We all need just a few things to survive (water, food, shelter), but the larger environment in which we all live contains endless microclimates and habitats that support our wellbeing. Each critter in the animal kingdom needs a little something different to live their best lives and have adapted over countless years. In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives it’s easy to lose sight of the magical worlds we’re surrounded by and what it actually takes for a habitat to be habitable for the critters we share space with. This activity encourages you to look just a little closer at the world around you and your favorite critters.
MATERIALS:
Natural materials: sticks, blades of grass, leaves, rocks, seashells, flowers, pieces of bark or wood chips…
Optional materials: colorful clay
TIME FRAME:
15 – 60 minutes
PROCEDURE:
- Decide what kind of creature you would like to create your mini-habitat for. Think about your favorite animal, where they live and what they would need to survive.
- Gather any materials that will help you create your chosen habitat. Think about how you can interpret what is needed by animals into a smaller version of that habitat.
- The clay can be used to hold your items together, and it can also be used to represent different aspects of your habitat (the blue could be used to represent water, the yellow to represent the sun…)
REFLECTION:
How did you decide on which habitat to re-create? How is the habitat you created different from your own habitat? How is it the same?
CONNECTIONS:
Think about your local zoo or aquarium… How do you think they decide what to include in their habitats? Do they provide everything the inhabitants need to be healthy and happy? What could be different about their habitats?
TIDBITS:
Habitats fall into six general categories: grasslands, oceans, wetlands, arctic tundra, forests, and deserts. It is estimated that there could be 5 million to 100 million species on the planet, but science has only identified about 2 million of them.
TIPS & IMAGININGS:
Recycle an Altoids tin or an old shoebox to create your habitat in. While creating your habitat, think about what all living beings need to survive: shelter, food, and water. Remember, while humans need clothing to protect our bodies, wild creatures do not.
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