Introduction
Students compare the differences between bats and birds in a class discussion.  The teacher reads the book Stellaluna by Janell Canon and the class reviews the differences noted in the story between a bat and a bird.  Each student does more research on bats.  They each pick a type of bat to write a report on.  In pairs, students write a question about bats with the answer on back.  These will be used to play a bat jeopardy game!

Subject:  Science
Topic:  Bats
Grade Level:  1-2
Student Lesson name and URL:  Busy Bats

Standards Addressed
First and Second Grade
Science: Focus on Life Science

2. Plants and animals have predictable life cycles.
As a basis for understanding this concept, students know: 
a. organisms reproduce offspring of their own kind. The offspring resemble their parents and each other.
b. the sequential stages of life cycles are different for different animals, for example butterflies, frogs, and mice.
c. many characteristics of an organism are inherited from the parents. Some characteristics are caused by, or influenced by, the
environment.
d. there is variation among individuals of one kind within a population.

  Instructional Objectives

1. Students will be able to identify the differences between bats and birds.
2. Students will be able to classify the bat as a mammal and explain the traits of mammals.After analyzing information from an Encarta CD, students will be able to compare the distribution of fossils, rock types and ancient climatic zones on different continents as evidence for plate tectonics by fitting puzzle pieces marked by these special features.
3. Students will  select a type of bat to do research on and summarize the information in a report format. 
4. After collecting information on bats, students will be able to work in pairs to develop questions (with answers) about bats for the Bat Facts Game. 
5. Students will answer questions orally about the bat unit  in a game format such as Jeopardy. 
6. Students will be able to complete a written assessment in the form of a scavenger hunt.  The student will gather information from a website and books in order to answer the questions.

Student Activities
Insert brief summaries of your introductory, enabling, and culminating activities. Insert links to online resources in your text and insert links to activities on your student lesson web site.

 
Introductory Activity
Students will begin by noting and identifying the differences between bats and birds in a class discussion.  The teacher can ask the questions:   How are a bat and bird alike?  How are they different?  Then record student responses on chart paper- one for bats and one for birds. 

Enabling Activities
The teacher will read the book, Stellaluna.  He or she should stop periodically to ask the students questions about what they observe are the similarities and differences between Stellaluna and the birds. After the teacher finishes the story, the class will review the differences between bats and birds identified on chart paper.  Things can be added or deleted as necessary.
Next the class can begin to generate a list of different kinds of bats.  The teacher can list these on chart paper or the board.  As the children read books about bats, they can add to this list. 

Culminating Activity
    Each student selects a bat to do research on and write a report about.  The student  will also draw a picture of the bat   he has chosen to write about.

Assessment (printable)
     Students can do the bat scavenger hunt at the end of this unit as a way to assess their knowledge of bats and their habitat.   Scavenger hunt is found on the assessment page.

 Web Resources & Supplementary Materials

http://members.aol.com/bats4kids/
Bats, a thematic unit, grades 1-3, Evan-Moor, 1995

Click here for a Powerpoint presentation about this project, and to view an Excel chart of pre and post test results.

North Cow Creek School
10619 Swede Creek Road, Palo Cedro
Cindy Moore, cmoore@shastalink@k12.ca.us
Last Revised: 06/29/2000