Part of Lesson Plan: Observing Animals

Activity Overview / Details

1-Handout "Lab Sheet" and review it with students

2-Ask probing questions about observing Posture, Movement, Voice, Appetite, Mating Activity, Sleeping Habits and Social Behaviors

3-Take students to animal or bring animal into classroom

4-Give the students 5 minutes to write down anything they can think of about that animal in the "General Observation" area of the lab sheet.

5-The animal then needs to be safely and humanely restrained (at this point go into correct handling and restraint for the particular species used).

6-Students (a few) will then lubricate the thermometer and correctly take temperature for the classes use.

7-Discuss with the class about breathing and respiration rates, demonstrate how to take respiration and discuss how this could be used in diagnosing a sick animal.

8-Students (another few will then count respiration rate) provide normal respiration chart of a variety of species. Results are then shared with the class.

9-After that time, students are then to record the results in the "Observations" section of the lab sheet and answer questions.