks by Arthur Doris. This book follows animals through the wilderness and the reader tries to identify the animal tracks before you flip the page to identify the animal.

Learning Activities

Step 1

Ask your students to log onto Ranger Rick's Kids Zone. Have them click "Match `em." This will take them to "Track Match," which asks students to figure out which animal belongs to a certain track.

Step 2

Focus for Media Interaction: Ask your students to examine the picture of the animal track. The site gives you four choices to choose from. Discuss attributes and investigate structural adaptations. Make an educated guess about which animal made that track.

Once again, ask is it big or small? Claws or webbed feet? Tail or no tail?

The children can look at other animal tracks. The site will keep a log of how many a student got right or wrong. Use this as part of the student Assessment.

Culminating Activity/Assessment

Step 1

Children will choose a mold of an animal that lives in the wild.

Step 2

The children will put some plaster into their mold.

Step 3

While the mold is drying, children can write a riddle about their animal.

Step 4

This would be a great time for the students to do a report on their individual animal and incorporate their new information into their riddle.

Step 5

The teacher can make a concentration game of the animal tracks and the animal.

Cross Curricular Activities

Language Arts: Have the students research their animals and write reports. Tell them to include a picture of their animal.

Community Connections

Francis Marion National Forest or any local park. Go on a field trip to look for animal tracks in that habitat. Have children predict the ones they think they will find.
South Carolina Aquarium. Have a representative bring animals into the classroom.
SeeWee Island Visitor and Environmental Education Center (843 928-3368). They will provide you with animal track molds. They also do programs at the site based on animal tracks for no cost.