Amazing Animal Almanac


Introduction:

          Ranger Rob needs your help!  He is swamped with work and does not have time to lead the animal sighting field trips he does every year for the local elementary schools.  Mr. Helpman, a park volunteer, has offered to lead the animal sighting trip.  This will be his first time as an animal guide.  Ranger Rob would like your assistance in creating a field guide to assist Mr. Helpman in his first animal guide trip.  As a reward, he has offered your class a free tour of the park and an amazing animal sighting adventure!

Challenge:

          Research one of the Vermont animals listed below to create a page of the Amazing Animal Almanac of Vermont.  On your almanac page, you will need to list the following information:

  • Animal picture or sketch
  • Description of the animal’s appearance
  • Animal’s habitat
  • Animals eating habits
  • 1-2 interesting fact(s)
  • Animal’s tracks (footprints)
  • Answer the Question: Why is this animal well-adapted to living in Vermont?


* Once your page is completed, turn your sheet in so it can be added to the Animal Almanac along with your classmates' pages.

Journey:

          Choose one of the Vermont animals listed in the table below.  Then, use the following websites to help you find resources on the animal you chose.
 little brown bat Bat (Little Brown Bat)  
lynx Lynx
 black bear Bear (Black Bear)  
mink Mink

beaverBeaver

 moose Moose



 bobcatBobcat		  osprey Osprey
 chipmunk Chipmunk
 otter Otter
 white-tailed deer Deer (White-tailed)  eastern cottontail Rabbit (Eastern Cottontail)
 garter snake Garter Snake  red fox Red Fox
 gray fox Gray Fox  wood turtle Turtle (Wood Turtle)
 hummingbird Hummingbird  long-tailed weasel Weasel (Long-tailed weasel)

hermit thrush Hermit Thrush

gray wolf Wolf (Gray)

Websites:

http://www.etsd.org/fms/treashnt/vtanimal.htm

http://www.enature.com/home/

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/critter.html

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html


Also try these search engines:


Yahooligans!

Kid's Click!

Ask For Kids


Try searching:
  • Your animal name (For example, "Moose")
  • Your animal name + tracks (For example, "Moose tracks")

A special thanks to the following websites for use of their pictures:

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i7590id.html

http://www.agarman.dial.pipex.com/bobcat.htm

http://www.mooseworld.com/photos5.htm

http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/animals/weasel.html

http://www.etsd.org/fms/treashnt/vtanimal.htm

Questions?  Email khargro@uvm.edu


Last updated March 2006