Scripture: Genesis 5-9
Learning Objectives:
- Students will review the story of Noah and the Ark
- Students will learn about various animal habitats and which animals live in them
Guiding Question: What are the various animal habitats on earth and which animals live in them?
Materials: photos/drawings of various habitats OR miniature habitats/materials to create miniature habitats (link), plastic animals, birds and sea life
Procedure: Review the story of Noah and the Ark. Discuss with students life after the Flood. Focus on how the animals needed to find places to live that worked the best for their needs. Ask students what types of things different animals might need for their perfect place to live. Would some animals need things that were different from other animals? (Ex. Would a polar bear do well in the African desert?) Teach students about the six basic types of habitats on earth (forests, grasslands, deserts, wetlands, oceans and Arctic tundra).
Divide students into small groups. Assign each group a type of habitat. Students should use what they have learned to create or draw an accurate miniature habitat, complete with the appropriate animals. Have groups share their completed habitats with the class. Ask the students why certain animals only do well in one habitat. Which animals do well in multiple habitats? What do the various habitats have in common? What are their differences? What happens if a habitat is destroyed?
Additional Question: How can microclimates produce several different types of habitats very close together?
Supplemental Activity: Add climate elements (rain,snow,wind, temperature, etc.) to each habitat. Analyze to discover how climate impacts habitats.