In an effort to expose students to the content of animals and their niches, we took students to the local San Diego Zoo. We received a special backstage tour of the hippopatomus enclosure and the polar bear exhibit. We discussed with the trainers the special needs of the animals with regards to animals nutrition, behavior, and even cognitive aspects designed into their care and training. We learned that polar bear intelligence has recently been found to be on the order of the Great Apes. As a result, these smart animals need special stimulation and containment, not to mention air conditioning! Students were given the task of describing how animals are specially adapted for their environment using iPhoto. They were also asked to explain the role of natural selection in determining the next generation of animals. Lastly students were asked to design an enclosure that takes into consideration the emotional, physical, intellectual, and nutritional needs of the animals - a lesson adapted from Project Wild.

To view the completed lesson plan of rainforest animals PDF
To download the lesson plan in Word format

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