Summer SAVY, Session 4 Day 5, “Creature Connections: Animals, Humans, and the Natural World” (1st-2nd)
Dear SAVY Families,
I cannot believe that our time at SAVY Session 4: Creature Connections has already ended. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time learning with and from the SAVY zoologists this week, and I could not be more pleased with the way our class ended today.
To start our day, we returned to the “Why so Weird?” Animal PowerPoint. Students chose one of these weird animals that has unique structures and functions to study more in-depth. Using approved search engines and books, the SAVY zoologists researched their animals to answer various questions about them on our “20 Question Creature Quest” worksheet. This worksheet allowed the zoologists to understand their animal before moving on to our final project.
To end our day, the SAVY zoologists planned, created, and presented their final project. For this project, the zoologists had to showcase their knowledge of interactions, zoology, and their chosen animal to create a zoo habitat. This project tied all our learning together this week in a creative, hands-on way. First, the zoologists made a visual plan for their exhibit. Then, they met with their instructor to ensure consistency of expectations in their plan. The zoologists had to pitch how their animal’s unique structures and functions would allow it to adapt to its new zoo habitat. Finally, the zoologists used a shoe box and various craft supplies to create a 3D model of their zoo habitat. This was certainly a highlight of the week, as this was many zoologists’ first time making a shoe-box diorama. The zoologists then had the chance to present their habitat to their peers, receive feedback, and answer questions. While some were apprehensive about this experience, I was so proud of the way each of them rose to the challenge of presenting their work.
Questions to ask your zoologist tonight:
- What animal did you choose to make a habitat for? What did you learn about your animal’s structures and functions?
- How did your animal interact with its habitat? What did you consider when designing your animal’s habitat?
- What was the experience of presenting your project to the class like? How did it feel to receive peer feedback in real time?
Thank you for sharing your brilliant zoologists with us this week. I am so thankful for my time spent with each of them, and I hope to interact with each of them in a future SAVY class. Have a great rest of your summer!
Sincerely,
Ms. Gruchot
