Hierarchies (Nature, Society)

This is aimed more for the upper grades, but it could also have some fantastic utility for the lower grades as well. I've always found hierarchies fascinating and difficult to piece together in my mind. The following website below is great, because it puts hierarchies you didn't even know existed into a visual form, along with extensive explanations. This can be great to help your students understand the way hierarchies are built in society and nature. Here are a few samples from the website:

• African Animal Hierarchy: 

• Los Angeles Police Department Hierarchy:

The website is:

           http://www.hierarchystructure.com/

What is Wild About Me?

Students get creative while creating "wild" images using the Build Your Wild Self web site from the NY Zoo and Aquarium. The writing part of this project makes students think creatively and makes them think of the characteristics of animals they already know. The website can also be used as a reference to learn more about animals and find out what new skills they would have with their new animal parts. 

For this project, save the picture to your desktop and copy it into a Google Doc, make a poster on Google Drawings or Google Slides document to add the writing piece.

Fun with Animal Reports

Students will LOVE adding a new step to their animal reports!  Have the students put themselves in the animals shoes by using Blabberize on the computer or a free app called FaceTalker in the iPad.  The students do research on an animal, as usual, finding all of the important details and facts that are required.  From there, they create a script as if they are the animal telling the world all about how they live.  This is when Blabberize and/or FaceTalker come into play.  Before using either application, the students will want to find a front-facing picture of the animal with his mouth closed and have it available on their computer or iPad.

If you use Blabberize on the computer, the teacher will want to create one account, and all students will use this account to complete their work.  This way, the reports will all be in one place and easy to locate. Click the words below to watch this short tutorial on how to use Blabberize.

Blabberize Tutorial

If you have an iPad or iPads in your classroom, FaceTalker will take you through the steps of adding your picture, your mouth placement and recording.  Then you will export the report to the Photo Gallery on the iPad for easy viewing.

Here is an example of a FaceTalk movie.

SwitcherooZoo

Switch Zoo Make New Animals:

Switcheroo Zoo has fun interactive games and activities such as “Make New Animals” where students can create their own animal combinations, “Build an Online Habitat” where students choose animals and match them to the correct environment, “Switch Zoo Puzzles”, “Where do I Live” where students help return rescued animals to their homes, “Sound Match” where students match the animal song to the correct animal, “Meerkat Grab-a-Snack” where students help feed a Meerkat by catching food, and “Catch the Moment” where students take ‘pictures’ of wildlife.