Animal Study: From Fiction to Facts

Materials and Technology

Student Interactives

Printouts

Websites

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

• Chart paper and markers
  
  
• Parent or other adult helpers
  
  
• A set of books including both fiction and nonfiction texts featuring the same animal. The specific animal and books chosen will depend on availability and should reflect student interests. Examples of text sets are available. As presented, the lesson uses the following three books:
  
  
  • Two Bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg (fiction)
    
    
  • One Hundred Hungry Ants by Bonnie MacKain (fiction)
    
    
  • Armies of Ants by Walter Retan (nonfiction)
    
    
  • Alternatively, students can create the text sets by doing a book sorting activity and one animal can be chosen for whole class study.

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STUDENT INTERACTIVES

Grades   3 – 6  |  Student Interactive  |  Inquiry & Analysis

Animal Inquiry

Supporting inquiry-based research projects, the Animal Inquiry interactive invites elementary students to explore animal facts and habitats using writing prompts to guide and record their findings.

 

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PRINTOUTS

• Animal Study Recording Sheet

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WEBSITES

• Internet Quest: Ants!
• Internet Quest: Black Bears!
• Internet Quest: Fish!
• Internet Quest: Frogs and Toads!
• Internet Quest: Penguins!
• Internet Quest: Polar Bears!
• The Ant Colony Cycle
• Ants
• Antcam
• Animal Planet
• ALA’s Great Websites for Kids
• WWF
• Smithsonian National Zoological Park

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PREPARATION

• Gather the fiction and nonfiction books for the project. See the booklist for suggested titles.
  
  
• Prepare two charts, one headed with "What We Think About Ants" and the other "What We Know About Ants" (or customized for the animal that you've chosen.
  
  
• Test the Animal Study interactive graphic organizer and the Internet Quest: Ants! interactive on your computers to familiarize yourself with the tools and ensure that you have the Flash plug-in installed. You can download the plug-in from the technical support page.
  
  
• Arrange for adult helpers (or older students) to help your students explore the Internet sites. If you choose to use the Internet Quest: Ants! interactive, demonstrate the tool to your helpers before they use it with students.

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