Difficulty: Explorer (Level 1)
Wildlife is not always far away in a jungle or a distant forest. Animals live in many places, including in the city alongside human beings,
Some animals are easy to spot, while others are experts at hiding. Some are active during the day, while others come out when the sun goes down.
By learning about wildlife, we can understand what animals need and how humans and animals can coexist and share the world.
Neighbourhood wildlife journal
Imagine you are a field scientist. Walk around your neighbourhood and look for four different animals near your home. They could be birds, insects, reptiles, mammals or spiders. Start by filling out the information below. Then, record your observations using the guiding questions.
Date:
Time:
Location:
Weather: (Is it sunny, cloudy, raining or windy?)
Temperature: (in degrees Celsius)
Animal observations
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Common name
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Where did you find it?
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What was it doing?
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What colour is it?
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How many limbs and/or wings does it have?
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What size is it? You can use your fingers, hands and arm to estimate.
An animal habitat
Choose one animal from your neighbourhood wildlife journal. Do some research on the animal to learn about what it needs to survive and the habitat it lives in. Think about the following:
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Food
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Sources of water
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Shelter
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How it keeps its babies safe
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Preferred temperature range
Then, draw a habitat for the animal. Add natural elements, such as leaves, pebbles or the soil that the animal needs. After creating it, examine your drawing. How is your living environment similar to or different from the animal’s?
