Project GLAD



Project GLAD

FELINES AROUND THE WORLD (K-2)

By Jen Analla & Patricia Pate, Scott Lane Elementary School

IDEA PAGES

I. UNIT THEME – Sub-themes/content areas:

• Introduction to habitats around the world through the study of felines

• Cross-cultural sensitivity theme: Destruction of habitats eliminates animal species; we need to care for our world.

• It is every person’s responsibility to take care of the Earth.

II. FOCUS/MOTIVATION

• Inquiry chart

• Read aloud: big book & literature

• Poems & chants

• Observation charts

• Realia

• Super Scientist Awards

• Signal words

III. CLOSURE

• Process charts

• Share big books and personal explorations

• Team task presentations

• Class made big book

• Student/teacher made test

IV. CONCEPTS – California State Standards

HISTORY/SOCIAL SCIENCE STANDARDS

Kindergarten

K.4.2. Distinguish between land and water on maps and globes and locate general areas referenced in historical legends and stories.

Grade One

1.2.1. Locate on maps and globes their local community, California, the United States, the seven continents, and the four oceans.

Grade Two

2.2.2. Label from memory a simple map of the North American continent, including the countries, oceans, Great Lakes, major rivers, and mountain ranges. Identify the essential map elements: title, legend, directional indicator, scale, and date.

2.3.2.Describe the ways in which groups and nations interact with one another to try to resolve problems in such areas as trade, cultural contacts, treaties, diplomacy, and military force.

SCIENCE STANDARDS

Kindergarten

K.2.a. Students know how to observe and describe similarities and differences in the appearance and behavior of plants and animals (e.g., seed-bearing plants, birds, fish, insects).

K.2.b. Students know stories sometimes give plants and animals attributes they do not really have.

K.2.c. Students know how to identify major structures of common plants and animals (e.g., stems, leaves, roots, arms, wings, legs).

K.3.a. Students know characteristics of mountains, rivers, oceans, valleys, deserts, and local land forms.

K.4.b. Describe the properties of common objects.

K.4.d. Compare and sort common objects by one physical attribute (e.g., color, shape, texture, size, weight).

K.4.3. Communicate observations orally and through drawings.

Grade One

1.2.a. Students know different plants and animals inhabit different kinds of environments and have external features that help them thrive in different kinds of places.

1.2.b. Students know both plants and animals need water, animals need food, and plants need light.

1.2.c. Students know animals eat plants or other animals for food and may also use plants or even other animals for shelter and nesting.

1.2.d. Students know how to infer what animals eat from the shapes of their teeth (e.g., sharp teeth: eats meat; flat teeth: eats plants).

1.4.a. Draw pictures that portray some features of the thing being described.

1.4.b. Record observations and data with pictures, numbers, or written statements.

1.4.c. Record observations on a bar graph.

Grade Two

2.1.e. Students know objects fall to the ground unless something holds them up.

2.1.g. Students know sound is made by vibrating objects and can be described by its pitch and volume.

2.2.a. Students know that organisms reproduce offspring of their own kind and that the offspring resemble their parents and one another.

2.2.c. Students know many characteristics of an organism are inherited from the parents. Some characteristics are caused or influenced by the environment.

2.2.d. Students know there is variation among individuals of one kind within a population.

2.4.b. Measure length, weight, temperature, and liquid volume with appropriate tools and express those measurements in standard metric system units.

2.4.c. Compare and sort common objects according to two or more physical attributes (e.g., color, shape, texture, size, weight).

2.4.d. Write or draw descriptions of a sequence of steps, events, and observations.

2.4.e. Construct bar graphs to record data, using appropriately labeled axes.

2.4.g. Follow oral instructions for a scientific investigation.

V. VOCABULARY

feline habitat desert

taiga forest grasslands

savanna carnivore retractable

prairie rainforest tropical

Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Capricorn poacher

Equator prey nocturnal

mammal adaptation conservationist

endangered solitary pride

canine environment camouflage

swamp hemisphere diet

continent species

VI. ELA/ELD STANDARDS

**Use appropriate standards that correspond to ELA standards to address the needs of the students in your classroom

VII. MATH/SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS

SOCIAL STUDIES

• Expressing ideas orally

• Group/partner discussions

• Organizing

• Comparing/contrasting

• Map skills

• Inferring and predicting

• Hypothesis

SCIENCE

• Observing properties

• Graphing

• Problem-solving

• Communicating

• Comparing/contrasting

• Organizing, classifying, sequencing, grouping

• Developing hypotheses

MATH

• Graphing

• Measurement

VIII. RESOURCES AND MATERIALS

Watching Desert Wildlife by Caroline Arnold

Wild Cats! by Diane Muldrow

Big Cats by Joyce Milton

Cougar: Lion of the Mountains by Allan Fowler

Deserts by Darlene R. Stille

Cactus Poems by Frank Asch and Ted Levin

Dentro de la selva tropical by Diane Willow and Laura Jacques

Grasslands by Darlene R. Stille

Tropical Rain Forests by Darlene R. Stille

Wildlife Explorers by International Masters Publishers

Cascade Cougar by Julian May

Tigress by Helen Cowcher

Dear Children of the Earth by Schim Schimmel





Lions &Tigers by Joanne Mattern

Endangered! Lions by Amanda Harman

In the Wild Lions by Claire Robinson

Tigers by Susan Schafer

Saguaro Cactus by Paul Fleisher

Endangered! Leopards by Amanda Harman

Endangered! Cheetahs by Shona Grimbly

Lions by Kevin J. Holmes

Endangered! Tigers by Amanda Hartman

The Snow Cats by Phyllis J. Perry

What Is a Biome? By Bobbie Kalman

Project GLAD

FELINES AROUND THE WORLD (K-2)

By Jen Analla & Patricia Pate, Scott Lane Elementary School

UNIT PLANNING PAGES

I. FOCUS/MOTIVATION

• Inquiry chart- What do we know about felines? What do we want to know about felines?

• Read aloud: big book & literature

• Observation charts

• Realia

• Super Scientist Awards – felines with text

• Golden Pen Award

• Scientist Notebook

• Bookmark

• Signal words with Cognitive Content Dictionary

II. INPUT

• Pictorial input – world map with habitats of felines

• Pictorial input - cheetah

• Narrative input – Tigress

• Poetry

• Venn Diagram – Cheetah vs. Lion

• Exploration report –plants from different habitats

III. GUIDED ORAL PRACTICE

• T-Graph and team points

• Chants/poetry

• Sentence Patterning Chart (Farmer in the Dell)

• Picture file card sorting & classifying

• Personal interaction

• Mind map

• Expert groups

• Process grid

• Team tasks

IV. READING/WRITING ACTIVITIES

A. TOTAL CLASS MODELING

• Cooperative Strip Paragraph

• Story Map

• Found Poetry

• Cognitive Content Dictionary/Picture Dictionary

• Farmer in the Dell sentences

• Flip chant

• Strip book

• Poetry frame

B. SMALL GROUP

• Group Frame – ELL group

• Cooperative Strip Paragraph – emergent readers

• Clunkers & Links – top group

• Ear-to-ear reading

• Guided reading/flexible grouping

• Expert groups

• Team tasks

C. INDIVIDUAL

Learning logs

• Interactive journals

• Reading/Writing Choice

• Research Center

• Listen & sketch

• Silent Sustained Reading

D. WRITER’S WORKSHOP

• Mini-lesson

• Independent writing—free choice

• Conferencing

• Closure/Author’s Chair

• Publishing

V. EXTENDED ACTIVITIES FOR INTEGRATION

• Team task presentations

• Home/School Connection

• Science exploration – devastation of habitats (oil spill)

• Poster advocating for conservation of a feline/habitat

• Visit zoo

• Dioramas of different habitats

• Drama

VI. CLOSURE/EVALUATION

• Process all charts

• Team evaluation

• Class-made big book

• Student writing: expository, narrative, poetry

• Write letters to government officials advocating for conservation of felines and their habitats

• Student/Teacher made test

• Portfolios with rubric

Project GLAD

FELINES AROUND THE WORLD (K-2)

By Jen Analla & Patricia Pate, Scott Lane Elementary School

SAMPLE DAILY LESSON PLAN

Day 1:

FOCUS/MOTIVATION

• Super Scientist Awards – standards

• Observation Charts

• Big Book – Habitats: Where Felines Prowl

• Inquiry Charts – What do we know about felines? What do we want to know about felines?

• Poetry – Felines Here

• Portfolios – colored dots

INPUT

• Poetry

• Narrative Input – Tigress – conflicts between the needs of the tiger and the needs of man – predicting

• 10-2 lecture – primary language

• sketch different endings in learning log

• Strip book – total class

• Pictorial Input – world map

GUIDED ORAL PRACTICE

• T-graph – team points

• Picture file activities – one sentence

• Invite teams to come up with team names/discuss issue team wants most to learn about

• Person interaction: ending from narrative you liked best

READING/WRITING/LANGUAGE ARTS

• Interactive journals/Teacher Models

• Writer’s Workshop

• Mini-lesson

• Authentic literacy events

• Strip book

• Author’s chair

• Flexible group reading

• Guided reading

• Team tasks

• Team banner

• Team name

• Team picture

• Team mind map

• Team key

CLOSURE

• Re-read inquiry chart, poetry and input charts

• Home-school connection: Discuss Tigress with family, what do they think the tigress will do?

Day 2:

FOCUS/MOTIVATION

• Poetry

• Flip chant

• Poetry booklet – ear to ear reading

• Read aloud – Cascade Cougar

• L1 inquiry chart

• Review of narrative input with word cards

• Review of world map with word cards

• Home/School Connection – partner share

INPUT

• Read aloud

• Pictorial input – cheetah – 10/2 with primary language

• Learning log

• LEP review

• Poetry

GUIDED ORAL PRACTICE

• Personal interaction – Who’s needs are most important, the tiger or man?

• Farmer in the Dell – felines

• Word cards – take to making “interesting” sentences and read

• Flip chant

• Exploration Report

READING/WRITING/LANGUAGE ARTS

• Journals

• Reading/Writing Workshop

• Add unit theme books, pocket poetry, retelling of narrative, etc.

• Author’s chair

• Flexible grouping

• Guided reading of poetry booklet

• Team tasks

• Team flip chant

• Team Farmer in the Dell

• Team sentences from Farmer in the Dell

• Team listening center (poetry booklet on tape)

CLOSURE

• Review charts

• Home-School Connection – What do your parents know about felines?

Day 3:

FOCUS/MOTIVATION

• Highlight poetry

• Add to graphic organizer – word cards – L1 review

• Farmer in the Dell

• Listen and sketch – Tiger Trek

• Phonemic awareness chant

• Process Home/School Connection

INPUT

• Expert groups – specific felines

• Team tasks

• team graphic organizer

• team story map of narrative

• team exploration report

• team world map

• team cheetah

• Process grid

• Group Frame or Cooperative Strip Paragraph

READING/WRITING/LANGUAGE ARTS

• Respond, revise and edit coop strip paragraph

• Journals

• Reading/writing workshop

• Flexible group reading

• Coop strip paragraph (emergent readers)

• Modified SQ3R (top group)

• Team tasks

• Team process grid

• Pocket poetry

• Team add to walls

• Team mind map

• Team cooperative strip paragraph

CLOSURE

• Review charts

• Home School Connection: City animal search

Day 4:

FOCUS/MOTIVATION

• Add to process grid

• Phonemic Awareness Chant

• Read the Walls

INPUT

• Venn Diagram of Lion and Cheetah

GUIDED ORAL PRACTICE

• Picture file cards

• Strip book

• Story Map of Narrative

READING/WRITING/LANGUAGE ARTS

• Farmer in the Dell – trading game

• Revise Coop Strip Paragraph - topic sentence, Editing checklist

• Found Poetry

CLOSURE

• Team task presentations

• Home/School Connection: Explain endangered to your parents and give examples of endangered felines. Draw them.

Day 5:

FOCUS/MOTIVATION

• Process inquiry charts

• Poems

• Process grid

• Focused reading

• Real aloud

INPUT

• Letter to Greenpeace

• How can we help?

• Action plan

READING/WRITING/LANGUAGE ARTS

• Letter home

• Reading/Writing Workshop – mini-lesson on Editing Checklist

• Cross age reading

• Flexible groups

• Team tasks

• Story map

CLOSURE

• Read Aloud – Dear Children of the Earth

• Class made Big Book

• Student/Teacher made test

• Home/School Connection: Evaluation letter to parents, take home portfolio and share the contents. Parents write comments.

Habitats

Where Felines Prowl

By Patricia Pate

The important thing about felines is that they live in many habitats.

But the most important thing about felines is that they live in many habitats.

Tropical rainforests are found near the equator. There, Earth receives direct sunlight most of the year, so temperatures are always warm. The climate of tropical rainforests is also very wet. It rains almost every day. The strong sunlight and warm, wet climate provide ideal growing conditions for a variety of plants. The many plants provide excellent cover where jaguars, tigers and leopards can feed and hide its kill. The plants also act as a screen when felines stalk their prey.

Big cats live on the continent of North America, South America, Africa and Asia. From humid rainforests to dry deserts, open grasslands to rocky mountains, felines can be found roaming almost anywhere.

If you visited an East African savanna, you would surely see some leopards, cheetahs and a pride of lions. Among the tall brown grass, felines are camouflaged well by the color of their fur, as well as their rosettes. The flat open land increases their possibilities of catching their prey. Although few trees are found in the grasslands, there is plenty of grass. Herds of animals such as zebras and gazelles come to graze. This makes it an ideal habitat for these carnivores.

Bobcats and cougars can be found prowling the deserts of North America. With as little as ten inches of rainfall per year, deserts are very dry places. Although some deserts are sandy and flat, the landscape of most deserts is rocky or mountainous. During the day, temperatures can soar above 100(F! This is why many animals of the desert do their hunting at night when it is cooler.

A taiga, also called a boreal or coniferous forest, is a cold woodland. You can travel for miles in the taiga and see nothing but evergreen trees. Taiga winters are too long for most trees to survive. Many animals, such as the snow leopard and lynx, have adapted to live in the cold environment. Their thick fur and large paws enable them to stay warm and walk on the snow.

Tigress

By Helen Cowcher

Adapted by J. Analla & P. Pate

The quick, sharp calls of the colobine monkeys in the tropical forest warn deer that a tigress is near.

Outside the tropical forest, women come to gather firewood and herdsmen talk while their camels and cattle graze. “Did you hear the monkeys’ cries? Surely a predator must be near,” one says to another.

The tigress climbs with her cubs to the edge of the tropical forest. She smells camels’ breath and goat droppings wafting up from the rocks below.

She leaves the tropical forest and pads silently through thornbushes, into the forbidden lands beyond. Again, colobine monkeys’ urgent, shrill voices fill the air.

A herdsman walks quietly under the morning sun. Again he hears the monkeys’ warnings. “Ya, ya!” he screams to gather up his flock. “Let us move to safer grounds.”

A hush descends. In one fell swoop the tigress strikes. A young bullock lies dead!

The poor herdsman cannot afford this loss, nor can his friends. He must warn them. “The tigress has struck! She has killed one of my flock.”

Meanwhile, the tigress drinks with her cubs at the waterhole. Soon she will lead them back to the carcass to eat.

The herdsmen move their flocks. Goat bells jingle as they scramble over the rocky hillside.

That night at dusk, a stray camel is killed!

Around the fire, the cool air buzzes with anxious murmurings. “Let us poison the camel meat before the tiger returns to eat.”

The forest ranger understands the herdsmen must save their animals, but he must find a way to save the tigress! “To kill the tiger is not right. Surely there is another way. Remember, this land was the tiger’s home before man came.” Together they devise a plan.

Later that night, the tigress returns to her prey. Downwind lurk shadowy figures, silent and still.

Suddenly bangs and flashes fill the darkness. Sparks fly out from all sides. Only the way to the forest is free.

The tigress and her cubs are filled with fear. They flee as more and more firecrackers explode hot on their tracks.

As dawn breaks, they reach the forest. All is quietly and they can rest, but their stomachs remain empty. Beyond the forest’s border, the scent of camel and goat still wafts in the air. The tigress slowly raises her head and twitches her nose.

Felines Around the World

[pic]

Poetry Booklet

Name

Adaptation Bugaloo

By J. Analla & P. Pate

I’m a feline and I’m here to say,

I’ve adapted to my habitat in many ways,

Sometimes I change my size,

Sometimes I change my claws,

But, usually I change my camouflage!

Lions, tigers, cheetahs, snow leopards, too!

Doing the adaptation bugaloo!

Lions are the only cats who live in a pride,

Females hunt cooperatively, side by side,

When we hunt together we can catch larger prey,

Giraffes, zebra, and antelope make a tasty entree(!

Lions, tigers, cheetahs, snow leopards, too!

Doing the adaptation bugaloo!

I’m a tiger, the largest of the cats,

Asian grasslands and forests are my habitat,

My thick, black stripes work divine,

They camouflage me well amongst the jungle vines!

Lions, tigers, cheetahs, snow leopards, too!

Doing the adaptation bugaloo!

A cheetah is the fastest running cat,

I gain speed from my claws that don’t retract,

I drag my food away and eat it in a tree,

This is so bigger cats don’t steal from me!

Lions, tigers, cheetahs, snow leopards, too!

Doing the adaptation bugaloo!

A snow leopard has big paws and a 3 foot tail,

To help balance when jumping from trail to trail,

My extra thick fur keeps me warm in the snow,

And my rosette spots hide me from my foe!

Lions, tigers, cheetahs, snow leopards, too!

Doing the adaptation bugaloo!

I Am A Cheetah

By J. Analla & P. Pate

I am a cheetah,

A sleek, swift cheetah,

A sleek, swift cheetah,

Who is quickly becoming extinct.

By poachers who want my fur,

And humans destroying my habitat,

And people who do not realize what

they do.

I am a cheetah,

A sleek, swift cheetah,

A sleek, swift cheetah,

Who is quickly becoming extinct.

Cat’s Tongue

By J. Analla & P. Pate

Cat’s tongue,

Cat’s tongue,

Rough like the sand!

Cat’s tongue,

Cat’s tongue,

Functions like a hand!

Works like a comb,

To keep us untangled and clean,

Scrapes meat from our prey,

Emits our scent onto everything.

Flexible and long,

Can bend like a spoon,

Great for lapping up water,

By the light of the moon.

Cat’s tongue,

Cat’s tongue,

Rough like the sand!

Cat’s tongue,

Cat’s tongue,

Functions like a hand!

Snow Leopard

I’m a snow leopard, gray and black,

Prowling in the taiga habitat,

I sleep by day and hunt at night,

I have good hearing, smell, and sight.

I’m a leopard!

I’m a leopard!

I hunt alone, not with a pack,

Baby pandas and monkeys make a healthy snack.

I creep up slowly and then attack

With my claws out I jump on their back!

I’m a leopard!

I’m a leopard!

My tail is up to 3 feet long,

I use it for balance when jumping along.

I can jump to a ledge that’s 50 feet high,

My big paws and thick fur keep me warm and dry.

I’m a leopard!

I’m a leopard!

Felines

By J. Analla & P. Pate

Felines here, felines there,

Felines, felines everywhere!

Cheetahs and lions on the grasslands of Africa,

Tigers in the tropical forests of Asia,

Snow leopards on the taiga mountains of Asia,

And cougars in the deserts of North America.

Felines here, felines there,

Felines, felines everywhere!

Carnivores hunting,

Females nursing,

Small cats purring,

And big cats roaring.

Felines here, felines there,

Felines, felines everywhere!

Felines! Felines! Felines!

Feline Cadence

By J. Analla

We just know what we’ve been told,

Felines are worth their weight in gold,

They’re in forests here, and grasslands there,

A feline’s habitat is almost anywhere!

Sound off—Felines!

Sound off—Anywhere!

Sound off—Felines, anywhere, many habitats!

The cougar is a very adaptable cat,

Deserts, forests, or grasslands are his habitat,

His name could be puma, mountain lion,

or catamount,

Depending on where he is prowling about!

Sound off—Cougar!

Sound off—Adaptable!

Sound off—Cougar, adaptable, many habitats!

Jaguars live mostly in South America,

In rainforests, swamps, or shrubby areas,

They’ve adapted to many environments well,

They’re amazing cats as you can tell!

Sound off—Jaguar!

Sound off—Adaptable!

Sound off—Cougar, adaptable, many habitats!

Felines live almost everywhere,

But they’ll be extinct if we don’t care,

Humans destroy their habitats,

We must protect their homes if we want

them to last.

Sound off—Felines!

Sound off—Everywhere!

Sound off—Felines, everywhere, save them!

I’m A Tiger

By M. Brechtal

I’m a tiger, striped and strong,

Prowling through the jungle ground.

I sleep by day and hunt at night,

I have good hearing, smell, and sight.

I’m a tiger,

I’m a tiger!

My skin is gorgeous, that’s for sure,

But, people hunt me for my fur.

Poachers kill us way too fast,

At this rate we’ll never last!

I’m a tiger,

I’m a tiger!

Our home is the jungle, wet and green,

It’s disappearing as you’ve seen.

Soon we’ll have no habitat,

Then it’s good-bye to the jungle cat!

I’m a tiger,

I’m a tiger!

Habitat Chant

By P. Pate

Is this a desert? Yes, Ma’am.

Is this a desert? Yes, Ma’am.

How do you know? Less than 10 inches of rain falls per year.

How do you know? It is a very dry place.

Which plants live there? The giant saguaro and prickly pear.

Which felines live there? The bobcat and cougar.

Is this a rainforest? Yes, Ma’am.

Is this a rainforest? Yes, Ma’am.

How do you know? It lies between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.

How do you know? It’s humid and warm all year.

Which plants live there? Orchids and cacao trees.

Which felines live there? The jaguar and leopard.

Is this a savanna? Yes, Ma’am.

Is this a savanna? Yes, Ma’am.

How do you know? It’s a grassland with scattered trees.

How do you know? It’s hot and dry for more than half the year.

Which plants live there? Wild flowers and baobab trees.

Which felines live there? Cheetahs and lions.

Is this a taiga? Yes, Ma’am.

Is this a taiga? Yes, Ma’am.

How do you know? It’s located in the north and tops of high mountains.

How do you know? It has long, cold winters and short, warm summers.

Which plants live there? Conifers and mosses.

Which felines live there? The snow leopard and lynx.

Now are you through? Yes, Ma’am.

Did you tell me true? Yes, Ma’am.

And what did you chant? About felines and habitats.

And what did you chant? The Feline Habitat Chant!

|Name |Continent |Habitat |Diet |Size |Adaptations |Special Characteristics |

|Tiger |Asia |Tropical forests & |Elephants |400-600 lbs. |( camouflage: stripes (look like shadows)|( Largest canine teeth of any land meat-eating animal |

|Panthera tigris | |swamps |Rhinoceros |12 ft. long | | |

| | | |Crabs | | | |

|Endangered | | |Frogs | | | |

| | | |Buffalo | | | |

| | | |Cattle | | | |

| | | |Sheep | | | |

|Lion |Central & Southern|Wide-open plains |Zebras |420 lbs. |( Live in prides of 3-35 |( Mane on male (only feline with a distinguishing |

|Panthera leo |Africa |Grasslands & prairie |Antelope |9-10 ft. long |( Hunt cooperatively |characteristic between males and females) |

| | |(Savannah) |Wildebeest | |( camouflage: golden color |( Roar up to 5 miles |

|Endangered | | |Warthogs | | |( Live in pride whole life & are related to each other |

|Snow Leopard |Central Asia |Snowy mountains |Mountain goats |60-120 lbs. |( Long, thick fur |( Jumps 50 feet across gorges & up to ledges |

|Uncia uncia | |(Himalayas) |Sheep |3-4 ft. long |( Very big front paws & tail almost as | |

| | | |Rodents | |long as body (for balance on mountainside)| |

|Endangered | | |Wild boar | |( camouflage: creamy white fur and | |

| | | |Baby panda | |rosette spots | |

| | | |monkeys | |( large nose and nostrils to warm air | |

|Cheetah |South Africa & |Plains & woodlands |Gazelles |100-120 lbs. |( Non-retractable claws |( Fastest land animal (96 mph) |

|Acinonyx jubatus |Central Asia | |Impala | |( Tear-drop shaped lines on both sides on |( only big cat that Cannot roar |

| | | |Rabbits | |nose to shield sun for hunting during day |( Babies called kittens |

|Endangered | | |Birds | |( Flexible vertebrate |( Steps 22 ft. long |

| | | | | |( long legs |( No large canine teeth |

| | | | | |( extra large heart and lungs |( Drags food into trees to avoid having food taken or them |

| | | | | |( camouflage: tawny brown with dark spots|being attacked by lions or leopards |

|Jaguar |Central & South |Rainforests |Mammals |80-200 lbs. |( camouflage: brownish-yellow fur with |( often bury their prey to eat it later |

|Panthera onca |America |Swamps |Reptiles |4-6 feet |black doughnut-shaped spots arranged in |( very good swimmers |

| | |Shrubby areas |Birds | |rosettes |( kill by biting and crushing skull |

|Endangered | | |Capybaras | |( |( |

| | | |Tapirs | | | |

| | | |Turtles | | | |

| | | |Alligators | | | |

|Cougar |North America |Deserts |Deer |200 lbs. |( camouflage: solid tan (no spots) |( a.k.a. puma, mountain lion, panther, catamount (depending |

|Felis concolor | |Grasslands |Wild boar |6 ft. |( small head and big ears |on where it is found) |

| | |Deciduous forests |Sheep | |( long, thick tail to help with balance |( can jump 15 ft. high and 45 ft. horizontally |

|endangerd | | |Moose | |during leaps and climbs | |

| | | |Elk | | | |

| | | |Rabbits/hare | | | |

| | | |Rodents | | | |

| | | |birds | | | |

Name Date

Bengal Tiger

Expert Group

The Bengal tiger is a large, striped cat from Asia. It lives in tropical forests and swamplands. Their orange coat with black stripes helps them camouflage amongst the shadows of the jungle vines. The fur on the belly is white and they have white spots on the back of their ears to protect them from their enemies.

Male tigers are up to 12 feet long from nose to tail and they weigh anywhere from 400 to 600 pounds. The tiger is the biggest feline!

The tiger kills its prey with a bite on the neck. They eat small elephants, rhinoceros, crabs, frogs, buffalo, cattle, and sheep. Tigers are excellent swimmers and spend much of their time half-submerged in a stream. Sadly, tigers are in danger of extinction due to over-hunting by poachers.

Name Date

Snow Leopard

Expert Group

The snow leopard, with its creamy-white coat dappled with black rosettes, blends into its habitat of the taiga in the snowy mountains in Asia. Snow leopards are found mainly in the Himalayan Mountains. Its long, thick fur keeps it warm in the snow, and their big front paws help the snow leopard keep its place on the ice.

The average weight for a snow leopard is 60 to 120 pounds. Snow leopards are 3 to 4 feet long from nose to rump. Their tail is another 3 feet long to help the snow leopard keep its balance when jumping to high ledges on the mountainside. The snow leopard can jump up to 50 feet!

Snow leopards are carnivores. Their diet consists of mountain goats, sheep, baby pandas, monkeys, wild boar, and rodents. Snow leopards are endangered due to loss of habitat, loss of prey, and over-hunting for its fur.

Name Date

Lions

Expert Group

Lions are large cats that live on grassy plains (savannas) in central and southern Africa. Their tan coat helps them camouflage on the grassy plains.

These golden-colored felines grow to be 9 to 10 feet long from nose to tip of tail. They weigh up to 420 pounds. Lions are the only feline to have a distinguishing characteristic between the female and the male. Males have a mane, which protects their head and neck when fighting other male lions to protect their territory.

Lions live in permanent groups called “prides.” These prides have 3 to 35 members. The females do all the hunting, and they hunt cooperatively in groups. The females will surround their prey and ambush them from all sides. In this way, they can catch faster prey.

Lions, like all felines, are carnivores. Their diet consists of zebras, antelope, wildebeests, and warthogs.

Name Date

Cougar

Expert Group

The cougar is a fierce cat that lives in the deserts of North America. Their tan fur with no spots helps them camouflage in their sandy habitat.

These powerful cats are up to 6 feet long, plus a tail that is 2 to 3 feet long. Their long, thick tail helps them balance during leaps or climbs. The cougar weighs up to 200 pounds. They have a very small head with large ears to help them hear well.

The cougar hunts both during the day and at night. It eats deer, wild boars, sheep, moose, elk, rabbits, hares, rodents, raccoons, and birds. Cougars stalk their prey and then ambush it by leaping from the ground or from a tree.

Cougars are an endangered species due to loss of habitat and over-hunting by man.

Name Date

Jaguar

Expert Group

Jaguars are wild cats that live in rainforests and swamplands of Central and South America. Their brownish-yellow coat has black doughnut-shaped spots arranged in rosettes to help them camouflage in their habitat.

The jaguar is the largest cat in the Western hemisphere. These graceful cats grow to be about 4 to 6 feet long and they weight from 80 to 200 pounds. Jaguars are much stronger than other big cats such as the leopard who kills its prey with a throat or neck bite. The jaguar, on the other hand, kills by biting through the skull of its large prey or just by slapping smaller prey with its paw.

The jaguar is a carnivore like all other felines. Its diet is comprised of lizards, snakes, turtles, fish, deer, birds, crocodiles, and tapirs. Jaguars are an endangered species due to loss of habitat and over-hunting by man.

Snow Leopard

Expert Group

The snow leopard’s habitat is the taiga (snowy mountains). They live on the continent of Asia.

The snow leopard weighs 60 to 120 pounds. Snow leopards are 3 to 4 feet. Snow leopards are carnivores. Their diet consists of mountain goats, baby pandas, monkeys, and rodents.

The snow leopard has adapted to its environment in many ways. It can camouflage in the snow with its creamy-white fur and rosette spots. Its thick fur keeps it warm in the snow, and their big front paws help the snow leopard keep its place on the ice. Its tail is 3 feet long to help it balance when jumping from to high ledges on the mountainside.

The snow leopard is a very interesting feline. It can jump 50 feet high! Snow leopards are endangered because their habitat is being destroyed and poachers kill the snow leopard for its fur.

Name Date

Lions

Expert Group

The lion’s habitat is the savanna (grassy plains). They live on the continent of Africa.

The lion weighs up to 420 pounds. They are 9 to 10 feet long from nose to tip of tail. Lions are carnivores. Their diet consists of zebras, antelope, wildebeests, and warthogs.

Lions have adapted to live in their habitat. Their tan coat helps them camouflage on the grassy plains. Also, lions live in groups called “prides” with 3 to 35 members. The females do all the hunting, and they hunt cooperatively in groups. The females will surround their prey and ambush them from all sides. In this way, they can catch faster prey.

Lions are very interesting felines. Lions are the only feline to have a distinguishing characteristic between the female and the male. Males have a mane to protect their head and neck when fighting other male lions to protect their territory. Lions are endangered because their habitat is being destroyed.

HOME/SCHOOL CONNECTION #1

Felines Around the World

Discuss the story Tigress with your parents. What do they think the tigress will do next? Write or draw their answers.

Parent Comments:

Parent Signature Student Name

HOME/SCHOOL CONNECTION #2

Felines Around the World

What do your parents know about felines? Write or draw their answers.

Parent Comments:

Parent Signature Student Name

HOME/SCHOOL CONNECTION #3

Felines Around the World

Look for animals in your neighborhood. Write or draw the animals you see.

Parent Comments:

Parent Signature Student Name

HOME/SCHOOL CONNECTION #4

Felines Around the World

Explain endangered to your parents and give examples of endangered felines. Draw them.

Parent Comments:

Parent Signature Student Name

HOME/SCHOOL CONNECTION #5

Felines Around the World

Share your Evaluation Letter with your parents. Take home your portfolio and share the contents. Have your parents write their comments.

Parent Signature Student Name

CONNECION DE CASA A ESCUELA #1

Felinos alrededor del mundo

Cuentale el cuento de Tigress a tus padres. Que piensan ellos que el tigre va hacer proximo? Escribe o dibuja sus respuestas.

Commentario de padres:

Firma de padres nombre de estudiante

CONNECION DE CASA A ESCUELA #2

Felinos alrededor del mundo

Que saben tus padres sobre los felinos? Escribe o dibuja sus respuestas.

Commentario de padres:

Firma de padres nombre de estudiante

CONNECION DE CASA A ESCUELA #3

Felinos alrededor del mundo

Busca animales en tu vecindad. Escribe o dibuja los animals que miras.

Commentario de padres:

Firma de padres nombre de estudiante

CONNECION DE CASA A ESCUELA #4

Felinos alrededor del mundo

Explicales a tus padres lo que significa estar en peligro de extincion y dales ejemplos de felinos. Dibujalos.

Commentario de padres:

Firma de padres nombre de estudiante

CONNECION DE CASA A ESCUELA #5

Felinos alrededor del mundo

Comparte tu carta de evaluacion con tus padres. Lleva tu portafolio a casa y comparte los contenidos. Deja que tus padres escriban sus comentarios.

Firma de padres nombre de estudiante

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Adaptations

Interesting Facts

Size

Habitat

Diet

Continent

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