The Wildlife Box
You will find the following educational props and information that will enhance your wildlife learning experience:
A bag of animal pelts (Beaver, Fox, Mink, Rabbit, Skunk)
Plaster tracks (beaver, muskrat, mink, racoon, possum, etc.)
Beaver skull
Folder full of animal pictures
Folder with information and pictures of animal tracks
Food web poster
Migration Station Kit: Binoculars, green lunch box - This activitiy shows what adaptations we would need to be a migratory bird. Instructions included.
Bird and Worms game - The kids are birds and they have to find the worms (colored balls). Have a relay race and they are to pick up the first ball they see and race back. The basic idea is camouflage. The kids will find the bright colors easy and not see the ones that blend in to the ground. Instructions included.
SOLs that correlate to this activity box include: Sci 4.5, 4.8
An Example Guideline
(Here is one way of running a station like this. Be creative but here's some ideas on how to get started)
A good theme for this station is adaptations. Start out talking about what adaptations are and why they are needed. Ask the kids what some adaptations are. You'll probably get wild ideas and exotic animals. Bring it closer to home and talk about some the animals around Virginia. You can use the pictures to spark some ideas. You can ask the kids what they know about some of these animals.
Then you can talk all day about a beaver's adaptations. Show them the beaver skull and pelt. Download some Beaver Adaptations. You can also go into the other pelts and ask the kids what adaptations these animals have. There are also animal plaster tracks you can demonstrate in sand. More information about animal tracks is available in the folder.
Other items to add in are the two games mentioned above and you could discuss the food web.
Tips:
Kids want to touch everything. As long as you stress how important it is to take care of these items, the kids can touch them.
If the kids are getting bored with you talking, ask them questions. Kids love to share what they know. If they're still bored, do one of the games.
Use teachable moments whenever possible. If the kids find something interesting, go with the flow. As long as they are learning, everyone wins!
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