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:
Before/Engage
Activity:
Read aloud a copy of the book, Jackalope by Janet Stevens. In the book, a jackrabbit wishes for horns and is granted them by a Fairy Godrabbit. The horns cause him to get captured and almost eaten by a coyote because he no longer fits in his escape hole.
After reading the book, lead a discussion on animal adaptations. Ask the students why the horns were such a problem for the Jackalope. Discuss the other animals mentioned in the book (horned toad, squirrel, coyote, etc.) and how those animals use their particular features for survival. You might discuss how animals use traits such as skin/fur color, size, and home-building to hide from predators, how sharp teeth and claws are designed for eating meat, and how animals have adapted to survive in extreme environments (blubber on polar bears, water storage in camels, etc.).
Assessment Strategies:
Use formative assessment strategies and observation to determine if students are developing an understanding of the purpose of various animal adaptations.
Advanced Preparation:
Find a copy of the book Jackalope by Janet Stevens.
Variation Tips (optional):
You might have students Think-Pair-Share to come up with other animal adaptations and their advantages not mentioned in the book. Students can continue the lesson by doing research on a specific animal.