What Do You Do

With a Tail Like This?

written by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page

Animal Websites

Sea World/Busch Gardens Animal Bytes quickly find information about some of the unique creatures found in the animal kingdom

Animal Sounds Library

National Geographic Kids Creature Feature- Get to know some of the most interesting and unusual members of the wild world. Dive in for photos, video, audio, postcards, fun facts, and more!

PBS Critter Guide- browse by animal category

Enchanted Learning Animal Pages- info and coloring pages to print out for animals from every letter of the alphabet

Technology Activities

Sort animals mentioned in the story into the correct animals groups. Use this Kidspiration activity.

Using Kidspiration or Inspiration student can brainstorm other (unique) animal body parts that are not mentioned in the story (fins, wings, horns, tusks, whiskers etc.). Then they can list examples of animals that have that body part.

Animal Trivia Game

Amazing Animals Scavenger Hunt- this is a great reading comprehension activity

Writing Activities

• Have each student create an imaginary or mixed up animal. Their job is to draw a picture of their animal and then write a description of it. See examples from a

  • Write what it’s tail, eyes, mouth, body, feet, nose, and ears look like.
     

  • Switch descriptions with students from another class. Students draw picture of the animal based on the descriptions.
     

  • Compare pictures.
     

  • To help with this project students can view pictures of animals at this website Animal Photo Gallery
     

  • See examples of this project (completed by third graders).
     

• Animal Poetry
  After researching a particular animal students can write an animal poem using this form.