Alike and Different
Help your child compare animals, telling how they are alike and different. You can use toy animals, pictures, or real animals throughout the year. Discuss the animals' characteristics—fur, feathers, ears, number of legs, types of feet, wings, etc. Find characteristics that make the animals alike and different. Your child will suggest other similarities and differences as he or she compares.
As an extension, talk with your child about how an animal's characteristics and abilities help it live in certain environments. For example, discuss how a squirrel is well suited to live in a tree, while a fish is best suited to live in water. You can even compare other animals that live in a particular environment, such as a tree. Ask questions such as: Why is a tree a good home for a bird and a squirrel?
Comparing how things are alike and different will help your child in all subject areas—math, reading, science, social studies, art, and more!