Week+2+-+Animal+Habitats


 * Week 2 - Animal Habitats ** [[image:Lion Natural Habitat.jpg width="240" height="180"]] VS [[image:Lion Zoo.jpg width="240" height="173"]]

How do natural habitats differ from controlled habitats? How are controlled habitats created? Day 1: Deer on Trial Today was a FABULOUS Day!! We had a great time during our visit to Fontanelle Forest in Bellevue, NE. We were being introduced to the most important things a good natural habitat needs, when ALL OF A SUDDEN...the Honorable Judge Debra entered the room and the lesson turned into a courtroom DRAMA! Watch below as the case unfolds! Forest vs. Deer Population - will the case be closed?



In the afternoon, we used our measuring tools to finish measuring the fences of the Aviary at the Zoo and we also used technology in the Lied Jungle Classroom to explore the Wiki Pages you are looking at now! The students also had time to create a "Word Cloud" by hand - you can also find the link on the "LEARNING RESOURCES" page on this Wiki to make a word cloud online and print it at home! Check out what else students have created on their student project pages - look on the navigation bar on the left (orange) to see what students have been up to!

Day 2: "Owl About Population Dynamics" - Why are population numbers important to know? Students arrived at Fontanelle Forest this morning and were greeted by some wonderful staff, Debra, Kris and Diane - they taught us about Raptors such as the Barred Owl and Screech Owl. (Videos to come!)



Afterwards, we went on a hike to see a how a Natural Habitat (Fontanelle) differs from a controlled Habitat (Zoo). Diane was my groups tour guide and she taught us a lot about the surroundings and how best to view a natural habitat. Students became very observant - especially Grant ! He saw a turkey and a deer in one observation! The keys to good observation: When students returned, we were greeted by a "lab" of sorts in the building. Students were able to dissect Owl Pellets, which are what the raptors regurgitate after a meal. These consist of bones and fur of their prey. (Watch for videos to be uploaded)!
 * Keep eyes open, and mouths quiet!
 * Quiet feet (steps)
 * Look for camouflaged animals in the brush and around downed trees.

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Day 3: Controlled Habitats vs. "Natural" Habitats"  <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Students were given a second chance on their "Home Sweet Habitat" mission for the week. Taking advantage of the Zoo opening at 9:00am to the public, students had the Zoo to themselves essentially to finish their scavenger hunt for animals that lived in certain habitats. Most small groups finished their hunt and had pictures to prove it!   <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Mid-morning, we had a guest speaker, Mr. Hartman. He helped us to realize that habitats that we considered "natural", still have a controlled element to them. Although animals can come and go as they please in places like Hitchcock Nature Center and Fontanelle Forest, they still have an element of controlled habitats in that they try to control the deer population (Fontanelle) and also try to replicate natural forest fires to help the forest regenerate itself (Hitchcock). media type="youtube" key="gcdj4C3J8C0" height="283" width="504" align="center"

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">After some Q & A with Mr. Hartman about what a controlled habitat like the Zoo needs for each exhibit, students ate lunch outside the Tree Top at the Lied Jungle and had a 30 minute group choice exploration in exhibits at the zoo they hadn't had a chance to enjoy yet. <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">In the afternoon, students then made a list of things the Zoo and it's people would need to know about an animal before creating a habitat or exhibit for that animal. <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Physical Characteristics
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Size
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">What it eats
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Covering
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Tolerance to sound, heat, cold, surfaces, etc.
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Behavioral Characteristics
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Eating (How)
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Movement (How much, how often, how far?)
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Social Interaction - do they need it, or do they prefer to be alone?
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Level of Aggression
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Defense against predators or enemies
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Nocturnal or Diurnal?
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Habitat
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Water (running, still, shallow pool, deep?)
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">A Place to Eat
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">A Place to Sleep
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">A Place to Expel Waste
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Entertainment/Exercise
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Plants Native to the region they live in naturally, but not plants they eat. (Replanting would be too much $$)

<span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 35px; line-height: 51px; text-align: center;">Day 4: Animal Habitat Enrichment
<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">Students continued to research and plan their animal habitats, keeping in mind all of the things above from Day 3, the students went searching for inspiration before the Zoo officially opened. They visited habitats that would be similar to the habitat that their animal would have. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">When they returned from sketching their inspirations, they used Google Chrome Computers as well as books from Green Hills AEA to research their animals needs. And their research continues! <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">After Lunch, students were paid a visit by a very special Docent, Rosemary. She is on a committee that is in charge of Animal Enrichment at the Henry Doorly Zoo. She explained to the students that all animals need something to do for a challenge or enrichment. She gave the students licorice strings and Cherrios to complete Enrichment Items for the "Other" category of animals - Birds, small rodents and other small animals. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">IT WAS AWESOME! We can't wait to see our creations hanging in those habitats! <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Day 5: Wildlife Safari Park - Ashland, NE  <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 32px;">This Friday was exciting! We spent our entire day on Safari in Ashland, Nebraska at the Zoo's Wildlife Safari Park. This park offered a close up view of:
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 31px;">Elk
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 31px;">White Tail Deer
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 31px;">Bison
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 31px;">Wolves
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 31px;">Black Bears
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 31px;">Bald Eagles

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 30px;">Students were at a safe viewing distance from the animals all of the time, whether on the bus or behind the barriers of this controlled habitat. Check out the Pictures and Videos below to see what the experience was like! <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">

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