Learning Activity

Introduction

Unit Development Template

Learning Activity Title

Oh, Baby! What Baby Animal Is That?

Learning Activity Annotation

In this kindergarten environmental education activity, students will be introduced to various animals and will view and compare differences between adults and their offspring. The students will view an online slideshow that explains how animal parents take care of their young and will play an online matching game in which the students match pictures of animals. Students will then play a similar game with picture cards in an effort to match adult and child animals. Finally, the students will be assessed by completing a worksheet which is provided. This activity is ideal for an introductory lesson on animals or for review.

This Learning Activity Template is differentiated for (Optional):

Category of Activity

Introductory Activity

Grade(s)

Subjects

Alternate E-mail address (Optional)

staff@eeingeorgia.org

Additional Authors (Optional)

Velvet Hildebrand

Author

Environmental Education (Georgia Standards)

Focus Standards

Focus Standards

SKL2 Students will compare the similarities and differences in groups of organisms.

a. Explain the similarities and differences in animals (color, size, appearance, etc.).
c. Recognize the similarities and differences between a parent and a baby.

Focus Standards

ELAKW1 The student begins to understand the principles of writing. The student

a. Writes or dictates to describe familiar persons, places, objects, or experiences.
b. Uses drawings, letters, and phonetically spelled words to create meaning.

Complementary Standards (Optional)

Complementary Standards (Optional)

SKCS1 Students will be aware of the importance of curiosity, honesty, openness, and skepticism in science and will exhibit these traits in their own efforts to understand how the world works.

a. Raise questions about the world around you and be willing to seek answers to some of the questions by making careful observations (5 senses) and trying things out.

Complementary Standards (Optional)

SKL2 Students will compare the similarities and differences in groups of organisms.

d. Match pictures of animal parents and their offspring explaining your reasoning (for example: dog/puppy; cat/kitten; cow/calf; duck/ducklings, etc.).

Complementary Standards (Optional)

SKCS4 Students will use the ideas of system, model, change, and scale in exploring scientific and technological matters.

c. Compare very different sizes (large/small), ages (parent/baby), speeds (fast/slow), and weights (heavy/light) of both manmade and natural things.

National and/or Local Standards (Optional)

National and/or Local Standards (Optional)

North American Association for Environmental Education Guidelines for Excellence: Learner Guidelines (K-12) K-4: Strand 1 (A, B, C, D); Strand 2 (2.2B).

Balanced Assessment

Assessment Method/Type

Constructed Response

Assessment Title

Adult/ Baby Animal Assessment

Description/Directions

When assessing the students, print the assessment worksheet listed in the procedures section of the activity and use the answer key provided here as a guide when grading the papers.

Attachment Title (Optional)

Adult/ Baby Animal Assessment Answer Key

Attachment Description (Optional)

Print this sheet and use to assist with grading.

Attachment(s) (Optional)

Uploaded file: Adult_Baby Animal Assessment Answer Key.doc

Web Resource Title (Optional)

Web Resource Description (Optional)

Web Resources (Optional)

Student Work with Teacher Commentary

Procedures, Directions, and Resources

Duration

1 hour

Directions and Procedures

Step: 1
Introduce the lesson by telling the students that they are going to be learning about animals. Begin by asking students to raise their hand if they know what the baby name is for a cat. After a student correctly answers that the baby name for a cat is a kitten, continue with the questioning by giving the students the adult animal names and having them provide the baby names. (For a list of names, see Enchanted Learning Animal Babies.) As the class names the babies, take a moment to talk about the characteristics of the animal in the way it looks (fur, scales, long tail, size, etc.) and the way it moves (hops, swims, runs, etc.). Take a moment to also discuss how the animal grows ( tadpole-frog, egg-bird, cub-lion, etc.). Continue until the class has identified at least ten baby names.

Step: 2
Tell the students that now that they know some adult/baby animal names they are going to hear about how the adult animals take care of their young. Gather the students around a computer or use a projector to display the Animal Parents and Their Babies slideshow on a viewing screen. After the picture is shown and the narrator shares the information, have the students share their thoughts with a partner as described in the slideshow. When students have ample time to share, advance the slides until the show is completed.

Step: 3
After viewing the slideshow, engage the students in a discussion about how animals look when they are babies and compare/contrast them with how they look when they are adults. Explain that for many animals, babies are miniature versions of their parents: they have the same general appearance but they are smaller in size. Continue by saying that as the babies grow into adults, many animals keep the same features and mature. Then tell the students for some animals, this is not the case. Explain that frogs aren't born with their adult features -- they are born as tadpoles without legs and as time goes on their body develops and legs grow. Ask the students if they know another example from nature in which an animal is born one way but develops and has a different appearance as an adult. Explain that caterpillars grow, develop, and change into butterflies. Continue with the discussion as interest allows and then redirect the students' attention back to the computer screen. Display the What Will I Be When I Grow Up? site and have the students take turns matching the pictures.

Step: 4
While students are still seated, explain that they are going to play another animal matching activity. Tell the students that they will each receive a picture of an animal and the animal will be either a baby animal or an adult animal. Show an example by holding up a matching card pair of a baby animal and an adult animal. Continue by explaining that the students will need to keep their animal a secret and not show anyone their card. When the game begins, the students will look for their mommy or daddy if they are baby animal or they will look for their baby if they are a mommy or daddy adult animal. Tell the students that they will look for their match by walking around and asking yes and no questions about the other person's animal. At this time stop and demonstrate an example by calling two children up to the front of the room. Give one child an adult animal picture and one the corresponding baby animal picture. Have one of them ask a question that would help them decide if they have a match like, "Do you have fur?" Let the other respond and have them demonstrate by asking more questions until they figure out if they have a match. Ask the students if they understand the questioning portion of the game. If they don't understand, demonstrate with another example match and explain further.

Step: 5
Begin parent/baby animal card matching activity by giving each child one of the attached animal cards. Depending upon class size, there may be too many or not enough students for the number of animal pictures you have. If this is the case, you may pair students up with one picture and have them go around asking questions together or give a student two cards if necessary. When ready, have the students begin the activity and have it continue until all matches have been found. The teacher will need to circulate amongst the students to help them with questions and keep them interested. Once students have found their match, have them sit together and wait quietly along the edges of the room until all matches are found.
Step: 6
After all of the matches are found, discuss the differences between the parent and the baby. Call each animal pair up and have the students tell the adult name and baby name for their animal. Then ask them to recall the earlier discussion and talk about the differences between the parent and baby. Students should be prompted to discuss how their animal looks, moves, and grows. Have the students do most of the talking and recalling of information. Continue until all pairs have shared.

Step: 7
As a final activity, distribute the assessment worksheet and have the students complete the sheet. Depending on the ability level of the class and the time of year this activity is taught, a small group setting might be the best time to do this so that the teacher can read the directions and direct the students where to write/draw their answers. When finished, collect the papers and use as a means of determining student understanding.

Student Handout (Optional)

Uploaded file: Baby Animal Flash Cards.doc

Attachment Title (Optional)

Adult/ Baby Animal Assessment

Attachment Description (Optional)

Print one sheet per student and use as a means of formal assessment.

Attachment(s) (Optional)

Uploaded file: Adult_Baby Animal Assessment.doc

Web Resource Title (Optional)

Web Resource Description (Optional)

Web Resources (Optional)

Additional Resources

Materials and Equipment

Materials and Equipment

1. animal picture cards (see attachment)
2. one assessment worksheet per student (see attachment)
3. one assessment answer key for teacher use (see attachment)
4. computer with Internet access
5. projector and viewing screen (optional)
6. pencils and crayons for completing the assessment

Technology Connection/Integration (Optional)

Students will view an online slideshow and will play an online matching game under the direction of the teacher.

What 21st Century technology was used in this Learning Activity?

Slide Show Software

Web Site(s)

Differentiation for Content, Product and Process

Readiness (Recommended)

Students who have difficulty matching baby animals to their adult parents might benefit from playing the online game entitled Baby Animals Asia. The game includes audio and is self-checking.

Learning Profile (Recommended)

Students who enjoy learning about animals might find the Baby Animalz site interesting. With teacher assistance, students can view hundreds of photographs of exotic and domestic baby animals and print one of their favorites. Students can then draw a picture of how they think the adult animal might look and compare this to a photograph from the Jungle Walk site.

Student Interests (Recommended)

Students who liked participating in the baby name discussion might enjoy playing an online game from Squigly's Playhouse. Included on this site are two games: Baby Animal Quiz and More Baby Animals. These games require typing so teacher participation is required.

Attachment Title (Optional)

Attachment Description (Optional)

Attachments (Optional)

Web Resource Title (Optional)

Web Resource Description (Optional)

Web Resources (Optional)

Additional Resources