1. The Essential Question What makes a mammal a mammal? In order to answer this question, you will: 1.Explore some mammals on the internet at 2.Study food, habitat, predators, social structure and birth & offspring of specific mammals. Mammals are warm- blooded animals that have hair for insulation and nurse their infants with milk. The 4,000 species are an extremely diverse group. The smallest bat weighs 0.05oz, while the Blue whale weighs 100 million times as much. The number of offspring ranges from 1 to 27, and the life span ranges from less than 1 year to over 70 years. Let’s see what we can find out! These materials are © 2009 Mrs. Iwankow, Willow Ridge Elementary, all rights reserved. "A Sleeping Primate." Online image. PowerMediaPlus.com. 14 May 2009.
2. Information Sources You will be visiting a website to read about the bear, cat, dog, hyena, mongoose, raccoon or weasel family. You will use a data sheet to take notes about the traits of one of the families. These materials are © 2009 Mrs. Iwankow, Willow Ridge Elementary, all rights reserved. Traits to research: Food Habitat Predators Social Structure Birth & Offspring
3. The Student Activity 1.Click here to access your data sheet. Print it out and put your name on it. 2.Click here to go to the web site to get your information. 3.Select a mammal to research and fill in the information on your data sheet. 4. Use Kidspiration to create an Animal Concept Map showing what you have learned about the mammal you researched. These materials are © 2009 Mrs. Iwankow, Willow Ridge Elementary, all rights reserved.
4. The Assessment Activity Construct a web to show your understanding of the mammal you researched. Do this by clicking on Kidspiration. When you connect to the program, select the Science category, then select Animal Concept Map. Fill in the information and use the writing view to add your details. Sample Final Project Sample Kidspiration Work These materials are © 2009 Mrs. Iwankow, Willow Ridge Elementary, all rights reserved.
5. Enrichment Activities Select 2 mammals to compare and contrast. Conduct your research using 2 websites listed on the right. Take appropriate notes - hand-written. Write a 2 paragraph compare and contrast essay. The following are excellent sites: Classification Quiz Animal Facts Mammal Habitats From Agouiti to Zebra These materials are © 2009 Mrs. Iwankow, Willow Ridge Elementary, all rights reserved.
6. Teacher Support Materials Standard MST4: Science Key Idea Introduction -- MST4.LE20 As students investigate the continuity of life, emphasis should be placed on how plants and animals reproduce their own kind. Key Idea -- MST4.LE6 -- The Living Environment Plants and animals depend on each other and their physical environment. These materials are © 2009 Mrs. Iwankow, Willow Ridge Elementary, all rights reserved. "Raccoon Cleaning Hands." Online image. PowerMediaPlus.com. 14 May 2009.