Introduction: Remember our class trip to the Bronx Zoo? We saw so many different types of animals. We saw giraffes with long necks, monkeys with long tails, tiny poison dart frogs, giant elephants with long trunks and furry white polar bears. Why do animals look so different from each other? Let’s find out!

Task:

Elephants, giraffes, poison dart frogs, polar bears and monkeys all look very different. Your job is to find out how these animals special features (color, body part, body covering) help them adapt to their environment.

Process:

1.Pick 1 animal you want to learn more about. Write the name on your student sheet. Answer all your questions on this sheet.

2. Click on the links under the name of the animal to watch the videos about your animal.

3. Answer the questions on the sheet.

4. Draw a picture of the animal and label the special feature (adaptation).

5. Play the fun games if you have more time.

Elephant

Watch to see how the elephant eats

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=elephants+eating+trees&www_google_domain=www.google.com&hl=en&client=safari&emb=0&aq=2&oq=elephants+eating+#

Watch to see how the elephant drinks

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=elephant+drinking+water&www_google_domain=www.google.com&hl=en&client=safari&emb=0&aq=1&oq=elephant+drinking#

Just for Fun

http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&q=how%20do%20elephants%20use%20their%20trunks&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#q=elephants+pulling+with+trunk&hl=en&emb=0&client=safari

Giraffe

http://www.naturefootage.com/video_clips/BF03_079

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/kids/animals-pets-kids/mammals-kids/giraffe-kids.html

This shows 2 giraffes fighting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7HCIGFdBt8

Monkey

Monkey swinging

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnZLV2pWsD8

Slow motion monkey swinging from branches

http://video.google.com/videosearch?client=safari&rls=en&q=monkey%20swinging&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wv#

Monkeys playing around hanging from their tails

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=monkey+tails&www_google_domain=www.google.com&hl=en&client=safari&emb=0&aq=3&oq=monkey+tail#q=monkey+hangs+by+tail&hl=en&emb=0&client=safari

Monkeys eating in the city

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1721052/monkey_feast/

This monkey doesn’t have a tail. What does he use instead?

http://animal.discovery.com/videos/red-faced-uakari-monkey-head-like-a-tail.html

Poison Dart Frog

This video shows you many different frogs and tells you why the poison dart frog has a bright color

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/animal-planet/28480-ms-adventure-deadly-dart-frogs-video.htm

This video shows your some poison dart frogs in the zoo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar57xFsHebc&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo%2Egoogle%2Ecom%2Fvideosearch%3Fclient%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26q%3Dpoison%2520dart%2520frog%26oe%3DUTF%2D8%26um%3D1%26ie%3DUTF%2D8%26sa%3DN%26hl%3Den%26tab%3Dwv&feature=player_embedded

Poison dart frog eating flies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqBc80FiJB4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GafJDBv5qU&feature=PlayList&p=C29A4BFD7FDE7CCE&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=5

This video shows you how a poison dart frog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SispCYjUTE

Polar Bear

This video tells you how the polar bear’s hair helps keep it warm in the freezing water.

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/28503-natural-born-winners-polar-bears-video.htm

This video tells you what the polar bear eats to get fat and keep warm.

http://www.comcast.net/video/cholesterol-carnivores/858277534/

This is a cute video of a polar bear mom and her cubs.

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Animals/CreatureFeature/Polar-bear

Game

You can make your own animal here! Create a monkion ( a lion with a monkey’s head) or any other animal you can think up.

http://www.switcheroozoo.com/zoo.htm

http://kinderwebgames.com/brownbear.shtml

(Lower Level)

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Games/MoreGames/Baby-animal-memory

(Memory Matching)

Extra Credit:

This monkey has a very short tail. How does this help him?

http://animal.discovery.com/videos/red-faced-uakari-monkey-head-like-a-tail.html

Evaluation

4

3

2

1

Animal Information

I answered all the questions on my student sheet about 1 animal. I drew a picture of my animal and labeled many body parts.

I answered all the questions on my student sheet. I drew a picture of my animal and labeled a few body parts.

I did not finish all the questions on my student sheet and / or did not label my picture.

I did not answer most of the questions on my student sheet. I did not draw the picture of my animal.

Computer Use

I used the computer respectfully and followed all computer rules.

I used the computer respectfully and followed the computer rules about setting up and shutting down.

I needed to be reminded of the computer rules or I didn’t follow directions about set up and shut down.

I needed to be reminded of the rules many times and I didn’t set up or shut down properly.

Behavior

I focused on my work and did not distract other students. I requested help when needed.

I focused on my work and did not distract other students. I requested help when needed.

I did not focus on my work and/or didn’t ask for help when I needed it.

I distracted other students many times.