Second Grade

Bats - Shadows of the Night
Unit Description

Bats, Shadows of the Night is an interdisciplinary unit on bats, designed to give students an understanding of this unique mammal.  Bats are one of the most unique and beneficial mammals on earth, one of the most misunderstood, and one of the most endangered mammals.  Bats, Shadows of the Night is written to provide the students an in-depth study of bats.  Students will investigate the characteristics and classification of these mammals.  Students will explore their habitats and the beauty of caves; flight and echolocation; work independently and cooperatively on problem-solving activities culminating in the building of a bat house to place in their neighborhood to encourage bats to take up residence.

Unit Objectives

1. Students will learn basic facts about bats and begin to develop the vocabulary of bats through a variety of hands on activities.
2. Students will learn and appreciate the beneficial role of bats and determine whether negative connotations regarding bats are myth or reality
3. Students will develop research skills as they discover and learn about bats and the role they play in our ecosystem.
4. Students will use research skills to learn about different bats, their scientific classification, their behavior, and the variety of habitats.
5. Students will engage in activities which provide development of critical thinking skills of analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating, hypothesizing, application, and deductive/inductive reasoning.
6. Students will use their analytical thinking skills to solve a variety of logic activities and scientific hypotheses.

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