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The Scoop on Poop: A Scientific Investigation into Scat

By investigating visual clues, young scientists "scatologist" will learn to identify the animal through its droppings.
Erin McManus
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(1)
Class

What's included

1 live meeting
45 mins in-class hours

Class Experience

Call it the Ewww! factor, but nothing engages kids in science more than a down and dirty hands-on project..and kids love talking and giggling about Poop! Scientists study animal poop, also called scat, to learn about the hidden lives of animals. We can find scat in the wild and know what type of animal left it based on its shape, size, and contents. Not only is scat a great identifier of which critters have been around, but it also provides a peek into their lives by telling us what they eat.   In this one-time course, students will investigate scat, through the book "What do the do with all that Poo?", we will have a class discussion on, and work cooperatively and play "Guess Poo?". Students will try to identify animals and categorize them as herbivore, omnivore, carnivore based on their droppings. We will also learn how to create your own scat at home, by drawing or with clay! 

Keywords
Scat
Omnivore
Carnivore
Herbivore
Scatologist 

Material (not necessary to have any or all, learners can participate by simply drawing scat)
Clay or playdough
Also if you have on hand..the following material will be incorporated into the fake scat to represent what you’d normally find in real scat 
Hay = hay
Grass = grass
Crushed dry pasta of varying types = animal bones
Bird seed = seeds 
Aluminum foil small pieces = insect wings
Red hots = berries
Feathers (store bought) = feathers
Cotton = fur

Learning Goals

Students will understand the scientific significance of scat.
learning goal

Other Details

External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined April, 2020
5.0
1reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Hi, my name is Erin and I am an accomplished, versatile educational professional with an outstanding career history. I have extensive knowledge and expertise in environmental interpretation and curriculum development. I enjoy facilitating the hands-on science learning process; actively guiding teachable moments, and using the 5E model of teaching. The 5E model of science instruction is a student-centered, inquiry-based process that allows students to learn the science content with more depth. My career experience includes being a science teacher, working in nature centers, working as a biologist, and working with a variety of animals. 

B.S. Biology (concentration in Marine/Aquatic Science)  candidate for M.S. Secondary Science Education certification in Biology, General Science, Earth Science, and Ag. Science. 

Reviews

Live One-Time Class
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$10

per class
Meets once
45 min

Completed by 7 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 6-11
1-7 learners per class

This class is no longer offered
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