Gerry The Groundhog And Squirrels Habitat

1. I will tell students we will be scientists today to find a Groundhog and Squirrels habitat.

2. I will show them a picture of Gerry the Groundhog. I will explain Gerry is trying to find a home (habitat) for his family, but he does not know where to live. Can you find out where the best place for him to live is?

3. Next, I will show two gardening tools and ask them to compare and contrast them by saying, “Can you tell me how these two tools are different?”

4. I will call on 2 students to share their ideas.

5. Next, I will explain one is more curved and thicker and the other is less curved and thinner.

6. I will explain when we go outside we will be practicing moving dirt and climbing tree trunks.

7. I will have students repeat the word, “tree trunk,” and explain it is the middle of the

I will give them three directions. When I call them over, we will line up quietly, walk outside to the tree in a nice quiet line, and then wait for the next directions.

9. I will repeat the 3 steps and ask the class to say them with me.

10. I will call the students to line up by walking like penguins when I call a color they are wearing.

11. When the students are lined up, I will remind them to walk in the hall quietly, and then I will walk in the middle of the line to make sure all students are following directions.

12. When we get to the tree outside, I will split the students in two groups. One group will be with Ms. Gifford and the other will be with Miss Cable.

13. The first group will be testing the Groundhog and Squirrel claws moving the soil and the second group will be testing the claws’ ability to climb trees by gently scratching the tree trunk.

14. Each student will have about 20 seconds to practice moving dirt or gently touching the claws on the tree to identify which one is more effective at moving dirt. After about 3 minutes, half the group will discuss what they observed for approximately 2 minutes.

15. The class will switch groups and repeat steps 11 and