What Do Animals Need to Survive?

This one-time course will fuse the fun of Harry Potter with the scientific concept of animal survival. By the end of this course, students will be able to explain what animals need to survive through an examination of what different magical creatures need to survive. Students will learn that animals all need access to water, food, shelter, and oxygen. However, the context of magical creatures will allow children to examine how those needs might look different. Students will demonstrate their learning by creating a habitat where their animal could happily survive on the Hogwarts' grounds.
 
Students will begin class by engaging in a discussion which combines their own experiences with human survival and animal survival and magical creatures examples. Students will learn through example pulled from both their own lives and magical creatures the four main things animals need to survive and will discuss how that might look different depending on the animal. If time allows, students will then help come up with a nemonic device for remembering the four major things animals need. These study tips will be designed to help Hermione, Ron, and Harry prepare for an upcoming test. Examples of these could include hand gestures, rhymes, or even a nemonic device. 

After learning the basic needs of animals, students will begin analyzing different magical creatures. Students will examine how different magical creatures get access to water. Do they all need the same amount of water? Do they all drink water or do some get water from other sources? Students will also examine shelters that animals like to live in. They will define some of these different shelter types and think of any real-life animals they think might be able to live in places similar to the magical creatures. Finally, students will examine the food that animals need to survive. Are they carnivores or herbivores or omnivores? How often do they need to eat? What type of habitat would provide their creature with the right food sources?

After examining magical creature examples as a class, students will choose a new magical creature and design a habitat where they think their creature could Could survive and thrive! 

Please note: Please  reach out if you wish to take this class but need financial assisstance, I will do what I can! These times are challenging me for me financially as well, but every child deserves a good class right now! Let’s work together to figure it out if you need- Email: msmegonoutschool@gmail.com


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