Make a Habitat Fact File

Science

Students will make a class fact file that provides details about the habitats of a variety of wild animals.

What You Need

Reference sources (Web sites, encyclopedias, magazines, guides, etc.) about animals and their habitats
Old magazines containing pictures of animals
Student access to a photocopy machine (optional)
A cardboard file box large enough to hold perhaps a dozen standard file folders
Five tabbed file folders, with labels
Writing paper and pencils
Crayons, colored pencils and markers
Glue
Scissors

What To Do

Tell the students that you would like them to create a class fact file containing information about the habitats of wild animals. Remind students that a habitat is the natural environment in which an animal usually lives. Then list these five animal groups on the board: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles/amphibians, and insects/arachnids. Explain that most of the world's animals can be found in these groups.
Divide the class into five teams and assign a different animal group to each team. Give each team a file folder and a folder label. Ask each student to choose an animal from the team's assigned animal group. To help students with their selections, you may want to list some of the animals in each group.
Have each student research the habitat of his or her selected animal and prepare a fact sheet on the habitat. Point out that each fact sheet should contain this information: the animal's name, the name of the animal's group, and several sentences describing the animal's habitat. Suggest that students cut out and glue magazine photos (or photocopies of photos) of their animals to their fact sheets.
When teams have finished their fact sheets, have them assemble the sheets into a file folder and add a label bearing the name of their animal group. Let students decorate their folders with drawings or photos of their animals if they wish.
Collect the folders and place them in the file box. (You might want to have students share their fact sheets with the class before filing them.) Write "Habitat Fact File" on the box as a label. Encourage students to use the box as a reference whenever they like, and to add additional fact sheets throughout the year.