Language Arts K-2

Rhyming words: As students listen to the CD, ask them to pick out the rhyming words. For K and 1st grades, do the activity as a whole group lesson, writing the words on the board.

Discuss how some rhyming words are spelled differently, and how some words have the same spelling, but different beginning consonants.

Pick out two rhyming words that have the same endings. Show how these are word chunks or word families. Ex: name-same

Brainstorm with the students for other words that end with –ame: Came, game, lame, fame, etc.

Create a word family guide on chart paper. Invite the students to practice reading this list, reinforcing beginning letter sounds, and word chunk phonemic awareness.

Vocabulary: Discuss the definitions of words: endangered, mammal, incisors, ferocious, poachers, vegetarian, habitat, species, region, ivory, captivity, hibernation, collision, responsibility.

Language Arts 3-5

Rhyming words: As students listen to the CD, ask them to pick out the rhyming words. Discuss the rhyming words that have different spellings. Ex: choir, hire

Discuss how different spellings are based upon different word origins, as English is a combination of Germanic, Old English, Greek, and Latin languages.

Meter: Discuss how some phrases have similar syllabic meter, allowing for the phrasing of rhyme. Discuss different kinds of meter: iambic pentameter, showing how rhyme and rhythm are connected.

Invite the students to create their own rhymes about favorite things. Students can illustrate their rhymes and a class book can be created.

Vocabulary: Have the students look up the definitions of words: endangered, mammal, incisors, ferocious, poachers, vegetarian, habitat, species, region, ivory, captivity, hibernation, collision, responsibility.

Math K-5th

When children draw pictures of animals (polar bear, rabbit, rhinoceros, etc.) show how animals have symmetry. Also discuss symmetry as you create the zookeeper mask.

Cut out a large circle. Fold it in half. Discuss how you have created two semi-circles. Fold it into quarters, and then unfold, discussing how you have created four equal parts. For 4th-5th graders, write the fractions on the board: 1/4 + 1/4 = 1/2 and 1/2 + 1/2 = 1

Science/Social Studies

Using the circle that has been quartered, color in 1/4 of the circle with brown crayon, and the other 1/4 with blue crayon, illustrating the relationship of land to water on earth.

Read about or have students research the endangered animals: panda, gorilla, polar bear, etc.

Read about or have students research global warming and its effect on the ecosystems.

Discuss the food chain, and how animals depend on other animals and plants for food.

Brainstorm ways that the students can be responsible for the earth:

• Recycle, reduce, reuse, precycle.
• Begin a recycling campaign in your school.
• Turn off lights when not in use.
• Don't waste water.
• Don't open the refrigerator unless you know what you're getting (because the fridge uses up the most electricity in your home).