Please Don't Eat Me! Animals and Camouflage

Presented by: Suzanne Johnson-Robinson

Subject Area(s):

K-12: Language Arts
K-12: Science

Grade Level(s):

K-2nd Grade

Description:

This science based lesson was created for first graders to understand the concept of camouflage as it pertains to animals. In this lesson students will browse magazines in order to locate pictures of animals that are camouflaged as well as animals that are not camouflaged. They will write one sentence about each of their pictures. Finally students' work will be made into a class book.

Goals & Objectives:

Instructional Goals:

Students will gain an understanding of what camouflage means.
Students will use magazines to locate pictures.
Students will orally share what they have learned about camouflage and animals.

Learning Objectives:

Students will correctly identify animals that are camouflaged.
Students will use magazines to find one animal that is camouflaged and one animal that is not camouflaged.
Students will explain one thing they have learned about camouflage, in their own words.

Motivational Goals:

Generate interest in the research process.
Build student’s confidence in their ability to use resources effectively.
Promote student’s satisfaction in their research accomplishments.
Motivate students to continue to use information skills after the lesson.

Materials:

Hard-To-Find Animals by Allen Fowler

Chart Paper

Markers

Several Magazines with Animal Pictures

Scissors

Glue

Handout

Pencils

Procedures:

Introduction

Have students gather in the meeting area.
Read Hard-To-Find Animals by Allen Fowler. This book has excellent photographs that show how animals’ coloring helps them to blend into their environments. It also explains the reason for this.
Write the word camouflage on chart paper.
Discuss with students the meaning of the word camouflage and stress how important it is for animals to be able to use it to protect themselves from danger.

Body

Explain to students that they will work with a partner to look through magazines to find a picture of two animals. One animal will be camouflaged and the other one will not be camouflaged.
Each student will be responsible for cutting out his or her own pictures and gluing them to a handout.
Underneath each picture students will write one sentence describing it.

Conclusion

When time is up, students will gather back in the meeting area.
Each student will share what they learned about camouflage and animals.
Students will be given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments.
LMS will summarize the lesson.
Students will be told that a class book will be made from all of their work.

Assessment:

- Pictures cut out by students will demonstrate their ability to identify camouflaged animals.

- Students' written sentences will demonstrate their understanding of the lesson task.

- Students' participation and excitement will demonstrate their confidence in learning information skills.

Supporting Files:

Lesson_8_Handout.doc
Lesson_8_Rubric.doc

Standards:

National Information Literacy Standards (K-12)

Accesses information efficiently and effectively.

Recognizes the need for information.
Develops and uses successful strategies for locating information.

Evaluates information critically and competently.

Selects information appropriate to the problem or question at hand.

Uses information accurately and creatively

Integrates new information into one's own knowledge.

Participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information.

Shares knowledge and information with others.
Subject: K-12: Science

National Content Standards (K-12)

Life Sciences

Understands relationships among organisms and their physical environment
Subject: K-12: Language Arts

Writing

Gathers and uses information for research purposes