How are animals alike and different?

This week in science we continued our plants and animals unit by asking the essential question, How are animals alike and different? We were able to help answer this question with the help of Safari-In-A-Box. Safari-In-A-Box introduces children to the important concepts of habitat, wildlife management and impacts resulting from human and wildlife interactions. In doing so, the kit provides authentic animal hydes and skulls, as well as, animals tracks and scat, otherwise known as poop. The scat and tracks, however, are made of rubber but are molded to look authentic. The initial reactions of the students were great. The kids loved it!

The students were able to compare and contrast by touching and observing the following animals skins, skulls, scat and tracks: deer, coyote, skunk, bob cat, beaver, rabbit, red fox, snapping turtle among others. We discussed why a beaver would need significant webbing between his back feet but a coyote would not and why a beaver had four incisor teeth and a bob cat had canines. Then we talked about how this made them different but then we also discussed that they all had eyes and mouths and noses and how this made them alike. So after you read this blog talk to your little scientist and ask them...How are animals alike and different? You just may be surprised at what you learn!