Mammals
Mammals (class Mammalia /məˈmeɪli.ə/ from Latin mamma "breast") are any members of a clade of endothermicamniotes distinguished from reptiles and birds by the possession of a neocortex (a region of the brain), hair,[a] threemiddle ear bones, and mammary glands. The mammalian brain regulates body temperature and the circulatory system, including the four-chambered heart.
Mammals include the largest animals on the planet, the rorquals and other large whales, as well as some of the most intelligent, such as elephants, primates, including humans, and cetaceans. The basic body type is a four-legged land-borne animal, but some mammals are adapted for life at sea, in the air, in trees, or on two legs. The largest group of mammals, the placentals, have a placenta, which enables feeding the fetus during gestation. Mammals range in size from the 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in) bumblebee bat to the 33-meter (108 ft) blue whale.
Your task:
You will be to work in groups of three and research a mammal species from each of the three types of mammals: placental, marsupial, and monotreme. Each member will have a specific type and can choose any animal species from that group. You will each write your own report. As a group you will share your findings and compare and contrast the similarities and differences amongst the types. Then, all these reports will be put together to create a class book on mammals!
These are the following sources that will help you to do your task:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammal
http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/animals/mammals
http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/mammals.htm
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/
http://www.ducksters.com/animals/mammals.php
|
Excellent 3 |
Good 2 |
Fair 1 |
Score | |
| Content of Animal Report | includes detailed information about the animal's physical description, characteristics, life stages, habitat, diet, and a picture or sketch, as well as other information | provides information about the animal's physical description, characteristics, life stages, habitat, diet, and a picture or sketch | provides information about the animal but does not include all the required criteria | |
| Content of Group Report | includes detailed information about types of mammals and examples, characteristics, habitats, and diets, as well as other information | provides brief information about the required criteria | provides information about mammals but does not include all criteria | |
| Group Participation | each member did their own animal reports, there is evidence of information from all three reports in the final group report |
members completed their animal reports, but information from these reports was not clearly evident in the group report |
I hope you have enjoyed your study on mammals. Now when you look at an animal, you will be able to classify it as a mammal or not based on the knowledge yuo have acquired. It is amazing to learn how so many various animals can all be classified into one group. Soon, we will be studying other groups, such as reptiles and amphibians.
This webquest is designed for students to work cooperatively and learn about mammals. Students will learn about mammals' characteristics, habitat, diet, and the three subgroups. The information they find will be used to create a class book on mammals.
This webquest is an excellent way for students to gain a deeper insight about mammals while working together in groups. The websites provided are wonderful sources to teach students about mammals. Students get to learn about mammals first-hand!