Solar System Word Search & Crossword Puzzle

Kids usually like doing word searches and crossword puzzles. It's a great way to introduce or review the essential vocabulary for a unit on the Solar System or any other topic.

You can visit Learning Workroom's website for a FREE Solar System Word Search and Crossword Puzzle that you can download and print.

Click Here: http://www.learningworkroom.com

Go to: "Free Worksheets"

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FREE Online Dictionary

Whatever the topic.......animals or something else....it is important to have a good dictionary.
.
Here is a wonderful one!

CLICK HERE: http://www.merriam-webster.com

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This online dictionary will even pronounce the word for you! :)

Animal Camouflage Game

• Discuss the definition of camouflage. (Have the students look up the definition in a dictionary.)
• Tell children that they will be hanging up a butterfly in the room after they color it.
• Explain that the goal of the game is to have their butterfly be visible but camouflaged so that the other kids have a hard time finding it.

• Have students look around the room for possible spots to hang their butterfly.
• Give children a simple butterfly shape to color or let them draw and color their own butterfly.

• Next children should cut out their butterfly shape. (Use pre-cut butterflies for younger students.)
• Give each student a small piece of tape to use with their butterfly.
• Have children close their eyes while one child hangs up his/her butterfly somewhere in the room.The butterfly can not be hidden behind anything!
• Have children take turns looking for the butterfly (that is camouflaged). Have fun!

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• Extension: Discuss other animals that also use camouflage and how it helps them.

Use a Venn Diagram to Compare Animals

I think Graphic Organizers are great for kids! An easy one to use is the Venn Diagram where you get to compare and contrast 2 or more things.

A simple Venn Diagram has only 2 circles that overlap. In the center, where the circles overlap, is where you list how the 2 things are alike and the outer circles are for listing how the 2 things are different.

Let the kids compare 2 or more animals using Venn Diagrams.
For example, they could compare and contrast a dog and a frog.

They are alike in that they both have a backbone and they both have 4 legs.

They are different because the dog is a mammal and warm-blooded, whereas the frog is an amphibian and cold-blooded.

Older students can compare 3 or more animals in each Venn Diagram (just add more circles). They can also use the facts in their graphic organizer(s) to write an essay about their animals.

You can visit Learning Workroom's website for a FREE Venn Diagram Worksheet that you can download and print.

Go to: http://www.learningworkroom.com

Click on "Free Worksheets

Animal Alliteration

Alliteration is the repeating of beginning consonant sounds in two or more words.

Have kids create their own Animal Alliterations.

 Example:

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Smiley Sam swims in the sea.

Books 4 Learning has done a great job reviewing 2 wonderful books for kids about animals at the zoo. The second book Never, Ever Shout in a Zoo, contains alliteration. Also included is a nice lesson plan and extension activities about zoos.
 

Click here: Animal Books and Extension Activities

Create an Animal Acrostic Poem

• First choose an animal!
• Then write its name vertically.
• Then use the letters in its name to begin each line of the poem.
• Each line should be about the particular animal.
• Illustrate (optional).

Example

Cute and cuddly
Always fun to be with
The best friend ever

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Create an Animal Alphabet

Have children try to think of an animal for each letter of the alphabet.
Here are a few clues to get them started!

Let them use a variety of resources to research and find more (and some unusual) animals.

For which letter of the alphabet can they find the most animals?

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Books for learning is a great site that reviews books for children. You might want to visit to learn about some great animal books for kids.

Click here: Books 4 Learning 

Heres's a link to a Baby Animals Alphabet with very colorful pictures.

Click Here: Animal Alphabet

Animal Word Searches and Crossword Puzzles for Kids

Kids usually like doing word searches and crossword puzzles. It's a great way to introduce or review the essential vocabulary for a unit on animals or any other topic.

You can visit Learning Workroom's website for FREE Animal Word Searches that you can download and print. (The Crossword Puzzles should be coming soon.)

You can also download a FREE worksheet of Animal Desk Name Plates for younger kids to color.

Click Here: http://www.learningworkroom.com

Go to: "Free Worksheets"

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Animal Riddles and Game

This activity is both Science and Language Arts.

Materials 

pen/pencil
paper, science notebook, or index cards
stuffed animals
bag or box

Riddles

"WHO AM I?" RIDDLES are fun for kids to make up and help teach animal classification.

• Children should list 3 or more characteristics of a particular animal. (I like for students to use complete sentences.) 
• Then under their descriptive clues, they should write, "Who am I?"
• On the back, they write their answer and/or sketch a picture.

Example:

• I am a warm-blooded animal. 
• I have a backbone.
• I am the only mammal that can fly.
• Who am I?

          

Answer: A Bat

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Game

Another variation is to make this a SCIENCE GAME using their stuffed animals.

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• Children can put one of their stuffed animals in a bag or box.
• Then they hold up the bag/box and give the clues to the other players.
• Another child guesses. Students take turns giving clues and answers.