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Animal Migration |
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Science Process Skills
- Comparing and measuring
- Relating
- Applying
Life Skills
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Materials
- Measuring tape
- List of migrating animals
- Open area approximately 25 meters long, (outside, gymnasium, or hall)
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Doing the Activity
- Using the open space establish an area for Northern/Summer Home which will be the starting line. Also establish an area for the Southern/Winter Home that is approximately 25 meters from the Northern/Summer Home that will be the finish line.
- Talk about how specific animals on the list migrate: flying, swimming, or by land.
- All "animals" line up on starting line, Northern/Summer Home.
- One animal from the migration list will be called out.
- Travel from start to finish using that animals form of movement:
- Geese may fly
- Wildebeest will run
- Lobster will crawl
- Snakes will slither
- Frogs will hop
- Humming birds will fly
- Monarch butterflies will float
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Reflecting
- What will affect how far an animal has to migrate?
- Why are the animals migrating?
- Is migration easy for the animals?
- What are some risks the animals have in migrating?
- How do they know their way form Northern to Southern Home?
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Apply
- Get into teams of 4 - 6 members.
- Each team should research a particular animal to learn more about migration methods.
- Come back to large group and demonstrate or report on how chosen animal migrates.
Include such things as:
- Distance traveled
- How they travel, (geese in a V, lobster in single file, wildebeest in herds)
- Hardships they face
- How they find the migration route
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What's Happening
This activity provides a simple way for students to discover why migration takes place in some animals. Method of movement, routes they take, and obstacles that they face. |
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More Challenges
What animals in your area migrate?
Internet sites for students:
Internet sites for leaders
Activity Source
Extension - Science - Engineering - Technology Iowa State University |
- Activity Source
- Extension - Science - Engineering - Technology Iowa State University
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