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| Dallas Zoological Society Partnership : Elementary Warm Blooded Animals |
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Topic Overview
Quick Facts
Most fish cannot swim backwards, but some can,
such as the eel.
Most fish swim in a horizontal position. The
only fish that can swim in vertical motion is the sea horse.
There are approximately 25 thousand known kinds
of fish.
The largest fish is the whale shark which grows
to more than 50 feet
and may weigh several tons.
The smallest fish is the goby and reaches only
half an inch long in adulthood.
The longevity span is wide; some smaller reef
fishes live only a few weeks, while other fish can live up to 50 years.
The word amphibian comes from the Greek word
amphibiaon, which means both water and land.
98% of the original 5.2 million kilometers of
streams in the continental United States
have been seriously affected by habitat invasion and/or destruction, causing a
drastic decline in amphibian populations.
There has been a 50% loss of the everglades
ecosystem by the early 1990s, furthering the decline of many species of
amphibians.
There are 8,240 species of reptiles in the
world, inhabiting every continent except Antarctica.
Only a few hundred of the world's 3,000 snakes
are venomous. In the United States,
only rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, and coral snakes are poisonous.
More Americans die each year from bee and wasp stings than from snake bites.
Some turtles and tortoises, including the
Eastern Box Turtle, can live for more than a century.
Komodo Dragons of Indonesia reach up to 10 feet in length, and can weigh 350 lbs.
Begin the Lesson
Fish, amphibians, and reptiles are three kingdoms of animals
that are each very unique. Body structures, behavior patterns, and lifestyles
range widely. These animals are keenly adept at adaptation. Development of fish
and amphibians is particularly fascinating with their complete physical
changes.
Whole Class Introduction to the
Lesson
You will need at least one
computer with Internet connectivity and a projection device, a classroom with
more than one computer, or access to a computer lab.� This introduction will take approximately 10
minutes to complete.
Introduce students to
the module by visiting the videos, “Funky Fish” http://www.ocean.com/mplayer/?ResourceID=101&page=9&URL=http%3A%2F%
�and
“PBS Nature: Snakes” http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/reptiles/media_players_green/snakes_lo.html.
Sample Questions:
Ask students what they know about fish,
amphibians, and reptiles.
Ask students to describe some of the animals
they saw, and how they are alike and different.
Ask students what questions they might have
about fish, amphibians, or reptiles, post these questions on a board for other
students to see. As students progress through the module, encourage them to
find the answers to these questions.
As part of the introduction, you
may want to review some of the glossary terms in advance of students going
online. At this point you can launch the WebLesson as whole-class activity
using a projection device, or you can assign students to work individually or
in teams in a computer lab.
WebLesson Sites
Introduction Have you ever owned a dog, a cat, a parrot, or a hamster? While these birds and mammals may join our families, there are thousands of bird and mammal species that would not do very well living in our homes.
There are more than 10,000 species of birds in the world. Each type of bird is very different from the next. They vary in the way that they fly together (flock), eat, nest, and move from place to place. They have wings to fly but also can walk on land and some can even swim in the water. Mammals have the smallest number of species of the Animal Kingdom. They are just as interesting and unique. They are warm-blooded, have hairy bodies, and are able to nurse their young. Humans are the most intelligent of all mammals. Scenario As you take a walk around, you see many birds and mammals. You listen to the songs made by birds and various squeaks, scratches, and peeps made by wild mammals. You want to tell your friends about the various animals you saw, but first, you must learn more about birds and mammals.
Lesson Pages
All about Mammals
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/
The Great Koala Rescue
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids/0503/funfacts.html#content Rich Media
Conclusion & Project
Conclusion As you walk outside, look around. Listen. What do you see? What do you hear? You might hear the chirping of a robin, the skittering of a squirrel, the bark of a dog, or even the quick of a duck. It seems like birds and mammals are everywhere we go. However, birds and mammals are the smallest groups of animals in the animal kingdom.
Some animals, such as the white-tailed deer, brown bear, and sea otter live in just about any local zoo. Other animals, such as the koala, kangaroo, kingfisher, and the wallaby live only in other parts of the world far away. More and more construction cuts down on many of the habitats in which birds and mammals live in the wild. This has caused many species to become endangered. We need to all work together to preserve the environment for all animals to live. Project Write a short story about all of the different birds and mammals that you have seen in your neighborhood or around school. Be sure to include at least three birds and three mammals.
Glossary
warm blooded - animals whose blood temerature stays the same at all times
thermal - helps to keep an animal warm like the feathers on a bird
molt - to shed feathers, skin, horns, before new growth
preen - birds secrete an oil from their skin and then rub it over thier feathers to protect them
shaft - the stem of a feather; the hollow tube that holds the feathers together and in place
extinct - an animal that no longer lives
endangered species - an animal that is in danger of disappearing forever
populate - to put animals in a location
carnivore - animal that eats only other animals
herbivore - animal that eats only plants
marsupial - mammals that have a pouch which is where babies are fed and grow
omnivore - animal that eats both plants and animals
marine - the sea or ocean
pride - a large group of company of lions
joey - baby or young marsupial such as a kangaroo
tranquilizer - drug that is used to reduce stress or anxiety
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