This week we started our last thematic science unit of the year...Safari!
On Monday, we read a nonfiction story about Africa...then we found Africa on the globe. We learned that Africa is a continent just like North America. There are three very different habitats in Africa: Desert, Savanna, and Rainforest. We looked at what animals live in each habitat. We will be learning about the animals that life in the Savanna! After, I showed the students some pictures I took when I went to South Africa.
On Tuesday we learned the difference between a natural environment and a constructed environment. We discussed that a natural environment is probably better for most wild animals compared to a constructed environment (zoo). After, the students were put into groups and given an animal. They had to create a natural or constructed habitat for their animal.
On Wednesday, we discussed what animals are endangered in Africa. In groups students had to brainstorm answers to the following questions:
1. Why are these animals endangered?
2. How can we help these animals?
Most groups discussed that humans are why most of these animals are endangered. We are hunting them illegally and taking over their habitat. They remembered that last year we adopted a polar bear...so they thought it would be a good idea to adopt an African animal! After voting we decided to adopt a cheetah. Our package should arrive sometime within the next two weeks! If you are interested in adopting an animal visit https://www.worldwildlife.org/?_ga=1.5928883.101518797.1432584641
In Art, we made African animal silhouette paintings!
On Tuesday we learned the difference between a natural environment and a constructed environment. We discussed that a natural environment is probably better for most wild animals compared to a constructed environment (zoo). After, the students were put into groups and given an animal. They had to create a natural or constructed habitat for their animal.
On Wednesday, we discussed what animals are endangered in Africa. In groups students had to brainstorm answers to the following questions:
1. Why are these animals endangered?
2. How can we help these animals?
Most groups discussed that humans are why most of these animals are endangered. We are hunting them illegally and taking over their habitat. They remembered that last year we adopted a polar bear...so they thought it would be a good idea to adopt an African animal! After voting we decided to adopt a cheetah. Our package should arrive sometime within the next two weeks! If you are interested in adopting an animal visit https://www.worldwildlife.org/?_ga=1.5928883.101518797.1432584641
In Art, we made African animal silhouette paintings!
*Note*
If you are interested in using any of these handouts you can purchase them on TPT.
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/An-African-Animal-Research-Safari-641271
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/African-Safari-Unit-for-Early-Elementary-Africa-572974
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Faces-at-the-Zoo-231294
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Zoo-Math-and-Literacy-Fun-123414
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/African-Safari-Unit-for-Early-Elementary-Africa-572974
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Faces-at-the-Zoo-231294
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Zoo-Math-and-Literacy-Fun-123414
I love that people can try to make friends with animals. It's better than caging them and keeping them from the wild. We should work on understanding them. I also don't like how people think that predators are bloodthirsty killers; they only kill when hungry or threatened. Only humans kill for sport. Anyhow I really love this post I love wild cats in general and I hope to see more like it.
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