Bats Here! Bats There! Bats Everywhere!

How It Works:  Students will explore the fascinating world of bats in this exciting interdisciplinary unit. The students participate in hands-on activities such as Adopt-a-Bat, cause and effect, sequencing, compare and contrast, word processing and searching the Internet for bat facts. Using a bat interactive web site, the students will be able to tell the difference between bats and birds. Students will also use online resources to create word searches and puzzles using vocabulary words and read different types of books about bats, in order to learn first hand about the life of a bat.

Standards: 

• The students will be able to read for comprehension.

• The students will increase vocabulary.

• The students will put events in sequential order.

• The students will identify the cause to the effect.

• The students will compare/contrast bats to other creatures.

• The students will use technology to enhance creativity.

• The students will use technology tools to process data and report results
  

Estimated Class Periods To Complete:  10 or more

Software Materials Used:  Book marked Internet web sites, word processing

Keywords:  bat, science, habitat, echolocation, pups, nocturnal, hibernate, migrate, colonies, mammals

Students:  The project is designed for third grade students, but can easily be adapted for higher and lower grade levels. Average and ESOL (English as a Second Language) students will find success.

Overall:  The best feature of this unit is the integration of bat web sites and their information with cooperative learning grouping of the students in the classroom. Students gain knowledge of bats and their habitats through the use of computers, the Internet, books, reading and writing.

Tips:  Bookmark web sites in advance and have materials (handouts and supplies) already prepared for students.

About the Teacher: Beatriz Vazquez has a Bachelor's of Science in Elementary Education and has worked for Charles R. Hadley Elementary for the last six years. She teaches a third grade TEAM class and is also a participant in the Citibank FamilyTech Project.

Subjects:  Science and Technology

Grade Levels:  2 through 4

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