Coming Soon: National Wildlife Week
National Wildlife Week, an event sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation, is March 9-15.
Prep your students for a week of awareness about wildlife using the book Lifetimes.
The book presents 24 “lifetimes.” Beginning with “A lifetime for a mayfly is about one day” and including a lifetime for an earthworm is about six years, for a giant sequoia is about 2,000 years, and for the universe is about 15 to 20 billion years.
LESSON PLAN: Same/Different
After reading about chimpanzees, students list similarities and differences between chimps and humans. They then expand the concept to other objects, both natural and man-made.
Suggested Grade Level: K-3
Materials:
- The book, Lifetimes, written by teacher David Rice
- Paper and pencil for each student
Procedure:
- Read aloud Lifetimes. Then read again the page about chimpanzees.
- As a class, list the characteristics of chimps based on the information in the book. Add information they may know from other sources. Then list some of the characteristics of humans.
- Using the lists as a starting point, ask students to identify similarities between chimps and humans by making statements that begin with the word “both.” For example: Both chimps and humans can learn to use tools. Both have forward facing eyes. Both are carried by their mothers when they are young.
- Have students state differences following these examples: A chimp usually sleeps in a tree, and a human usually sleeps in a bed. A chimp doesn’t wear clothes, and a human usually wears some type of clothing.
- After compiling a long list, divide the class into small groups of 3-5 students and have them list similarities and differences for the “Other Pairs” (below). After about 15 minutes, have students choose their best ideas and share them with the whole class.
Other Pairs: submarine-fish, window-mirror, blade of grass-fully grown tree, sun-lamp, hand-foot, sky-ocean, orange-apple, lake-puddle, flashlight-candle, table-chair
Extension:
Each plant or animal in the book is practically a lesson plan in itself, with “tell about it,” “think about it,” and “look it up” challenges.
Common Core ELA Standards (K-3)
Reading Informational Text: Key Ideas and Details: K.1, 1.1, 2.1, 3.1; K.3, 1.3, 2.3, 3.3
Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration: K.1, 1.1, 2.1, 3.1
Next Generation Science Standards (DCI)
Life Sciences:
LS1.A: Structure and Function
LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms
Ls1.C: Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms
LS1.D: Information Processing
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