Trip Entry: Animal Tracks

Animal tracks are imprints left behind in snow, dirt, mud, or other ground surfaces that an animal walks across.  Animal tracks are used by hunters, their prey, and by naturalists to identify animals living in a given area.  Books are commonly used to identify animal tracks, which may look different based on the weight of a particular animal.  Tracks can be fossilized over millions of years. It is for this reason we are able to see fossilized dinosaur tracks in some types of rock formations.  We are able to identify animals even if we never see them. Some animal prints are easy to identify. The most common animal print is the white-tailed deer. Animal prints are all around us as we observe them in nature and look for patterns.  (Content) 

 

Before reading "Big Tracks, Little Tracks" by Millicent E. Selsam, have the students tell what questions a detective asks him/herself while trying to solve a mystery. (Who, what, when, where, why) (DOK 1) While reading the story, ask the students to determine what a "nature detective" might be and where he/she would find clues? (CC.8.5.6-8.D) (DOK 2) Have students compare tracks of different animals and classify them by how many "toes" they have. Determine the author's purpose and describe how it affects their reading of the selection. (CC.8.5.6-8.F) (DOK 3) Show the you.tube movie "Raccoon in the Ripe Corn" (Reading Rainbow) and have students create their own animal tracks using the rubber stampers. (Amazon.com) (CC.8.5.6-8.G) Students will share their designs with the class and determine what type of animal made the tracks. (DOK 4) (Creative Idea) 

Domains: 1a, 1b, 1d, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d