Compare domestic and wild animals

Activity Overview

Girl Scouts learn to compare tame and wild animals through observation.

1. Talk to Girl Scouts about the difference between “domestic” and “wild.”
2. Give them facts and statistics on three domestic animals, and introduce them to similar wild animals.
3. Have Girl Scouts research wild animals on their own and discuss their findings.

Leader Guidance

Say:

• What are some similarities between domestic and wild animals? (Wait for answers. Prompt Girl Scouts with ideas, if needed: both need food, water, and shelter; they use signals to communicate with others; they have survival instincts.)
• Although domestic and wild animals share some similarities, they are also very different, especially because of their habitats.
• Think about how domestic animals eat, sleep, play, and survive. How do wild animals do the same in different habitats?
• I’m going to put you in small groups, and then together you will choose a domestic animal from the handout. Then I will show you a video of a similar wild animal. Pay close attention to their similarities and differences!

Break Girl Scouts into small teams. Give each team a copy of Explore Domestic and Wild Animals. Explain that the examples for domestic animals have been pre-filled with facts and statistics. Let them know that, next to every domestic animal example, there’s a similar wild animal that they will research on their own.

Ask each team to complete the handout. Then gather the full group and have each team share what they discovered about their animals if they’d like.

Say:

• Are domestic and wild animals more alike than you first thought?
• Can wild animals ever become pets? What are the risks?
• Is it fair to keep animals as pets?
• What responsibilities do we have as humans to care for both domestic and wild animals?