Interactive Wildlife Activity

In this activity, students will have fun matching pictures of local wildlife to their corresponding names and habitats. This hands-on exercise is designed to reinforce what they learned from the slide deck and help them confidently recognize local animals in New England.

How It Works:

1. Set-Up: Arrange printed images of the animals (such as squirrels, rabbits, bluebirds, turtles, and deer) on a table or a bulletin board.

2. Matching Cards: Prepare cards that include the names and simple habitat descriptions. For example:

   • Squirrels: Climb trees and gather nuts.
   • Rabbits: Hop around and eat plants.
   • Bluebirds: Fly high and nest in trees.
   • Turtles: Move slowly near water.
   • Deer: Graceful and live in wooded areas.

3. Instructions for Students:

   • Each student (or small groups) will come up to choose an image and then pick the card that matches the animal's name and its habitat.
   • Once they make a match, ask them to describe one interesting fact about the animal.

4. Reflection Discussion: After the matching game, invite students to share which animal they enjoyed learning about the most and why.

Teacher Tips:

• Walk around and offer gentle guidance if students seem unsure about a match.
• Encourage even the shy students to participate by asking them what clues they noticed that helped them decide on the correct match.
• Use positive reinforcement to acknowledge correct matches and thoughtful explanations.

Student Work Section (For matching observations and reflections):

• Draw your favorite animal from the activity.
• Write (or dictate) one sentence about why you like this animal.

Enjoy the activity and have fun exploring our local wildlife!

Wildlife Discussion Prompt Sheet

This discussion prompt sheet is designed to guide a friendly and engaging conversation about the local wildlife you learned about today. Use these questions during your discussion to encourage students to share their observations, ideas, and experiences about the animals in our backyard.

Guidelines for the Discussion

• Be Respectful: Listen to each other as everyone shares their thoughts.
  
• Take Turns: Make sure each student gets a chance to speak.
  
• Share and Ask: Answer the questions and feel free to ask follow-up questions.
  
  
  

Discussion Questions

1. What did you find the most interesting about the animals we learned about today?
   
   • What is one fun fact you remember?
     
     
     
2. Which animal is your favorite and why?
   
   • Tell us what makes that animal special to you.
     
     
     
3. Have you ever seen any of these animals in your backyard or nearby park?
   
   • Share a story or an observation if you have.
     
     
     
4. Why do you think it is important to learn about the animals that live near us?
   
   • How do these animals help our environment?
     
     
     
5. If you could ask an animal one question, what would it be?
   
   • Let’s imagine the animal could answer!
     
     
     

Follow-Up Prompts

• Drawing Connection: Ask students to draw their favorite animal and explain what they like most about it.
  
• Sharing Thoughts: Encourage students to share any new ideas or questions they might have about the animals throughout the discussion.
  
  
  

Enjoy the discussion and let your curiosity about local wildlife shine through!