African animals in habitats

This is an inquiry-based animal study for early childhood students centered around a visit to the African Continent of the North Carolina Zoo.

A lesson plan for grade K Science

By Sue McCullah

Learn more

• Bronx Zoo Zoo website with images of African animals
• Columbus Zoo Zoo website with images of African animals
• Missouri Botanical Gardens Zoo website with images of African animals
• North Carolina Zoo Zoo website with images of African animals
• San Diego Zoo Zoo website with images of African animals

Related pages

• Feathers, fins, fur, scales, and skin: Using observation, students will identify animal groups by their appearance. The students will move through animal centers looking for similarities and differences of birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
• Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge: Located in Anson and Richmond counties of North Carolina, the diversity of habitats and management programs supports a broad range of wildlife species, including over 168 birds, 49 amphibians and reptiles, 28 mammals, and 20 fish species.
• Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge: Located in Camden County on scenic U. S. Highway 17, the original Ocean Highway, just three miles south of the VA/NC border, the Great Dismal Swamp Center sits on the banks of the Dismal Swamp Canal, part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

Related topics

• Learn more about Africa, animals, biology, field trips, graphic organizers, habitats, science, similarities and differences, and zoos.

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

• discover and compare the characteristics and needs of specific animals and their habitats.
• use the KWLH Model.
• work in small cooperative groups.
• use a digital camera.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

1–2 weeks

Materials/resources

• chart pad and markers
• African animal pictures from calendars, digital photos, and/or websites
• copies of the habitat photos for student use
• eleven-by-eighteen-inch art paper
• assorted art mediums (paint, chalk, markers, colored paper, glue)
• laminator or clear contact paper to seal book pages
• coil binder or large metal book rings

Technology resources

• digital camera to take photos
• internet access to select images from websites
• computer and printer for printing photos
• TV and VCR to show zoo video
• “The 21st Century Zoo” video produced 1995, North Carolina Zoological Society
• PowerPoint attachment of African animal habitats at the North Carolina Zoo
• seed question attachment

Activities

Activity One

(thirty minutes)

1. Gather all students at a central location and begin asking seed questions.
2. Create a KWLH chart about Zoos with four columns to record present knowledge (Know), unanswered questions (Want), observations gained from study (Learned) and resources for more information (How). Teacher will guide to consensus and record.
3. Post chart in classroom for modification as study progresses.

Activity Two

(thirty minutes)

1. Students work in cooperative groups to study pictures of African animals in natural zoo habitats.
2. Each group shares their findings with the class.
3. Teacher monitors the discussion and notes common themes.
4. Common themes/acquired knowledge are recorded on chart by teacher.
5. Questions for future study are added to the chart.
6. Teacher will plan zoo trip with these in mind.

Activity Three

(one hour)

1. View “The 21st Century Zoo” looking for African Animals. (Pictures may be used in addition or in place of video.)
2. Students brainstorm a list of African Animals. Chimpanzee, elephant, giraffe, gorilla, lion, ostrich, warthog, wild dog and zebra are included in the habitat pictures.
3. Small groups of students will each choose an animal from the list.
4. Each group will record knowledge and observations (see KWLH Chart in Activity One and Seed Question Attachment)
5. Students will share chart with whole group.
6. Students will use the PowerPoint attachment of African animal habitats to match their animal with a specific habitat.

Activity Four

(three hours)

1. Field trip to the African Continent of the NC Zoo. (Information available 1-800-488-0444)
2. Each student or small group will have copies of the eight habitats handout (PowerPoint) with space to illustrate, write phonetically or copy from signage.
3. Students will be encouraged to record additional observations about the animals and their habitats.
4. Students will use digital cameras to take photos of their animals in their habitats.

Activity Five

(thirty minutes)

1. Students gather in a large group to check and compare their habitat/animal matches.
2. Students will update KWLH Charts.
3. Students will share animal photos taken at the zoo.

Activity Six

(one hour)

1. Each small group will use an art medium of their choice to create their habitat on eleven-by-eighteen-inch art paper, attach their animal photos and add a caption.
2. Students will share finished products.
3. Pages will be laminated and bound into a book.

Assessment

Post and find common themes in KWLH Charts. Highlight and personalize questions and answers from Charts and seed questions. Books created by students.

Supplemental information

• The 21st Century Zoo video produced in 1995 by the North Carolina Zoological Society
• Through Tsavo, A Story of an East African Savanna by Schuyler Bull, Illustrated by Paul Kratter
• Along the Luangwa, A Story of an African Floodplain by Schuyler Bull, Illustrated by Alan Male
• ZooBooks, San Diego, CA: Wildlife Education, Ltd.
• seed question attachment
• African animal habitats

Comments

We are fortunate to live fifteen minutes from the NC Zoo. This plan is an extension of our fall trip to Africa. I hope to adapt the plan for our trip to North America in January and our visit to the Sonora Desert and Aviary in the spring.

The 21st Century Zoo is a wonderful free resource that could work as a pale substitute for the trip if necessary. I would use pictures gathered from the internet, wildlife calendars and library files for the first chart if this was the case.