Activity Overview
Girl Scouts learn about different animal habitats while visiting an accredited zoo, aquarium, or animal sanctuary, or by watching a video that shows animals in different habitats.
- Talk to Girl Scouts about animal habitats, and give examples of features and abilities that help animals survive in the wild.
- Visit an accredited zoo, aquarium, or animal sanctuary, or share a kid-friendly video of animals in different habitats.
- Have Girl Scouts fill out Animal Habitats with their observations.
Leader Guidance
Say:
- Have you ever observed an animal in the wild? Where was it, and what was the animal? (Wait for answers.)
- You might have seen a squirrel at a park, a bird in a nest, or a fish swimming in a pond.
- An animal habitat is a place where an animal lives. Some animals, such as fish and dolphins, live in the ocean, while others, such as lions and vultures, live in grasslands.
- Animals also have amazing features and abilities that help them survive in their habitats. Some animals have camouflage that helps them hide from predators. Others have long legs to run fast, or sharp claws to climb trees. Some animals even have special organs that let them breathe underwater!
- Today we’re going to observe wild animals in their habitats. (Provide more information on what Girl Scouts will be doing today—whether they’ll be taking a field trip or watching videos of animals in different habitats.)
Lead the group on their field trip. If a trip isn’t possible, share a video that shows animals in different habitats. (Try to find examples from the ocean, rainforest, and desert.)
As Girl Scouts explore the sanctuary or watch the video, have them write their findings on Animal Habitats. At the end of the activity, encourage Girl Scouts to share their findings with the larger group if they’d like.
Say:
- What was your favorite animal you observed today? Why?
- Did you see any animals that surprised you?
- If you were an animal, which habitat would you want to live in? Why?
Closing Questions
Which animal adaptation stood out to you the most, and how does it help that specific animal survive? What do you think would happen if that animal lived somewhere else?
Handouts
Animal Habitats
