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Happening Habitats

Home » Happening Habitats
habitat crafts cactus owl monkey banana bear blanket elephant grasslands

Happening Habitats

Our science focus this month is plant and animal habitats and their environments. In addition to looking at the parent and offspring relationship and how they meet their needs, we also study what they need to survive. As I’ve said before, my monthly themes are based on our science and social studies standards/units. We use this overall theme to engage student learning and completely immerse the kiddos in the topic. I try to base as much of our reading and writing and math on those central ideas as possible. Each month first-grade classrooms are transformed into the unit of study.

Studying animals and plants and their habitats is one of my favorites. We approach it from all kinds of angles. Sadly, the importance of this type of engagement and immersive learning has been lost on the “curriculum police” that don’t quite get education in a primary classroom and dynamic learning. Luckily, this trend seems to be hitting a wall and will hopefully disappear soon! Anyhoo, I have a door. I shut it. I do what’s best. We are engaged. We are immersed. We are learning.

We’ve been busy.

A Look at the Desert

October’s habitat study started out with a visit to the desert.

Desert cactus and owl bulletin board

After discussing the trials that the desert climate offers, we discovered the adaptations that desert plants and animals have that allow them to live quite comfortably in this arid and commonly hot habitat. Then we completed an A LOOK at the Desert activity.

cactus owl sample with writing

The unit comes with a variety of writing activities. This one is designed for early 1st. There is a simpler Kindergarten activity as well as 2 other more developed paragraph writing activities.  

Writing choices for desert and owl craft

Hibernating to Survive

After the desert we took a trip to the forest.

hibernating bear bulletin board

We talked about why animals hibernate while we “visited” the forest. Then we worked on the “Nighty, Night Bear!” lesson and craft.

bear craft and hibernation activity book

The Layers of the Rainforest

This week we kicked back in the rainforest and discovered all it’s layers.

Rainforest Bulletin Board

This “Hanging Around the Rainforest” activity was lots of fun for the kiddos. We read the little banana-shaped book and used our inference skills to determine which rainforest animal would fit best with the information provided.

Monkey and Banana rainforest layers activity

It actually comes with 2 different sized monkeys. I LOVE the larger ones, but 30 large monkeys don’t fit too well on the bulletin board.

To introduce this unit we look at a lot of books, online videos, Scholastic News, and online images. We also work with these posters. The kids LOVE filling in and coloring their own!

Rainforest Posters

Headers to label the different layers of your rainforest bulletin board as well as the board itself are also included.

Bulletin board header and labels for rainforest
Monkey & Banana Craft

Each of these habitat activities are available individually. They are also available in a bundle.

Happening Habitats Bundle

  The Happening Habitats Bundle includes a couple extra things for FREE!  

Savanna Extras

Sensational Savanna Alliteration is a fun activity that incorporates an alliteration lesson and savanna animals!

Savanna animals and alliteration activity

The bundle also includes some FREE BONUS vocabulary cards.

habitat vocabulary cards

I LOVE that the kiddos are always so excited about this unit. I enjoy doing it during the first part of the year because it truly encourages student buy in to the fun we have in engaging in a thematic unit each month!

What’s your favorite habitat to teach about?

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6 Comments

Leave your reply.
  • Rachel
    · Reply

    October 16, 2012 at 9:42 AM

    Great activities!

  • Reagan Tunstall
    · Reply

    October 16, 2012 at 4:46 PM

    Tho tho true!
    LOVE YOUR Post!!!!

  • Across the Hall
    · Reply

    October 16, 2012 at 10:42 PM

    I absolutely love all of your craftivities, especially the sleepy bear!! Added them all to my wishlist for when we cover habitats in the spring!

    We're having a giveaway if you'd like to stop by!

    Halle
    Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

  • Angi
    · Reply

    October 20, 2012 at 3:02 AM

    Ha ha…we have the curriculum police too. Some of ours sit in the back of the room and text instead of socializing with the kids or actually paying attiont to the lesson. I find that more annoying than them being there in the first place. I hope it went well!!

    BTW…You've been Boo-ed. Swing by to find out more.

    Angi
    ★ First-Graders from Outer Space ★

  • Kelly
    · Reply

    October 20, 2012 at 4:26 AM

    I love all of your animal activities. My daughter is in 4th grade and they just finished up Animal Habitat Diaramas. she loved it! My class went to look at them and they all wanted to do one. I've put your unit in my wishlist.

    We have a spy that comes to our building. She is hired by the district, but doesn't work for the district (if that makes sense). She never says a word when she comes in. I kind of panic if I feel like we aren't quite on task. My principal said she has never offered any suggestions or critiques, so she has no idea what the lady is thinking.

    Kelly @ I'm Not Your Grandpa, I'm Your Teacher

  • vicky1970
    · Reply

    October 20, 2012 at 8:15 PM

    Hi traci
    I remember when I posted about habitats in the spring you mentioned you did them in the fall. I love your desert owls. Sooo cute! Your room looks great….the curriculum police should be so proud to have you, but I know what you mean on the whole judging thing. Have a great week…I know I will conferences are OVER.;)
    Vicky

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Hi! I’m Traci and I’m super glad you’re here. I’m passionate about sharing all the *wisdom* gained over my many years of teaching. I love helping teachers find their joy, develop efficiency and ignite their own teaching strengths. I believe simplicity and fun coupled with effective strategies and engaging and focused lessons are the key to it all. Also… laughter can carry you through just about all things.

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