A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively
engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.
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Phase:
After/Explain/Elaborate
Activity:
This learning activity is best used after a unit or lesson on animals and their natural habitats.
The teacher will read the book If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss or use the digital copy of the book. Ask the students: "What do you think it would be like to run a zoo?" "What are some of the responsibilities of the zookeeper?"
The students will pretend to run the zoo by building a habitat for a new animal with a partner. Review with the students the basic needs all animals have in their habitats: food, water, shelter, and space. Assign an animal native to Alabama to each partner group (golden eagle, beaver, bobcat, skunk, etc.). Instruct the students to come up with a plan for their drawing of the habitat. With a partner, the students will create a drawing of a new enclosure at the zoo for their assigned animal. Remind the students that as the zookeeper, they are in charge of making sure the zoo enclosure is just like the animal's natural habitat. The drawing of the animal's habitat must include food, water, shelter, and space.
Assessment Strategies:
The drawing of the natural habitat of the animal must include food, water, shelter, and space.
Advanced Preparation:
The teacher must have a copy of the book If I Ran a Zoo by Dr. Seuss or a way to display the digital copy of the book. The students should have prior knowledge of animals native to Alabama and the needs of a habitat. The students will need art supplies to complete their drawing. The teacher will need to pre-select partnerships.