Experiments with Weather-Makers

Experiments with Weather-Makers

Where You’ll Find Us

General Objective:Students will classify animals into the three main habitats found in Indiana using a Venn diagram.

Specific Objectives:Explore:

  • Venn diagrams,
  • Indiana grasslands,
  • Indiana woodlands,
  • Indiana wetlands, and
  • animal classification.

Time:40 Minutes

Resources needed: 4-H 903: Wildlife Manual, copies of pp 2-3 and 25-28 and the attached Habitat worksheet.

Activity:Print copies of pp 3 and 25-28 for each student. Divide the class into groups of 2 or 3 and providecopies of page 3 to begin the lesson.

Discussion – 15 minutes:

  • Before dividing the class into groups, discuss Venn diagrams.
  • Draw a Venn diagram for the students and use a two circle classification to explain a basic relationship. Example: Groups of people, or sports the kids do in school.
  • Definition of a Venn diagram: A diagram using circles to represent sets, with the position and overlap of the circles indicating the relationships between the sets.

Activity – 25 minutes:

  • Divide the class into groups and distribute pp 3 to each student.
  • Have each group place all their names on top of one Venn diagram sheet.
  • Explain the students will work together to draw lines to which habitat circle the students believe the animals belong. Be sure to remind the students that some animals will share more than one habitat.
  • Circulate around the class while the students work making suggestions, but allow the students to select their own choices.
  • Draw the three circle Venn diagram on the board and after the students have classified each animal write their suggestions into each circle to make a consensus answer about each animal.
  • Then have the students read pp 25-28 and make any changes necessary.
  • Have the students complete the attached Habitat worksheet.

Reference (4-H manual): 4-H Wildlife Manual, Level A (4-H 903), pages 2-3

Academic Standards:

Activity / Grade / Math / English / Science
Where You’ll Find Us / 4th / 7.1 / 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.8 / 1.1, 1.2, 4.3
5th / 7.1 / 1.2, 1.4, 6.3, 6.6, 6.7 / 1.1, 4.4, 4.5, 4.7

Habitat Worksheet

Instructions:Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. How do animals interact together in their habitats?

2. Explain why some animals thrive in a habitat, can barely live in others, and can not live in others.

3. Give a beneficial and harmful example of a change to a habitat.

4. What differences allow species to have an advantage in their habitat compared to living in another habitat? Provide at least two examples from your Venn diagram.

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