Grade One Animal Research

 
The children in my class were divided into groups  of four or five and firstly, spent a few days designing, then constructing a paper mache animal. They used pieces of newspaper and masking tape to shape the form of their animal, then covered the form with pieces of newspaper strips and wallpaper paste. The animals needed to dry over the course of a few days and then were painted. The animals that were constructed were the owl, polar bear, seal, beaver, and loon. Upon completion of the paper mache part, the children spent a good part of a day gathering into their animal groups researching the following topics: Appearance, Enemies, Babies, Habitat, Food, and Fun Facts. They used library books and the Internet to collect information regarding their specific animal. The research projects and the paper mache animals were displayed throughout my classroom during our Canada theme in November. Many thanks to the many parents who assisted with both projects!

 

 
OWLS

Appearance- by Kennedy

Owls have yellow eyes and sharp claws. Many owls have head feathers that stand up like ears. 

Enemies- by Kennedy

Many owls are injured or lose their lives each year because they are hit by cars or trucks. Owls flying at night are blinded by car lights and are then hit. 

Babies- by Willi

The great horned owl raises its babies in late winter. The feathers keep the eggs and baby owls warm. Newborn owls are covered with soft downy feathers and cannot fly. At first they eat only food that is regurgitated, or spit up by their parents. Very soon the owlets are fed torn bits of prey. At six weeks of age, owls are big enough to fly and leave the nest and learn to hunt for themselves. 

Habitat- by Danny

Owls live in forests. Barn owls live in empty buildings. Elf owls live in cactus plants. 

Food- by Willi

Small species of owls gobble up insects such as grasshoppers, caterpillars, and beetles. They might also eat frogs, mice and small birds. Big owls eat larger prey such as rats, squirrels, gophers, rabbits, skunks, and big birds. 

Fun Facts- by Danny

Some owls scream. Some owls whistle. Some owls sound like they are laughing. 

 

 

 

 

 
LOONS

Appearance- by Molly

The loon weighs about 10 pounds. They are about two and a half feet long. Both male and female loons have black and white plumage. Both have very red eyes, which may help them see underwater. They have a black and white checkerboard coat and a thin necklace of markings around their neck. In late summer, it sheds its coat and it grows a drab gray winter coat. 

Enemies- by Molly

Loon eggs are in danger of being eaten by enemies whenever unattended.  Minks, muskrats, foxes, otters and skunks may destroy the nests. When the loon is fully grown, its enemies are the humans who hunt them, wolves, and raccoons. Powerboats can harm the ducks and leak oil which can poison them. 

Babies- by Nicholette

When the little chicks bread out of their shells, they are wet and sticky. The chicks are very soft and are dark brown-black. After only a few hours, they leave the nest and head for the water. In a few weeks, their flying feathers grow in and they can learn to fly. In two months, they are almost fully grown.

Habitat-by Steven

The loon has two homes. In summer it lives on lakes in North America. When the water freezes over, the loon must fly south. Some fly to California and Florida. They eat sleep and spend almost all their lives on the water. 

Food- by Anicia

Loons eat mostly small fish and minnows. The loon dives for fish and traps them in its big bill. Loons eat small fish whole. Loons also eat frogs, weeds, and even clams. 

Fun Facts- by "the whole group"

1. The songs of the loon are wild and strange. Some people say the birds are magical.

2. Loons can dive as deep as 200 feet.

3. Their bright red eyes help them see better underwater.

4. Loons have elastic throats so they can swallow food whole.

5. Loons have 2 special water dances. They do the "penguin dance" when people disturb them. 

 

 
POLAR BEARS

Appearance- by Alison

The polar bear is the giant of the north. He is a big, big, big, bear. He has black skin and white yellow fur. When they are wet, their fur looks spikey.

Enemies- by Nicholas

The enemies of the polar bear are people. Other bears can be their enemies, too. Pollution and garbage can kill polar bears, too. 

Babies- by Jena

Polar bear babies are cute. They are very tiny when they are born in the month of January. They begin to walk when they are two months old. They stay with their Mom until they are two years old. 

Habitat- by Andrew

Polar bears live in the Arctic where it is very cold. They live on the ice and snow almost all year. The females dig a winter den in the deep snowbanks. 

Food- by Susan

Polar bears eat fish, seals, stranded whales and other dead animals found on shore. In the summer they eat plants, birds, birds eggs, and other small animals. 

Fun Facts- by Nicholas

The male polar bear does not hibernate. He hunts all winter. The polar bear can stay underwater for up to 20 minutes. They have webbed feet. Playfighting with other bears helps them develop their strength and hunting skills. 

 

 
BEAVERS

Appearance- by Vladimir

Beavers have 20 teeth. Their bodies are oval shaped. They strike their paddle shaped tails on the water to warn of danger.

Enemies- by Kimberly

Humans hunt beavers for fur and food. Other beaver enemies are owls, bears, and wolves. Enemies especially hunt for beaver babies. 

Babies- by Vanessa

Baby beavers are called kits or pups. Mother beavers have 2 to 4 kits each spring. Babies can swim when they are born and their fur is waterproof. They leave home after 2 years. 

Habitat- by Kyle

Beavers build dams. Dams stop the flow of water. Then the beaver builds a lodge from sticks and mud. This is where he lives. The lodge is both above and below the water. 

Food- by Grant

Beavers are herbivores. They eat plants and wood. When food is scarce in the winter they can eat the wood that their lodge is made of.

Fun Facts- by Vanessa

Beavers cut down trees. 

Beavers are on the nickel.

Beavers have furry lips to keep the water out of their mouths.

When a beaver loses a tooth, another one will quickly grow back. 

 
SEALS

Appearance- by Christopher and Sophie

The face of a seal looks like a dog. Instead of legs, seals have flippers. Flippers are like fingers with skin growing in between. Seals can be gray-brown or spotted in color.

Enemies- by Christopher

Sharks and killer whales are enemies of seals. Seals are also hunted by man for food and for fur. 

Babies- by Brennan

Baby seals are called pups. Seals are mammals, so they are born alive from their mothers. If a mother did not feed its pup, the baby would starve. 

Habitat- by Brennan

Seals spend a lot of time in the water. Seals also like to come on land to lie on the beach and the rocks. Some seals live in warm places like California and others live in cold places like the Arctic and other northern areas. 

Food- by Sophie

Seals like to eat many kinds of fish. They like herring, flounder, octopus, and squid.

Fun Facts- by Sophie

Seals use their whiskers to feel like we use our fingers. Some seals can hold their breath underwater for one hour. Seals can swim over 20 km. per hour. 

 

Submitted by Patti Fleger at St. Monica School

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