OC Field Investigation Activity: Animal Features & Adaptations OLD

In this activity, Students will explore the outdoor classroom as they look for an animal to observe, and then they will use their observations to determine which of the animal’s features or adaptations of its external body parts help it survive, grow, and reproduce.  
  • Lesson Plan & Resources for Teachers: Use the interactive STEPS below... OR... Print them as a PDF
  • Outdoor Classroom Field Investigation Activity Sheets for Students:
    • Version #1: (general animal)  Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"  
    • Version #2: (specific to Red Wiggler Worms)  Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"
    • Version #2: (specific to Eastern Red Bat)  Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"
  • Outdoor Classroom Field Investigation Answer Sheets for Teachers: (Version 2)  Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"  
  • Materials Needed:   Copies of field identification guides such as the National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Southeastern States, ~25 Copies of the "Animal Features & Adaptations" Field Investigation Activity Sheets, 25 Clipboards, 25 Pencils and Magnifying Glasses (Optional: specimen containers (such as petri dishes, glass vials, or Ziploc bags) or cameras/Ipads to photograph the animals or spades for digging)
  • Duration:  Introduction - 40 min.  |  Outdoor Exploration - 20 min.  |  Review - 20 min.
  • Alabama Course of Study Standards Taught:  PDF

STEP 1: Engage through Discussion
The background information and example questions below can be used to help introduce the topic, engage the students, and build a foundation to discuss the topic:
  • Background Info:  (Word Doc | PDF)
  • Example Questions & Answers (Word Doc | PDF | Interactive PPT) - If you use the PowerPoint (PPT), be sure to click "Slide Show" & "From Beginning" to display questions and answers separately.

STEP 2: Explore with LiteratureCreature Features Front Cover
This book can be used to further explore the topic with your students:
  • Creature Features: Twenty-five Animals Explain Why They Look the Way They Do by Steve Jenkins (ISBN: 978-0544233515)
  • What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?  by Steve Jenkins (ISBN: 978-0618997138)
  • Animal Adaptations by National Science Teachers Association (ISBN: 978-1-68140-596-4)
  • What if You Had Animal Feet? by Sandra Markle (ISBN: 978-0545733120)Front Cover
  • What if You Had Animal Eyes? by Sandra Markle (ISBN: 978-1338101089)
  • What if You Had Animal Nose? by Sandra Markle (ISBN: 978-0545859226)
  • What if You Had Animal Ears? by Sandra Markle (ISBN: 978-0545859264)
 
STEP 3:  Explain using Technology
These videos can be used to further explain the topic to your students:
 
STEP 4: Investigate in the Outdoor Classroom
The Outdoor Classroom Field Investigation Activity Sheet(s) allow students to apply what they have learned as they investigate and record their real-world observations on their activity pages.  Before you go outside, don't forget to review the activity instructions and your Outdoor Classroom Rules with your students:
  • Animal Features & Adaptations Activity Tip - Before taking the students outdoors to explore the outdoor classroom, consider splitting them into groups of three and ask each group to look for a specific type of animal (bird, mammal/squirrel, amphibian/frog, reptile/turtle, fish, insect/butterfly/bee/ant, worm, etc.).  This will help ensure that your students observe a wide variety of animals and not just insects (which will be the easiest type of animal to find).  Also, by dividing your students in groups of three, one child can hold the clipboard and record the observations on the Field Investigation page, one child can hold the magnifying glass to view the details of the animal, and one child can collect and hold the specimen in the container (a petri dish, glass vial or Ziploc bag).  Once the students have recorded their observations, they can then release the animal back into its original habitat. Optional:  Use an iPad, smartphone or camera to take photos of animal found in the outdoor classroom.
  • Activity Instructions for Animal Features & Adaptations Activity Sheet(s)  - Have students explore your outdoor classroom and look for an animal.  Then they will draw a picture of it and record their observations about the animal.  They will use their observations to identify the animal and determine which of the animal’s features or adaptations help it survive, grow, and reproduce. 
    • Version #1: (general animal)  Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"  
    • Version #2: (specific to Red Wiggler Worms)  Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"  
    • Version #3: (specific to Eastern Red Bat)  Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"  
  • Activity Answer Sheet for Teachers - (version 2) Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is" 
  • national audubon society field guide to the southeastern statesWildlife Identification Tips – Use the National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Southeast or other similar field guides to help the students identify the animal(s) they found.  Also, you can use the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Outdoor Alabama Watchable Wildlife website to assist you with the identification of local native wildlife.
  • Example Outdoor Classroom Rules - The outdoor classroom is not a playground, so do not run and do not climb on anything.  Remember that the outdoor classroom provides habitat (a home) for local wildlife, and you should not damage the local wildlife habitat.  Therefore, do not pick up wildlife, plants, flowers or rocks unless you are collecting a specimen for the activity.  Also, do not feed wildlife.


STEP 5: Review with an Assessment
Review and assess the students’ observations and answers on their observation pages.  Another extension might be to have students select an animal from a field identification guide or assign the students a specific animal, and then have them complete the observation pages as an assessment for that species. .