LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Going batty

In this lesson students will hear the story Stellaluna by Janell Cannon and then create a Venn Diagram comparing bats to birds.

A lesson plan for grade 1 Information Skills and Science

By DPI Integration Strategies

Learn more

Related pages

  • Getting to know spiders: This lesson is useful for helping students understand the differences between spiders and insects. They will also learn about a spider's particular body parts. Live spiders will be observed over the course of a few days to see how sound, light, and movement affect the spiders.
  • Bats: The students will learn that bats are nocturnal and use echolocation.
  • Goose Creek State Park: Located six miles from historic Bath, Goose Creek State Park provides educational opportunities for K-12 students in the flora and fauna of the area.

Related topics

Help

Please read our disclaimer for lesson plans.

Legal

The text of this page is copyright ©2008. See terms of use. Images and other media may be licensed separately; see captions for more information and read the fine print.

Learning outcomes

After reading the book Stellaluna by Janell Cannon, students will use the software program Kid Pix to create a Venn diagram comparing birds and bats.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

45 minutes

Materials/resources

  • pictures of bats
  • fiction and nonfiction books about bats
  • Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

Technology resources

  • computer with Kid Pix software loaded
  • computer with The Graph Club software loaded

Activities

Day One

  1. Using the program The Graph Club, have each student take turns answering the question, “Are you afraid of bats?”
  2. KWL Chart: brainstorm things students know about bats and what they want to know about bats.
  3. Share pictures of bats from nonfiction books about bats.

Day Two

Brainstorm: what do bats eat? Divide the answers into two categories: a) fruit and b) meat. Discuss that there are two types of bats: megabats and microbats. Explain that megabats eat fruit and microbats eat meat, such as insects, frogs, or fish. Look again at pictures of both types of bats. Have students look for the differences between the two types. Direct them to notice that megabats (fruit eaters) have large eyes and small ears. Microbats (meat eaters) have small eyes and large ears.

Day Three

Read students the book Stellaluna by Janell Cannon. Discuss the differences between birds and bats. Have students create a Venn diagram comparing birds and bats using the software program Kid Pix.

Assessment

Completed Venn Diagram comparing bats and birds.

Supplemental information

The Educator’s Activity Book about Bats, available from Bat Conservation International, has games and other activities, which could be added to this lesson.

North Carolina curriculum alignment

Information Skills (2000)

Grade 1

  • Goal 2: The learner will IDENTIFY and USE criteria for excellence to evaluate information and formats.
    • Objective 2.03: Recognize the diversity of ideas and thoughts by exploring a variety of resources (print, non-print, electronic) and formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia, web-based).

Science (2005)

Grade 1

  • Goal 1: The learner will conduct investigations and make observations to build an understanding of the needs of living organisms.
    • Objective 1.02: Investigate the needs of a variety of different animals:
      • Air.
      • Water.
      • Food.
      • Shelter.
      • Space.

  • North Carolina Essential Standards

    • Science (2010)

      • Grade 1

        • 1.L.2 Summarize the needs of living organisms for energy and growth. 1.L.2.1 Summarize the basic needs of a variety of different plants (including air, water, nutrients, and light) for energy and growth. 1.L.2.2 Summarize the basic needs of a variety of different...