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