The Animal Detective: A Trip the to the Washington Zoo

The National Zoological Park
Smithsonian Institution
3001 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 673-4800 (Recorded Info)
(202) 673-4989 (Group Tours)

Instructional Unit:
Animal Behavior: This field trip experience is designed to augment the students' understanding of animal traits and instincts.

Curriculum Unit:
Grade 4
Science

Objectives:
The learner will identify traits of four different animals that show an adaptation to different environments. They will also be able to distinguish between instinctive and learned behaviors.

Pre-Visit Activities:
Prior to the visit to the National Zoo students will have been studying animals' physical and behavioral traits. This includes the following:
1."The ruler catch" activity in which one student will drop a ruler between the thumb and forefinger of another student. The other students will attempt to catch the ruler before it drops past their fingers. Successive attempts will show that with practice students can catch the ruler more quickly demonstrating a learned behavior.
2. Have students close their eyes and put their heads on the desk as they are told an initially peaceful story that gets more and more frightening. At the point when they are anxious about what is going to happen next, a ruler crashes down on the desk. The students will invariably open their eyes, jump form their seats and look around the room for the cause of the noise. A discussion will lead students to recognize that their behavior was an instinctive response. This is a good example of instinctual reaction to a stimulus.

On-Site Activities:
Having learned the difference between learned and instinctual behavior, students will apply what they have learned to their National Zoo visit. Materials Needed:
1. Animal Detective Handouts I and II
2. Pencil
3. Notebook or clipboard.

Follow-Up Activities:
The day following the field trip students will be given time to research whether their findings in Animal Detective I and II were correct. They will also have time to complete their drawings. Then each student will present his or her findings and the class will discuss the detective work.

Appendices:
The Animal Detective I and II Worksheets

Bibliography:
None

Return to Science Lesson Plans