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Distinct Differences

Distinct Differences

It's an alligator. No! It's a crocodile. Students will learn how to distinguish between animals that look similar and create a drawing that highlights their differences.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

Steps

  • Step 1

    Can you tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? How about an African elephant and an Asian elephant? Did you know a lizard is a reptile while a salamander is an amphibian? Have students research the differences between similiar-looking animals. Some suggestions include porpoises and dolphins, rabbits and hares, grizzly bears and brown bears, llamas and alpacas, bees and wasps, and others. Have them make note of the similiarities and differences and some facts about each animal - where they live, what they feed on, etc.

  • Step 2

    Ask students to choose a pair of similar-looking animals they researched and create a drawing that depicts the similarities and differences. They might choose to highlight the differences by creating the distinguishing features out of Model Magic and then attaching it to the drawing.

  • Step 3

    Have students present their art to the class and discuss the animals' similarities and differences.

  • Step 5

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Standards

SCI: Design pictorial or graphic representations/models that are useful in communicating ideas.

SCI: Convey designs through sketches, detailed drawings, or physical models to communicate ideas and solutions.

Adaptations

Have students create a diorama that depicts one of the animals they chose in its native habitat.

African elephants and Asian elephants are related to the wooly mammoth, which went extinct about 4,000 years ago. Asian elephants are now an endangered species, and African elephants are critically endangered. Have students research these three species which all belong to the order elephantidae. Ask them to find out what led to the wooly mammoth's extinction and how modern elephants can avoid the same fate.