Mix and Match Habitats Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan #: AELP-ECL0208
Submitted by: Jennifer Srader
Email: megmeg98@msn.com
School/University/Affiliation: Texas A&M University, Texarkana, TX

Date: April 11, 2002

Grade Level: Kindergarten, 1, 2

Subject(s):

Science/Ecology

Duration: 45 minutes

Description: In this activity, students use felt boards to match animals with their appropriate habitats. Students are then given an opportunity to mix up the animals and habitats and have other students determine the correct combinations. Students discuss why each of the mixed-up combinations will not work.

Goals:

Students will be able to identify several types of animals and describe their habitats.

Students will gain an understanding as to why animals live in certain environments.

Students will gain knowledge of various climates and places in the world.

Objectives:

Using a felt board, students will be able to correctly match at least 4 out of 6 combinations of animals and habitats.

Students will be able to give correct reasoning for at least 4 out of 6 of the mixed-up combinations and then be able to correct all 6 of them.

Materials:

small felt boards (1 per group) or posterboard to make your own
various colors of felt material (cut into animals and habitats)
hot glue to make the animals and habitats
abandoned bird’s nest (optional)
Animal Habitats: The Best Home of All by Nancy Pemberton, 1990, Children’s World, Inc. (optional)

Vocabulary:

habitat – Natural place where something lives.

climate – Average weather of a place or region over an extended period of time.

Procedure:
Prior to the lesson, cut six different animal shapes out of felt. Cut the remaining felt into six different habitats, one for each animal (i.e. a bear and a cave, a penguin and an iceberg, a bird and a tree, etc.). Make enough animals and habitats for each group of 3-5 students to have their own set. Use posterboard and felt to make enough felt boards for groups of 3-5 students to each have one, or use commercially made boards.

Begin the lesson by showing the class a bird’s nest. Discuss how different animals live in different habitats and why. Have students share their favorite animals; draw them on the board while discussing where each animal might live and why. Read Animal Habitats: The Best Home of All to the class.

After showing the habitats book, present the class with felt boards and the felt animals and habitats. Explain to the students that they are to decide which animal lives in which habitat. Divide students into small groups and hand out the felt materials. Discuss each group’s placements and reasoning. Have groups mix up their animals with the wrong habitats and exchange boards with another group. Discuss why the animals would not be able to survive in the mixed-up habitats. Each group should correct the mixed-up habitats.

Assessment: Check the felt boards to see if students matched the animals with the correct habitats. Listen to students’ explanations about why the mixed-up combinations would not work.

Useful Internet Resources:
* Virtual Wildlife
http://www.panda.org/news_facts/education/virtual_wildlife/index.cfm

* Canon Photo Gallery
http://www.panda.org/photogallery/index.cfm

* Ranger Rick’s Kids Zone
http://www.nwf.org/kids/

* Animals/Wildlife from About.com
http://animals.about.com/

* Friends of the National Zoo
http://www.fonz.org/index.shtml

Special Comments: The Virtual Wildlife site is an awesome site where kids can learn about many animals they may never get to see in real life. The Canon Photo Gallery is a good place to find pictures of animals the children may have a hard time understanding without actually seeing them.

Want to Help Fellow Teachers?

Table of Contents