NOTE: Click here for the free download of this Interactive Notebook Activity: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Giraffe-Possible-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-2924530
The Giraffe
Possible Interactive Notebook Activity
by
Gail Skroback Hennessey
In less than 30 years, the number of giraffe have drastically decreased by almost 40 percent. That makes giraffe in more danger of extinction than the elephant. In 2016, the conservation group, The International Union for Conservation of Nature, listed the giraffe on its Red List of species which are endangered. Specifically, the giraffe has been moved from “least concern” to “vulnerable”.The main cause for their dwindling population is destruction of their habitat. Additionally the group says that illegal hunting of giraffe and civil unrest in the areas where giraffes roam are also causes for their declining numbers. Learn about the giraffe with this web quest!
Did you Know?
1. There are nine subspecies of giraffe. One is stable, three are actually increasing in number and 5 have dwindling numbers.
2. Did you know that the okapi is the only close relative of the giraffe?
3. The tallest land animals, the giraffe’s legs are about six feet long!
4. Each giraffe’s spots are different. They are like a human fingerprint.
5. People once called the giraffe a “camel-leopard” because of its small hump and leopard spots. That is how it got its the species name of camelopardalis.
6. Hisses, grunts, snorts roars and even moos are some of the sounds made by a giraffe.
7. Giraffes sleep less than 30 minutes a day.
8. Did you know a giraffe can reach speeds of about 35 miles per hour(56 K)?
9. Giraffes don’t drink much water, just a few drinks every few days. In fact they drink less water than a camel! Drinking isn’t easy as their necks can’t reach the ground. A giraffe must spread its front legs when it wants to take a drink of water.
10. Although Giraffes can lie down, they tend to spend most of their lives standing.
11. Did you know that a giraffe can clean its ears with its tongue! That’s an amazing feat that humans can’t do!
12. Weighing up to 24 pounds, a giraffe’s heart is about 2 ft. long.
13. Did you know a giraffe’s tail can be up to 8 feet long? The tail of the giraffe is the longest of any land mammal.
14. You can tell the age of a giraffe from its spots. They get darker as a giraffe ages.
15. You can find giraffes living in the grasslands, woodlands and
savannas of Africa.
16. With bristly hair, the purple-bluish tongue of a giraffe is tough enabling
them to eat thorny Acadia trees(one of their favorite foods).
Your Turn:
- Pretend you are a giraffe. Write a day in your life. What did you do? What did you see? What did you hear? Include 3 facts learned about the giraffe in your diary entry.
- Illustrate one of the fun facts about the giraffe.
- Use each letter of the word, GIRAFFE, and write a poem.
- Write a persuasive paragraph and explain why you think that humans should try and save the giraffe from extinction. Give 2 reasons in your persuasive paragraph.
5. Write a story on how a giraffe got its long neck, long tail or long legs.
6. Read the myth, How Giraffes Got Long Necks. Write a summary of the story.
Check out my webquest on the Giraffe(it includes these fun facts as well as extension activities and links for the teacher: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-About-the-Giraffe-A-Website-2924515
Additional Resources on Animals:
1. Learn about the rhino with this fun and very informative webquest. There are 9 web questions and lots of extension activities and resources. There is also a comprehension activity and key. Great for a Friday activity, before a vacation or if you are studying endangered species! Grades 4 and up. One class period unless you opt to do additional extension activities: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Rhinosaurus-Rotund-Rhinos-A-Webquest-698938
2. Did you know that a polar bear can swim up to 100 miles non-stop? Did you know that a polar bear doesn't hibernate like other bears do in the winter? The polar bear is in trouble! Warming temperatures has cause a decrease in the sea ice-something the polar bear needs to survive. Learn about this amazing mammal with this fun and informative webquest. Additional extension activities and resources are also provided: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Polar-Bears-A-Webquest-604797
3. Need a webquest activity in science? Maybe, you are looking for a language arts activity for students to skim to find answers and use informational text to develop a creative writing task. Learn about the leopard with my Leaping Leopard's Webquest! Grades 4 and up. The webquest has 8 webquestions and 8 extension activities(and links to more information): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Leopards-Leaping-Leopard-Webquest-848064
4. Learn about the elephant:
Did you know that elephants can be right or left tusked, kind of like humans are with their hands? Did you know that the elephant has the largest brain of any LAND mammal?(The sperm whale has the largest brain of all...) And if you think elephants like peanuts...they really do not! I think your students would have fun learning about the elephant with this web quest! I have included extension activities, additional trivia and the key: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ElephantsOn-SafariA-Webquest-610125
My website for teachers/kids: Lots of geographic activities, short reads, bell ringers, news, career surveys, factoids on different topics and more: http://www.gailhennessey.com
Note: Illustrations from wpclipart.com
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