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Feathers & Fur, Scales & Skin

Keepers of the Animals - Native American Stories and Wildlife Activities for Children

Elementary

Description

Feathers and Fur, Scales and Skin is part of a compilation entitled Keepers of the Animals which provides an integrated approach to the concepts of wildlife ecology and environmental and stewardship issues concerning animals, habitat, and natural history. Through the use of Native North American stories and hands-on activities integrated with subject areas such as creative arts, theater, science, social studies, mathematics, students learn to understand, live with and care for the animals. 

Feathers and Fur, Scales and Skin is a collection of twelve stories from a variety of Native American traditions.  Each story provides background information about the legend, information about the animals highlighted in the story, discussion questions and a variety of hands-on activities designed to give students a clearer understanding of the natural history facts or processes described in the story. Each activity provides goals, detailed teaching instructions and a list of required materials. A section entitled Extending the Experience provides a variety of activities to reinforce and supplement the lessons of the stories and activities.

Turtle Races with Beaver introduces many of the important concepts and relationships between plants, animals and their environments. Students participate in a variety of hands-on activities such as performing a puppet show, creating a model beaver pond and playing ecological games.  

Octopus and Raven explores the seashore and its inhabitants. Students play a game of charades to imitate the anatomy and behaviour of seashore invertebrates, go on a scavenger hunt and create small models of a mussel’s filter feeding system. They review the natural history of the octopus and have fun playing octopus tag.  

How the Butterflies Came to Be examines the role and life cycle of butterflies and insects. Students make a list of all the gifts we receive from insects, create a special gift for the insects, go on an insect scavenger hunt, create models of familiar insects, make an insect instrument and play their own chorus and complete a maze simulating the hazardous migratory route of a monarch butterfly.      

Salmon Boy introduces the importance of respect for the salmon, ocean life and conservation of fish.  Students learn about the basic external anatomy of a fish by catching a fish in a net, observing it, and releasing it.  They listen to a fantasy journey and live out the life cycle of a salmon and calculate the number of potential offspring. They create a diorama of an underwater ocean scene. Students develop a connection with the sea by spending some time alone then writing a thank you note or poem to express their gratitude. 

The Woman Who Married a Frog examines amphibians and their adaptations for survival as well as pollution and environmental changes affecting amphibian’s habitats. Students listen to a puppet show to learn more about amphibian characteristics and their metamorphosis, collect and care for frog eggs to experience the developmental stages from egg, larva to frog, watch a frog’s tongue as it is feeding and create a simple motion picture, monitor and record amphibian sightings in the area and take appropriate action for protecting local populations of amphibians. 

How Poison Came Into the World and The Boy and the Rattlesnake explore different types of reptiles, conservation of reptiles and animal stereotypes and defenses. Students learn what distinguishes reptiles from other animals through a series of riddles, find and observe reptiles focusing on their defenses and warning signals, create their own reptile, participate in a fantasy journey and see the world from a rattlesnake’s point of view. Students read some traditional animal stories and rewrite one of their favourites. They learn and practice a variety of conservation measures to help protect reptiles.   

The First Flute and Manabozho and the Woodpecker explore the topics of birds focusing on flight, adaptation, survival, communication and conservation. Activities include playing a bingo game to help students learn and practice some common bird calls, matching up birds with their correct beaks, playing a matching game to identify some survival adaptations of birds, monitoring local bird populations. They create a papier-mâché woodpecker and its habitat.        

Why Coyote Has Yellow Eyes and The Dogs Who Saved Their Master examines mammals and dogs of North America. Students become familiar with local mammals, make papier-mâché masks, play a cooperative puzzle game, study the language of a pet and create a dictionary for the animal sounds. They play a game of choices to see if they are as adaptable as a coyote.  

Why Possum Has a Naked Tail looks closely at urban and suburban animals and their habitat. Students go on a walk to search for animals and their living conditions, conduct a survey of people’s attitudes towards animals, research an endangered or exotic species and get involved in a hands-on project by providing a good habitat for an urban animal.   

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