DESCRIPTION:  Students will learn about the animals at the Environmental Centre, visit with them, and share what they have discovered with their classmates.  THIS LESSON MUST BE EXPLAINED BY OUTDOOR SCHOOL STAFF!  Our animals are fragile and some are expert escape artists (especially Emily the donkey). 

OBJECTIVES: Students will be able to

• Practice appropriate behaviour around the animals
• Explain the characteristics related to the various classes of animals
• Define Omnivore, Carnivore, Herbivore and Insectivore
• Define Nocturnal and Diurnal
• Discuss adaptations for all of the animals at the E.C.

AREA OF ACTIVITY: in and around the Environmental Centre

MATERIALS PROVIDED: Animal Information Sheets, Clipboards, Writing Utensils and Animal Introductions Worksheets, animals!

PROCEDURES:    INTRODUCTION (10 minutes)

Meet the children outside the front door of the E.C.  Go over our expectations of appropriate behaviour when around animals.

• Hands and fingers stay out of the cages. Most of these animals will bite when given the opportunity.
• No feeding the animals unless given specific permission to do so by the CSC staff.
• Keep your voice down.  Loud noises can cause the animals to get stressed and frightened.
• Wash your hands before you leave.  Sing ―Happy Birthday‖ twice while lathering the soap.

Once the expectations are clear, let the students into the E.C. and give them 5 minutes to look around.

CENTERED ACTIVITY (20 minutes)

Have the students sit on the floor while you pass out a clipboard to each child or pairs of children.  The clipboard should contain a copy of the Animal Introduction Worksheet and an Info sheet for one of the animals.

Have the students look over the worksheet and go over definitions with the group before sending them off to the animal listed on their info sheet.

Using the info sheet and their own skills of observation, have the students fill out their worksheet.  With any extra time students may clean and refill food and water containers for their specific animal at CSC Staff’s discretion and with CSC Staff supervision.

When all worksheets are completed, have the children sit in a circle (with their clipboards) so as to become a fenced in area that the animals can walk around in.  If they are uncomfortable with a particular animal coming near them, they can use their clipboard as an extra barrier in front of their legs.

VISITING TIME (20 minutes) 

As you bring an animal into the circle, have the student(s) that researched that Order of animal talk about the Adaptations and Gossip of that animal. Try to get at least one mammal, reptile and insect out during each visit.  Make sure that all students get to talk about their animal even if it can not be brought out of its cage (tarantula, degus, and snake if it has recently been fed).

If there is time take the students outside to observe the turkeys, goats and donkeys.  Discuss adaptations as a group and allow them to go inside the pens if all is well.  (maximum of 10 children at a time in the donkey pen, 4 in the goat pen)

Feeding the animals treats, carrots or greens from inside the pen is not recommended.  Only do this from outside the pen reaching over (not through) the fence.

CONCLUSION (5 minutes) 

Head back into the E.C. for hand washing. As they line up at the front door ask each child which animal at the E.C. was their favourite.