Introduction to Grade 1–2

Zoo Animals

001A
LESSON PLAN

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1 Objective: Students will develop a better understanding of the differences

LESSON PLANS
between zoo animals and animals that are not in the zoo.
Skills: compare and Introduction: Start the discussion by announcing, “Today we are going to
contrast zoo and domestic start studying zoo animals!”

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animals; identify and label

ZOO ANIMALS
zoo animals, classify, the Read: 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo and Dear Zoo as an introduction to the Zoo Animals
letter “Z” Unit. While reading the books, have students look carefully at the illustrations.
Preparation: word cards Procedure:
for 10 Zoo Animals Cutouts, 1. Ask students to name animals they are familiar with, and make a chart on the
and also the word “zoo.” board as they name each one. Classify the animal as either a zoo animal or
Most classrooms have a not. When you have a list of 10 or so, talk about the differences and
border display of the entire similarities between these two classifications. For instance, lions and the
alphabet to refer to during horses both have four legs and fur, but we would not try to ride a lion.
the year. This helps to teach 2. Speculate as to why zoos were created and how the animals got there.
the letter “Z.” 3. Use the worksheet on the next page for practicing writing the letter “z” and
Materials: poster paper, the word zoo.
writing materials,
construction paper Zoo Animals Learning Center: Collect lots of outdated natural history
magazines such as Audubon, Natural History, National Geographic, Smithsonian,
How to Make Books: For Discover, Falcon, and Ranger Rick; they are easy to find in second-hand
detailed instructions on how bookstores and thrift shops. They make wonderful sources of photographs that
to make a Zoo journal, see can be used as examples of animals and their habitats, and can be cut up to
Dinosaurs, Grade make collages and for other art activities. Leave these in the Zoo Animals
Preschool–K, Lesson 2, Learning Center.
and Dinosaurs, Grade 1–2,
Lesson 2; the shape could be Tip: Have a large, easy-to-read map of the world on display so that you can
a zoo animal (see Dinosaurs, point to where some zoo animals originally came from. An important point to
Lesson 7) and the Zoo teach is that animals are brought to zoos from all over the world.
journal could be used for *FACT FILES: Copy the Learning Page Fact Files and distribute with a
creative writing, spelling colored pocket folder. Give students time to organize, look them over, and
practice and drawing. decorate the covers of the folder. As an introduction to the Unit, take some
Resources: 1, 2, 3 to the time with the students to look at the Fact Files, page by page, reading the
Zoo, by Eric Carle; Dear Zoo, information slowly as they follow with their eyes and fingers.
by Rod Campbell
012

Name
008

Name
Words with Special
FACT FILE
•
FACT FILE

Flamingo
001

Name
Gorilla
•

•
FACT FILE

6 feet)
ALS
•

bird es
mammal meters (4. teriform
ALS

ZOO ANIM

female: 1.4 nds) Phoenicop feet)

Lion Group:
ZOO ANIM

Group: Primates ers (5.5 feet) (4

Meanings
•

mammal 50 pou Order: 1.2 meters 9 pounds

)
ALS

met s (300-4
Order: male: 1.6 05 kilogram (160-280 pou
nds) rams (5-
(4 feet) 2.2-4 kilog t eater (omnivore) ts
ZOO ANIM

a
Group: Carnivor 1.3 meters pou nds) Hei ght: mal e: 135-2 ram s Height:
lder 50 kilog : plan er plan
Order: to the shou (330-5 -127 Weight meat and cts and wat
kilograms Weight: female: 73 re) er: fish, inse
Height: 150-250 rnivore) r (herbivo ts Type of feed shellfish, lakes
plant eate s and frui and large

zoo: a place where wild ight : t eate r (ca gira ffe er: ts, stem Foo d: lago ons
We mea alo, Type of feed leaves, shoo t tail.
er: zebra, buff lives: s and a shor
Type of feed animals: Where it 1 or 2
Food: Africa s. of young: years k, large wing
Food: Africa . : l creature Number 35-45 a long nec one leg.
lives: t strength Where it lives g: 1 tle, peacefu e birds with d on
Where it 1 to 4 of its grea of youn but are gen resting. Lifespan: Pinkish-whiting they usually stan
of young: als” because itory. Number 50 years and fierce , eating and
16 years g of the anim big, strong ing for food Other fact
s: When rest

animals are kept for public

Number the terr
n: is kno wn as “kin the male protects Lifespan: Gorillas look t of their time look
Lifespa The lion ter; s: d mos
is the hun Other fact They spen
Other fact
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Name

Zz

001B•
LESSON PLANS
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Zoo zoo

ZOO ANIMALS
Z ZZZZZZ
Z Z Z Zo o
z zzzzzzzz
z z z z z zoo
SKILL: WRITE Zz, zoo

Zz Z z Z z Z z Z z
©2000 learningpage.com http://www.learningpage.com
 Grade 1–2
Zoo Animal Identification

002
LESSON PLAN

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LESSON PLANS
2 Objective: Students will be able to identify basic zoo animals by name and
choose one as their favorite and talk about it (list characteristics).
Skills: identify, describe Introduction: Review what students should have learned from Lesson 1.
and list

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Read: My Visit to the Zoo and If Anything Ever Goes Wrong at the Zoo.

ZOO ANIMALS
Preparation: Obtain tape,
cassette, or CD of Paul Procedure:
Simon’s song “At the Zoo,” 1. Have students go through their Fact File packets and raise their hands to
from the album Bookends. name a zoo animal; after saying it, write it on a precut piece of cardboard
Materials: materials to or oaktag.
make word cards, labels for 2. Then have students say the whole name, slowly; then write it down in their
animals on bulletin board Zoo journals or notebooks.
Tips: Zoo Animals Bulletin 3. Review animal names, and then have students match the animals’ name to the
Board: Before the Unit gets correct picture on the bulletin board; then give that animal its label (see
underway, prepare a Zoo below). This animal can now be their animal, a subject for further study,
Animals Bulletin Board using writing, and independent projects.
colored pictures from the 4. Play Paul Simon’s “At the Zoo” in the background, then actively listen to it and
magazines mentioned in talk about what he has to say about the zoo.
Lesson 1. Letter or print out
the animals’ names on the Conclusion: Go around the class and have each student say which animal
computer as labels. As the they have adopted, and at least one fact about it.
Unit progresses, replace the
Further Possibilities: Using the Fact Files and large index cards (5 x 7),
magazine photos with the
make flash cards listing a fact on one side and a picture and name of the
students’ artwork, so at the
animal on the other. Use these as a quick quiz transition between zoo topics or
end of the Unit your
lessons or to fill time if there is a lull in the day’s schedule.
classroom will have a totally
student-created display.
Resources: My Visit to the
Zoo, by Aliki; If Anything
Ever Goes Wrong at the Zoo,
by Mary Jean Hendrick;
Bookends, by Simon and
Garfunkel (audio)

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 Grade 1–2
Trip to the Zoo

003A
LESSON PLAN

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3 Objective: Students will do “hands-on” research and collect information

LESSON PLANS
on-site at the zoo.
Skills: cooperation, visual Introduction: Prepare the students for a few days in advance of the trip.
perception, collecting and Ask how many students have been to a zoo, either in this city or area, or

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organizing data, mapping another such as the San Diego Zoo or the Central Park Zoo.

ZOO ANIMALS
Preparation: A trip to the
Read: One or all of the books about going to the zoo mentioned at left.
local zoo would be a perfect
part of this Unit if at all Procedure:
possible. Find out in advance 1. Divide the class into groups, ideally with a parent or aide as a guide.
if your zoo has an education 2. Give each group an animal which will be their animal to learn about at the
department that may have zoo. Students should spend more time with that animal than others.
guides and instructional aids Encourage them to talk to the zookeepers and read all the information about
for teachers. that animal (or have the aide read it to them).
Materials: copies of the 3. Have students check off the animals as they see them from the Zoo Animals
Zoo Animals Inventory on Inventory.
the next page, camera and 4. After returning to class, have each group report on their experience and
film, plenty of water, hats, everything they learned about their animal.
pencils, and notebooks
5. Review the Zoo Animal Inventory; what animals did they see that are not on
Resources: Sammy the Seal the list? Add them to the list or on a separate sheet.
by Syd Hoff; Zoo Do’s and
Don’ts, by Todd Parr; The Conclusion: Students should be able to demonstrate what they remembered
Class Trip, by Grace from the zoo, liked and didn’t like, etc. by talking before the group, drawing a
MacCarone picture, or writing in their zoo journals (teachers can transcribe from dictation).

Further Possibilities:
1. Drawing: Have students draw their favorite zoo animals from the field trip.
2. Mapping: Have students work on the floor on large pieces of butcher paper
to make a map, or plan, of the zoo. They could also trace the route they took
on the field trip. Or they may draw a map of an imaginary zoo, complete
with animals.

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ZOO ANIMALS INVENTORY Name ___________________
■ Lion ■ Tiger

003B
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LESSON PLANS
■ Elephant ■ Flamingo

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ZOO ANIMALS
■ Zebra ■ Cockatoo

■ Giraffe ■ Walrus

■ Kangaroo ■ Sea Lion

■ Koala ■ Dolphin

■ Panda ■ Camel

■ Gorilla ■ Hippopotamus

■ Polar Bear ■ Rhinoceros

■ Penguin ■ Spider Monkey

 Grade 1–2
All Kinds of “Bears”

004A
LESSON PLAN

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4 Objective: Students will understand that there are different kinds of bears

LESSON PLANS
and that they live in different places and habitats far away from us; to
Skills: knowing different recognize the letter “B.”
kinds of bears, the letter
Introduction: Pass out the Fact Files for the Panda and Polar Bear. If
“B,” making comparisons

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possible, also have on hand a picture of a black or brown bear. The brown bear

ZOO ANIMALS
between similar things
is indigenous to the United States and is in many zoos. The teddy bear is
Preparation: world map fashioned after that bear, and is a bear image that young students will be
posted on the wall, Fact Files familiar with.
for Panda and Polar Bear, Look at the map and point out the areas where the different bears
and additional information come from (Africa, China, North America). Look at pictures of the three
on American brown and/or types of bears.
black bears, word and letter
Read: Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? As you read, talk about the
cards for “bear;” collect
polar bear in the book and all the things he heard.
recycled plastic bottles with
narrow squeeze-tops such as Procedure:
those used for mustard, 1. Ask for input on other kinds of bears students may have heard of.
ketchup, or plastic bear 2. Ask students for input on what is different and what is the same about
honey bottles. Premix the each bear.
“puff paints” in different
3. Pass out the bear patterns on the next page and have students pick one bear
colors and pour into squeeze
of the three. Trace one bear onto oaktag or other heavy paper.
bottles.
4. Demonstrate how to use the puff paints to paint and decorate their bears.
Puff Paint Recipe: Suggest that it’s like putting the icing on cookies!
Mix 1 cup flour to 1 cup salt,
add 1 cup water. Divide the
Conclusion: Review the letter “B” and how to spell bear; use the worksheet
on the following page to practice writing “B” and “bear.”
mixture into bowls and color
each one with dry tempera Further Possibilities: After talking about where different bears come
paint. Be sure to have from, look at some of the other Fact Files and read together to see where other
“beary” colors: brown, zoo animals come from. Refer back to Lesson 4.
black, white (or pale yellow), Collect all the bears in the class and decorate a bulletin board or make
red, yellow, and green. a bear mobile!
Resources: Polar Bear, Fun Facts about Bears: Pandas are not actually in the bear family, but
Polar Bear, What Do You more closely related to the raccoon. There are fewer than 300 wild pandas left
Hear?, by Eric Carle; Bear By in the small region in southwestern China where they come from.
Himself, by Geoffrey Hayes;
Polar Mammals, by Larry
Dane Brimner; Klondike &
Snow: The Denver Zoo's
Remarkable Story of Raising
Two Polar Bear Cubs, by
David Kenny
Funsheets: Grade 1,
Science 7; Grade 2, Science 8
©2000 learningpage.com http://www.learningpage.com
 Grade 1–2

004B
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LESSON PLANS
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polar bear

ZOO ANIMALS

brown bear

panda bear
Name

Bb

LESSON PLANS • 004C

Bear bear

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ZOO ANIMALS
BBBBB
B B B Bear
b bbbbbb
b b b b b ear
SKILL: WRITE Bb, bear

Bb B b B b B b
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 Grade 1–2
Tigers and Other Big Cats

005
LESSON PLAN

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LESSON PLANS
5 Objective: Students become familiar with one family of zoo animals; to see
the cat family as a group and to see the differences between cats.
Skills: visual perception Introduction: Ask for volunteers to come to the front of the room and guess
and imagining, awareness of what is in the bag. After each one, write their guesses on the board. This can be

•
ZOO ANIMALS
camouflage a fun and silly activity with lots of giggling and oohs and aahs.
Preparation: buy scraps of Tell students, “We are about to study another family of zoo animals—the
several different fake “furs” cats.” Write on the board: Family: Feline, and explain that the Feline family
from a fabric store; place includes all cats, even the cats students might have at home as pets. ”Did you
them in a large deep brown know that your little cat is related to the big cats in the zoo?”
paper bag; pre-cut the big There are all kinds of big cats in the zoo. “Who can name some?” (Tigers,
cat shapes (tiger, ocelot, and lions, ocelots, cheetahs, pumas, and leopards.) They may also name some cats
leopards are good) you have that are not in the zoo: domestic cats, wild cats, etc.
drawn on butcher paper. Read: Put Me in the Zoo and Counting Leopard's Spots
Tip: Cats in the Zoo (The
New Zoo), by Roland Smith, Procedure:
is for older children but 1. Tape the big cat shapes to the wall or work on the newspaper-covered floor.
brings up the issues and 2. Using 1 finger, 2 fingers, 1 brush or 2, rags, or Q-tips have students take
benefits of captivity. turns painting one cat with stripes and one with spots.
Resources: Put Me in the Conclusion: Wild animal prints are popular patterns for clothing, furniture,
Zoo, by Robert Lopshire; and other commercially made products. While viewing the final striping and
What Color is Camouflage?, spotting of the cats, brainstorm other uses for these stripes and spots patterns:
by Carolyn Otto; How to wallpaper, bookcovers, wrapping paper, cards, etc.
Hide a Polar Bear and Other
Mammals, by Ruth Heller; Further Possibilities: Listen to the audio tape or read How the Leopard
How Many Spots Does a Got His Spots.
Leopard Have?, by Julius Tip: My favorite mnemonic device to remember the word “feline” for the cat
Lester; Counting Leopard's family is just to think of the word “lion,” as in (fe)lion!
Spots: And Other Animal
Stories by Hiawyn Oram;
How the Leopard Got His
Spots and Other Just So
Stories, by Rudyard Kipling;
How the Leopard Got His
Spots, read by Danny Glover
(audio)
Words with Special
Meanings
camouflage: characteristic
that helps an animal hide,
protect itself, and be safe
Funsheets: Grade 2,
Science 10
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 Grade 1–2
Zoo Animals From Africa
and Asia

006A
LESSON PLAN

•
6 Objective: Students will understand that many zoo animals come from

LESSON PLANS
distant countries; to learn about three animals indigenous to Africa and Asia.
Skills: awareness of world Introduction: Point out Africa and Asia on the world map. Show pictures
geography, habitats, reading from magazines and books of likely habitats of those areas: jungle, savanna,

•
maps desert, rivers. Talk about the countries, people, and climate of these places.

ZOO ANIMALS
Preparation: Collect Read: Jungle Jack Hanna’s Safari Adventure
world map, pictures from
magazines and books Procedure:
showing jungle, savanna, 1. Brainstorm a list of animals that come from Africa: elephant (note differences
river, and desert habitats. between African elephants and Asian elephants), hippopotamus, zebra,
camel, cheetah, rhinoceros, lion, giraffe, etc.; then Asia: panda, Siberian tiger,
Resources: Jungle Jack Indian elephant.
Hanna’s Safari Adventure, by 2. Present the above names as word scramble (see next page) and then have
Jack Hanna; African Animals, the students rewrite and sort them into two columns: Africa and Asia.
by Caroline Arnold; African
3. Have students use the Fact Files to gain more information about these two
Animal Giants, by James
groups of animals.
Dietz
Funsheets: Grade 2, Further Possibilities: If the kangaroo is mentioned on the brainstorming
Science 1; list, use it as the opportunity to add Australia to the list of faraway places that
zoo animals come from. Also from Australia: cockatoo, emu, and koala (often
called a koala bear but not really a bear).

©2000 learningpage.com http://www.learningpage.com

 African and Asian Zoo Animal Scramble
Unscramble the following zoo animal names and then sort them into
animals from Asia and animals from Africa.

006B
HEELPANT_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

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LESSON PLANS
OUPAHIMPTSOP

•
____________

ZOO ANIMALS
RBAEZ _ _ _ _ _
LGLRIAO _ _ _ _ _ _ _
CLEAM _ _ _ _ _
THEACHE _ _ _ _ _ _ _
CHORIORNES _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
NIOL _ _ _ _
RIFFAGE _ _ _ _ _ _ _
ADNAP _ _ _ _ _
LABENG GIRTE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
DINNIA TENPHALE
______ ________
©2000 learningpage.com http://www.learningpage.com
 “If I Ran the Zoo” Grade 1–2

007
LESSON PLAN

•
LESSON PLANS
Objective: Students will develop an awareness of work and understanding of
7 the responsibilities of the zookeeper.

Skills: using imagination, Introduction: Introduce the book, If I Ran the Zoo, by mentioning Dr. Seuss,
think about work (careers) an author they are probably all familiar with. (Dr. Seuss’s father was a zookeeper.)

•
This is a whimsical look at keeping a zoo but gets them thinking about the

ZOO ANIMALS
Preparation: Get a white zookeeper as an important part of the zoo.
painter’s hat (inexpensive, at
paint-supply stores) and Read: If I Ran the Zoo, wearing the zookeeper’s cap.
letter the word “zookeeper”
across the front of it; if
Procedure:
budget allows, purchase one 1. After you are finished reading the book, ask students to list the different jobs
for each student and follow done by people who work at the zoo (veterinarian, groundskeeper, guards,
up the activity with a cap- person who sells tickets, person who runs the snack bar, etc.).
making workshop. 2. If it is possible to have caps for the entire class, have students letter the word
zookeeper on their caps with an indelible fabric marker; then, take turns or
Materials: drawing go around in a circle and have each student make a statement that begins
materials; plasticine clay and with: “If I ran the zoo . . .” It would be fun to videotape the readings and
various found materials play the tape back at the end of the Unit, especially if you celebrated with
a theme party.
Resources: If I Ran the Zoo,
by Dr. Seuss; Jungle Jack 3. Have students draw a picture illustrating a zookeeper at work.
Hanna's What ZooKeepers 4. A self-portrait of themselves if they ran the zoo.
Do, by Jack Hanna; Feed the 5. An imaginary animal of their own making.
Animals, H. A. Rey; The Tiger
Has a Toothache: Helping Conclusion: After everyone has finished, or the next day, display the drawings
Animals at the Zoo, by from #3 and #4 on the board and brainstorm funny names for all these creatures.
Patricia Lauber Write the names on a paper label as the students invent them.
Further Possibilities: For a more serious look at the occupation of
Words with Special
zookeeper, offer to read some of the other books from the Learning Center. Ask
Meanings
if anyone would want to be a zookeeper when he or she grows up.
veterinarian: a medical
Using plasticine clay and other materials (paper, yarn, wire, sticks, feathers,
doctor who specializes in the
wiggly eyes, etc.) have students take their drawings one step further and create
prevention and treatment of
a fanciful animal of their own for their make-believe zoo.
diseases and injuries in
animals
Funsheets: Grade 1,
Science 5

©2000 learningpage.com http://www.learningpage.com

 Grade 1–2
The Zoo Is for the Birds!

008
LESSON PLAN

•
LESSON PLANS
8 Objective: Students will be able to name 3 birds that live in the zoo and tell
a fact about each one.
Skills: classification, Introduction: Ask the class to name some characteristics of the animal
following directions, creating group called “birds.” List them on the board.

•
ZOO ANIMALS
a habitat Talk about the birds you have seen in the zoo, elsewhere, or in your reading
so far: parrot, ostrich, peacock, hummingbird, toucan, eagle, owl. (Flamingo,
Preparation: Gather
penguin, cockatoo, and penguin are represented in the Fact Files). “How are
various recycled materials:
birds contained in zoos? What are their cages made of? How are bird
shoe boxes, round oatmeal
enclosures different than other animals’? What kinds of things are inside their
and salt containers, small
cages?” Note that the penguin’s habitat is the Arctic and would not be in the
cardboard boxes, paper milk
same area as the other birds.
containers and fruit baskets
for making an aviary or Read: One of the books about birds in the zoo.
cage; straws, sticks,
cardboard, black yarn for Procedure:
bars, aviary wire and 1. Drawing from their reading, have students draw and color several birds, and
netting; have zoo mural then cut them out. See Grade Preschool–K, Lesson 8 for bird pictures to use.
materials ready for coloring 2. Look at the mural and decide where the different bird’s habitats will be
and assembly. Enlarge the located, and which birds can be grouped together. Design and draw what is
flamingo illustration in the needed to create a habitat for the different kinds of birds.
Fact Files and copy for the
whole class. Further Possibilities:
1. Demonstrate how to mix red and white tempera paints to make pink, and
Tip: coloring and paint the flamingo outline.
constructing the mural can 2. Use the pink paint to make thumbprint flamingos (see Insects, Grade 1,
take some time and works Lesson 6); fill a sheet of paper with a whole flock of pink flamingos (say that
better if planned as an three times fast!) When the paint is dry, add long legs, beaks, and wing
activity over several days or details with a black pencil, crayon, or marker.
a week. 3. Note about the Mural: This mural represents the latest trends in zoo
Resources: Edward the environments where the animals are contained in areas protected by natural-
Emu, by Sheena Knowles; looking rock, ravines, and vegetation. Students may add enclosures,
Antarctic Antics: A Book of traditional cages, or buildings to complete their zoo, especially if creating
Penguin Poems, by Judy a habitat for birds.
Sierra; If Anything Ever Goes
Wrong at the Zoo, by Mary
Jean Hendrick
Words with Special
Meanings
aviary: a large cage or
building for keeping many
birds
Funsheets: Grade 1,
Language 6, Math 3
©2000 learningpage.com http://www.learningpage.com
 Zoo Babies and Families Grade 1–2

009
LESSON PLAN

•
LESSON PLANS
Objective: Students will become aware of families in the animal kingdom, and
9 of their own families as well.
Skills: grouping, life cycles, Introduction: Define family. Talk about families in the context of what you
counting have read so far in the Unit. “Do you notice that animals have families just like

•
we do?” Talk about different family groups and the odd names for them. Copy

ZOO ANIMALS
Preparation: Download the
the far left column below onto a large sheet of butcher paper on the board; add
activity sheets that feature
the ones from the family group column as you talk about each one. Do the same
mothers and babies, and
with the 2 columns on the right on another day after another story about baby
families; or if the class has
animals.
already completed these,
review them with the class. Words with Special Meanings
Tear out several pictures of Animal Family Group Animal Baby name
various animals from the flamingos flock gorilla, chimp, baboon baby
magazines mentioned in lions pride giraffe, camel, hippo, rhino calf
Lesson 1. leopards leap large cats, all bears cub
Materials: magazines with goats trip kangaroo, koala joey
color photos that can be cut baboons troop zebra, horse, donkey foal
up, paste, drawing papers kangaroos mob coyote, otter pup
and materials puppies litter lynx, ocelot kitten
Resources: Animals Born kittens kindle sheep lamb
Alive and Well, by Ruth geese gaggle beaver, fox, raccoon, skunk kit
Heller; Mother and Baby Zoo
Animals, by Caroline Arnold; Read: One of the books mentioned at left.
Does a Kangaroo Have a Procedure:
Mother, Too?, by Eric Carle;
1. Have students choose one animal and draw that family’s portrait, in their
Wild Babies, by Seymour
natural habitat.
Simon
2. Or, use a cut-out photo as a starting point for a drawing. Have students cut the
Funsheets: Grade 2, Math animal closely, paste it in the center of a sheet of white paper, then add baby
2, 8, 14; Language 3 animals, young animals, mommy and daddy animals, whatever is appropriate to
create a family. The color and other characteristics of the animal in the photo
will inspire them in their drawings.
3. When students are close to finishing their family portraits, have them count the
members and write the number on their picture.
Further Possibilities:
1. Have students draw their own family self portrait,
including pets and extended family members.
2. Create a birth announcement to announce the birth
of a baby African animal. Post all birth
announcements out in the hall.

©2000 learningpage.com http://www.learningpage.com

 The Mammal Group Grade 1–2

010
LESSON PLAN

•
LESSON PLANS
Objective: Students will be able to identify a mammal and to list
10 3 characteristics of each one.
Skills: recognize a group, Introduction: “As a review of all the activities we’ve done in this Unit, we will
name an animal based on be talking about mammals today. Does anyone know what a mammal is?”

•
characteristics

ZOO ANIMALS
Read: One or more of the mammals books mentioned at left or any others from
Preparation: Using the Fact other lessons.
Files for Zoo Animals, Insects
and Oceans, prepare at least Procedure:
12 simple flash cards, 1. Review the characteristics of mammals: they have hair or fur; they have 2 or 4
featuring half mammals and legs; their babies are born live. (Discuss difference between “egg laying” and
half animals from other “live bearing.”)
groups. 2. Students will be able to identify which animal is a mammal when shown two
animal pictures. “Why is or is it not a mammal?”
Resources: Whales,
3. Teacher will read a characteristic from a mammal Fact File from previous
Panthers, Rats and Bats, by
activity (such as zebra, giraffe, or bear). Students will take turns identifying
Gallinard Jeunesse; Polar
which mammal the fact describes.
Mammals, by Larry Dane
Brimmer; Animals Born Alive 4. When a student guesses correctly, ask him or her to add another fact about
and Well, by Ruth Heller. that animal.
5. Students will draw a picture of their favorite mammal and describe it to
Words with Special the class.
Meanings
mammal: family of animals Conclusion: All students should be able to explain why an animal is a mammal.
that are warm-blooded, have
hair, a backbone, bear their
babies live, and feed them
with milk
Funsheets: Grade 1,
Science 2–4, 6; Grade 2,
Science 9,

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 Grade 1–2
Stick Your Neck Out

011A
LESSON PLAN

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11 Objective: Students will learn about special features of the giraffe and be

LESSON PLANS
able to color a giraffe pattern to make a book mark.
Skills: tallest, shortest; Introduction: Looking through the Fact Files, ask, “Who can guess which
following directions zoo animal is the tallest?”

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ZOO ANIMALS
Preparation: Make copies Read: One or more of the giraffe books mentioned at left.
of the attached bookmark
pattern sheet, preferably on Procedure:
heavy paper. 1. Talk about the obvious characteristics of the giraffe; ask students for ideas
and input. Then add some of your own (the giraffe has 7 vertebrae in its
Materials: bookmark neck just like other mammals, for example). Remind students that the giraffe
pattern, yarn, paper punch, is another member of the mammal family, and that it lives in Africa. Point to
school paste, laminating Africa on classroom map; if the world map has been used before to talk
materials about animals’ habitats [Lesson 1] have student volunteers point to Africa.
Tip: Studying giraffes offers 2. Pass out the giraffe bookmarks sheet on the next page. Ask the students to
lots of opportunities to color spots on the giraffes, and to use their imaginations. Students do not
classify animals according to need to stick to the traditional colors and spot shapes, for example. Be sure
height. These comparisons students write their names on the bookmarks.
and contrasts could be 3. After bookmarks are colored, ask students to cut them out carefully. Students
recorded on a bar chart. then can paste them together so the bookmark will be two-sided. This task
might need some teacher assistance. Use paste sparingly as bookmarks will
Resources: The Giraffe be laminated later.
(Animal Close-Ups), by
Christine Denis-Huot; Conclusion: Laminate the bookmarks after class and cut them roughly apart.
Clarence the Talking Giraffe, Students can then trim them close to the edge or you may precut them.
by Justin Case; Giraffe Use the hole punch to make a hole where indicated, and
Trouble, by Jean Craighead have lots of colored yarns available for students to string
George through the hole and tie into a knot or loop. While they are
working, casually review the giraffe facts that the class learned.
Funsheets: Grade 1, Display the giraffe book marks in the Zoo Animals Learning Center.
Language 9; Math 8,
Grade 2, Science 4 Fun Facts about Giraffes: Some giraffes weigh up to
4000 pounds—that’s 2 tons! Male giraffes are called bulls,
and the females are called cows. A giraffe’s tongue can
measure 18 inches long. Both male and female
giraffes have horns.

gira
ffe

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 011B
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LESSON PLANS
Zoo Animals
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ZOO ANIMALS
Zoo Animals

giraffe
giraffe
Name
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