Title:
Type:
Subject:
Grade
Range:
Description
:
Duration:
Author(s):
2+ Hours
Anthy Baracos
Summary/Overview
The zoo is in a BIG MESS! The animals plan to escape has failed. Now
the zookeeper, who bumped his head during the animal escape, needs
your help to help finding a way to place the animals back to their
original habitat. The focus of this lesson is to creatively identify and
solve different ways that the animals can be grouped.
Enduring Understanding(s)
At the end of the lesson the student will understand
a. Although animals are living things, there are differences in
observable features between them.
b. Animals are living organisms.
Essential Question(s)
How are animals alike and different?
Concept(s) to Maintain
Evidence of Learning
What students should know:
Animals are living things.
There are differences between animals based on these
observable features.
Different types of animals may look similar to each other;
they are also different in certain attributes.
There are reasons why some animals may look similar buy
yet they are different.
Animals have differences and similarities in appearance,
motion, growth and basic needs.
Habitat
Shelter
Movement
Survive
Size
Motion
Appearance
Alike
Different
Birds
Reptiles
Mammals
Insects
Procedure(s)
Phase 1: Hook
1. Students will participate in a Guided Imagery Exercise. Students will
record and discuss feelings that result from guided imagery.
Phase 2: Examine the Content
2. MESS: Distribute the Mess At the Zoo. Students will read the
Mess individually and/or follow along as the teacher reads.
3. Students will work in small groups to list all the facts and opinions
obtained from the reading. Each group will generate a list of
unanswered questions to research for homework and/or in the media
center.
Phase 3: Creative Problem Solving
4.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Each group will develop a product (persuasive letter, flow chart, speech,
song, etc.) for sharing the solution with A Mess at the Zoo. Students
may use the Think-Tac-Toe as an option.
Summarizing Activity
Shapely Debrief
In regards to The Mess At the Zoo
Something I learned that squares with my understanding of animals
Three Points to remember
One question that I still have
Resource(s):
Anchor Text(s):
Technology:
Websites and multiple resources for research for a variety of reading
level.