Animal Defenses

Content Objectives

Students will:

• Learn about the concept of animal defenses.
• Access prior knowledge and build background about defense mechanisms.
• Explore and apply the concept of defense mechanisms.

Language Objectives

Students will:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of animal defenses.
• Orally use words that describe different animal defenses.
• Extend oral vocabulary by speaking about how humans defend themselves.
- Use key concept words [size, teeth, skin, poison, agitated, foe, boundaries; defense, camouflage].

Other

Explain

• Use the slideshow to review the key concept words.
- Explain that students are going to learn about:
-- Why animals defend themselves.
-- What are defense mechanisms.
-- How animals defend themselves.

Model

• After the host introduces the slideshow, point to the photo on screen. Ask students: What kind of animal is this? (cheetah). What are they doing? (running fast). Why? (to get away from another animal). • Ask students: When do you run fast? (answers will vary).
• Say: Just like people, animals have defense mechanisms too. These are ways in which they protect themselves. Running fast is one defense mechanism. What other defense mechanisms do animals have? (camouflaging, using their body as a weapon, running).

Guided Practice

• Guide students through the next five slides, showing them how animals defend themselves. Always have the students describe how they defend themselves.

Apply

• Play the games that follow. Have them discuss with their partner the different topics that appear during the Talk About It feature.
• After the first game, ask students to talk about what they defend themselves from. After the second game, have them discuss other defense mechanisms that people have.

Close

• Ask students: From what do animals defend themselves?
• Summarize for students that animals also defend themselves from people and the weather. Animals camouflage themselves from people and find new shelter if their habitat is in danger. Encourage them to think about how they would defend themselves against an animal.