Let's Write and Learn About Zoology II

In this class, students will spend 8 weeks learning about birds and mammals. During each class, through PowerPoint and video, students will learn the key features of group as well as each groups incredible diversity. We will have time to discuss adaptations and practice creating example texts together.

With 17 orders of mammals and 41 orders of birds this class will group animals by different adaptations. As a result, an overarching theme of this class is "form follows function", and we will spend a portion of each class looking for the similarities between diverse groups of animals.

Each week will also focus on a form of non-fiction writing and students will be asked to write a short composition each week, which can be supplemented with drawings. We will add some creativity and imagination as we try and write from the perspective of some of the animals we are studying.

Reluctant writers and all levels of writing are welcome! I will send a short message to students providing individual feedback after each submission. 

Week 1, Birds of Prey/Persuasion: In this class we will examine the characteristics shared by birds of prey. Including owls, eagles and the secretary bird. We will focus on the elements of persuasive writing this week and everyone will be asked to share which bird of prey they think is the most interesting.

Week 2,  Birds of the Water/How to: The focus of the week will be aquatic birds such as ducks, loons, coots, swans and more. We will look at the features of a how-to composition and students will be asked to write about "How to be an Aquatic Bird"


Week 3: Birds that Sing/Letter Writing: This group of animals is vast but we will try to highlight some of the most familiar and the most unusual. We'll get a little playful with our writing and choose a songbird to write a letter to.

Week 4, Birds of the Tropics/Personal Narrative: The tropics have a some of the most colorful birds in the world. We will appreciate not only their beauty but consider why tropical regions have such immense diversity. Our writing focus will be personal narratives with a twist. We'll imagine what a bird might write as a personal narrative. Students will be asked to choose any bird that interests them and write about a day in the life of that bird from the perspective of the bird.

Week 5, Mammals in the Water/Persuasive: This won't just be whales and seals. We will also look at other mammals with adaptations for aquatic life such as the platypus and the beaver. We will return to persuasive writing and students will be asked to write a composition persuading their audience to help protect the aquatic mammal of their choice.

Week 6 Mammals that Eat Insects/Letter Writing: Aardwolfs, echidnas, pangolins, bats, what do all of these animals have in common? They are insectivores. We'll focus on the adaptations shared by these insect loving animals as well as their differences. We'll return to the elements of letter writing and choose an insectivore to write an imaginary letter to.

Week 7,  Mammals with Hooves/How-to: A group that has hooves and a lot more in common, including some of the most complicated digestive systems in the animal kingdom. We'll look at the differences between horns, antlers, tusks and rhino horns. Our writing focus will be on the how-to, we will create a how-to on how to be a hoofed animal.

Week 8, Mammals with Binocular Vision/Personal Narrative:  There are only two groups of animals with true forward facing eyes: primates and carnivores. Very different in many ways we'll look for similarities and differences beyond their eyes. Our final writing piece will be another creative non-fiction composition. This time taking the point of view of a primate or carnivore species of the student's choice.