Galapagos: Shells, Scales, & Snakes

1. Very unusual species of animals live in The Galapagos Islands. Some species are found ONLY on these volcanic islands west of South America. Students research the islands and find pictures of these unique animals.
2. Use Crayola® Colored Pencils to draw a Galapagos tortoise, or another animal native to those islands, on construction paper. Take special note of body parts that appear darker or lighter, and choose colors that match those areas.
3. To create scaly skin on a turtle or a snake, for example, place a paper doily or piece of lace on top of the drawing. Color over the doily with colored pencils.
4. Use Crayola Scissors to cut out the Galapagos tortoise. Attach it to paper that looks like sand or soil (like sandpaper) with Crayola School Glue.
5. Add some cut-paper green blades of grass to give the tortoise a natural environment in which to hide.

LA: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

LA: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade level topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

LA: Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.

SCI: Ask questions about the natural and human-built worlds.

SCI: Construct drawings or diagrams as representations of events or systems.

SS: Use appropriate resources, data sources, and geographic tools to generate, manipulate, and interpret information.

VA: Intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of experiences and ideas.

VA: Select and use the qualities of structures and functions of art to improve communication of ideas.

Possible classroom resources include: Animals Of The Galapagos Islands by William Douglas; We're Sailing to Galapagos: A Week in the Pacific by Laurie Krebs; Lonesome George, the Giant Tortoise by Francine Jacobs; "Galapagos" Means "Tortoises" by Ruth Heller; Wildlife of the Galápagos by Julian & Daniel Fitter; A Galapagos Island Food Chain: A Who-Eats-What Adventure by Rebecca Hoque Wojahn;

In small groups, students view the DVD Galapagos by Tilda Swinton. Students discuss the video after viewing and summarize it in their own words. Students select one scene from the video to personally illustrate. A one-to-two sentence description accompanies the illustration. Provide a place in the classroom to display these illustrations.

Working in small groups, students create 3-D models of the wildlife they are investigating using Crayola Model Magic. Possible wildlife include Galapagos penguins, sea lions, iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and/or frigate birds.

Working in small groups, students take on the role of travel agents and plan an imaginary trip to the Galapagos Islands. How will you travel to the islands? What will you see as you approach the islands? What will your transportation cost? What will your lodging cost? What tours are available for you to go on while you are there? What kinds of food will be available to eat? Prepare a brochure for your classmates to view.