Introduction:
The following activities are to be used in conjunction with the study of nocturnal animals. They will enhance not only the literature theme titled "In the Night Sky" in the 2.2 Harcourt-Brace series for second grade, but any science unit concerning animal life or a health unit involving eyes (i.e. eyesight in animals, night vision, parts and functions of the eye).
Students will learn:
•facts about common and unusual nocturnal animals
•types of nocturnal animal eyes
•the parts of the eye
•about echo location
•nocturnal animal sounds
•how zoologists study nocturnal animals
•to identify animal tracks
Students will learn the following Internet skills:
•locating a specific Internet site
•recognizing a "Home Page"
•using different ways to get to a "Home Page"
•scrolling up and down and sideways to find information
•using "back" and "forward" buttons
•using popup menus
•recognizing "hot spots"
•copying pictures to the desktop
•printing pictures or information
Overview of student activities:
Night Creatures
Student will view and learn about the "nocturnal eye". Students will also make a Venn diagram showing the ways that it is different from the human eye.
Things That Go Bump in the Night
Students will listen to sounds made by nocturnal animals and will use KidPix to create a slide show and record their own sounds to go with pictures of nocturnal animals. Students will read and look at pictures of animals, will print 4 pictures, and will group them in categories of nocturnal or not nocturnal.
Paw Print Pals
Students will try to identify animal tracks and print out your results.
Going Batty for Bats
Students will visit a bat cave, read bat facts, and choose a bat art project.
Bats-The Only Flying Mammal
Students will learn about echolocation and myths about bats. Students will also print an image of echolocation and illustrate four myths about bats.
Anatomy of a Bat
Students will learn the names and functions of the bat's body parts and will then take the picture into KidPix and label its parts.
BatQuest
Students will read about building a bat house. They will print out a bat word search and crossword puzzle, then go into KidPix and design a bat house of their own.
Poetry About Our Favorite Mammals
Students will read poems written by other students, then go to ClarisWorks and create their own poem. They will print out and glue to a bat bordered page.
Desert Bats
Students will learn about desert bats and will copy a picture and write about the bat in KidPix.
What Is a Slender Loris?
Students will learn about an unusual nocturnal animal and will draw and print out using KidPix.
Okefenokee Critter Center
Students will read about different reptiles, mammals and birds then determine which are nocturnal and which are not.
Picture Bank of Nocturnal Animals
Students will search three sites for pictures of nocturnal animals that to use in creating a slide show in KidPix or a nocturnal animal booklet.
Nocturnal Animal Quiz
Students will take a quiz about nocturnal animals and print out a certificate to show its completion.
Teacher Directions:
This group of activities can be used together or separately, in any order. Students can work independently, with partners or with a parent helper. Teachers can also use the activities as whole group lessons. Be sure to acquaint the students with the terminology used in the Internet directions. Students will need to know how to do simple word processing and how to use KidPix (drawings and creating a slide show). They should also know how to print from their computer. If you are using computers in your own classroom, it would be helpful to bookmark the sites so they can be returned to easily.
Supplies:
•KidPix (preferably with Slide Show)
•blue construction paper
•white construction paper
• doweling or straws for bat mobile
•black construction paper for bat mobile
• any paper for booklets