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Educators' Science and Mathematics Institute Series
Winter Ecology Lesson Plan
Descriptive Title: Do the Locomotion with Me
Submitted By: Val Preston
Subject and Grade Level: 4th grade
Overview/Purpose:
To learn different ways in which four-footed animals move
Introduce methods of animal tracing and the reasons behind variations in patterns
Objectives (Learner Outcomes):
Students will: measure length of stride and straddle, observe winter tracks
Activities and Procedures:
Read: In the Snow Who's Been Here?
Discuss animals signs in book
What signs would they see in their local are? (tracks)
Introduce type of locomotion
Paint bottom of foot and have students run, walk, hop, on long roll of paper
Study the distance between prints and their relative location, relate these to each method of locomotion
How would animals with four legs move vs. our bipedal movement?
Introduce 5 basic methods of locomotion: 2 types of walking, pacing, diagonal trotting, bounding, galloping
Have child demonstrate each (not galloping)-chart, paper
Relate how these methods of locomotion result in different foot (track) placement and distance between each track: Pattern
Use to distinguish between similar patterns
Stride (measure from center of print to center of next print or sets of prints * how does this vary w/ speed?
Straddle(measure of width of trail~outer edge of 1 print to outer edge of next
Show examples of each~ (see half penny & stokes)
Students label/classify different track patterns into: galloping, bounding, walking, pacing, diagonal, waddling, trotting
Discuss reasons for differences in each
Closure:
Outdoor track walk-in the snow
Why were they moving? Looking for food, shelter, mate
Cast prints for further study--# of toes/claws and no claws, tail dragging (i.e. tie in to which animals are active during the winter further discussion where are the rest?)
Assessment Strategies:
Students create their own pattern using for each type of movement bingo daubers
Resources:
Peterson Field Guide for Tracks
Field Guide to Mammal Tracking-Halfpenny
Stokes Guide to Nature in Winter
Standards Addressed:
Use scientific knowledge from the Life Sciences in Real-World Contexts, Content Standard #4
Math (geometry and measurement), Content Standard #2
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