Lesson Plan

“Tracking” Down the Secret Code / North American Animal “Who am I”

Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Missouri National Recreational River

Download Lesson Plan 164KB

A drawing of two prairie dogs. One is peeking out from a hole in the ground.

Grade Level:: Lower Elementary: Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade
Subject:: Literacy and Language Arts,Science
Lesson Duration:: 30 Minutes
Common Core Standards:: 2.L.1, 3.L.1, 4.L.1, 5.L.1, 6.L.1
State Standards:: Nebraska State Standards:

SC.3.7

SC.3.9

SC.4.6

LA.2.RI.1,2,3,7,8

LA.3.RI.1,2,3,7,8

LA.4.RI.1,2,3,7,8

LA.5.RI.1,2,3,7,8

LA.6.RI.1,2,3,7,8
Additional Standards:: Iowa State Standards:

2-LS4-1

3-LS4-1

4-LS4-1

k-2-ETS1-2

RI.2.1,3,6

RI.3.1,3,6

RI.4.1,3,6

RI.5.1,3,6
Thinking Skills:: Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.

Essential Question

What can animal tracks tell us about the way animals live? 

Objective

Students will be able to identify some of the animal species who live along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Students will be able to identify at least four ways to determine if an animal lives in their area.

Students will understand the different types of animal movement and how that influences the tracks animals make.

Students will know that there is a diversity of animals across the continent and that animals can often be observed in National Parks. 

Background

None

Preparation

Review the lesson plan and the two options for this plan.

Print out the animal placards and have them placed around the classroom.

Print out enough student worksheets for your class. Chose one of two formats, based on the skill-level of your students.

Materials

Download Tracking Down the Code Teacher Guide

Download Animal Clue Placards

Lesson Hook/Preview

Today we’re going to “track” down a secret code! We’ll follow these animal tracks to reveal a coded message.

Procedure

Step 1: Prepare lesson placards and print student worksheets as outlined in “preparation.”

Step 2: Complete the warm-up questions with your students.

Step 3: Complete track introduction with your students using the provided teacher guide.

Step 4: Guide students through the track and furs identification activity using the provided teacher guide.

Step 5: Reveal the code and discuss the students’ answers using the provided teacher guide.

Vocabulary

Plantigrade locomotion (plant whole foot; dogs, bears, racoons)
Digitigrade locomotion (walk or run on their toes; cats and coyotes)
Unguligrade locomotion (walk on toenails/hooves; deer, and buffalo)

Assessment Materials

Teachers are encouraged to use formative assessment strategies following this lesson. Ask students to take out a blank sheet of paper or provide each student with a small marker board. Ask the group assessment questions, prompting students to write their answers on the board or paper and hold the answers up for the teacher.