Zoo Lesson

Lesson Plan for Field Trip to the Zoo

Title of Lesson: Animal Habitats

Grade Level: 3rd

Class Time: 2-3 days

Concept/s: Students will be introduced to the principles of art; emphasis, balance, harmony, variety, movement, rhythm, proportion, and unity.

Objective/s: The students in this first grade class will create a diorama of their favorite animal from the zoo and show its habitat with 90% accuracy.

Motivation: Show pictures from the class trip to the zoo.

Vocabulary: principle, emphasis, balance, harmony, variety, movement, rhythm, proportion, unity, habitat

Instructional Strategies: Before going on our trip to the zoo, we had been studying animals and their habitats. In groups of two, students chose an animal they wanted to learn about and then researched it such as its habitat in the wild. The students’ assignment was to look for that animal at the zoo and help their chaperone write down things they noticed about their animal, such as what it was fed and where it lived at the zoo (its habitat). The day after our trip to the zoo, we will review what we have learned about animals and their habitats over the past few weeks and then we will discuss what we saw on our trip to the zoo. Students will have the opportunity to share with the class about their animal. Next the students will begin working on their diorama (note asking for materials will be sent home in prior weeks to give time to gather shoe box and other items). Even though students worked in pairs to research their animal, they will each make their own diorama to show what they have learned. Their diorama should show their animal (made from clay) and its habitat. Students will then write a couple of paragraphs about their animal and its habitat and tell about any differences they saw in their habitat at the zoo from what they learned about their habitat in the wild.

Modifications: Have students work with a partner or give teacher assistance with writing story.

Assessment: Student’s diorama will be assessed with a rubric on use of art principles as well as creativity and accuracy of creating animal’s habitat based on their research. Student’s paragraph will also be assessed with a rubric based on research, grammar, and observations of their animal at the zoo.

Materials/Supplies: shoe boxes, clay, variety of other art materials

Resources: internet access, trip to the zoo

Closing Statement: Students will learn about the principles of art as well as have a chance to be creative and have fun while getting a better understanding of animals and their habitats.