Elephant Lesson Plan

Students will understand the following:
1. Elephants and their physical characteristics

2. Humans and their effect on these animals

Materials

For this lesson, you will need:
• Research materials
• Craft materials

Procedures

1. Revisit that elephants are warm-blooded animals and how they are different from cold-blooded animals. In discussion, stress that one of the most important features of any warm-blooded animal is that its body temperature is regulated. This would also be described as its body temperature remains fairly constant, regardless of the temperature of its surroundings.

2. Students need to know that in order for an animal's temperature to remain constant, the animal must have ways of keeping warm in a cold environment and cool in a hot environment. Discuss how organisms stay warm/cold.

3. Students need to know that elephants live in hot areas of Africa and the tropical forests of India. Demonstrate on the chalkboard four features or habits that help elephants keep cool in their hot habitats: large ears, wallowing, microbes in the stomach, wrinkled skin.

4. Each student needs to choose a habit or feature from the list and do research to find out how this habit or feature helps an elephant remain cool. Assign each student to write a short paragraph explaining what she or he has learned.

5. Invite students to share what they have discovered with their classmates.

Adaptations

Students can research other aspects of elephants and their lives.

Discussion Questions

1. Compare the manner in which elephants move to that of other mammals. How does this difference affect the elephant's speed?

2. Discuss the features elephants have to help keep them cool in the hot climates where they live.

3. Elephants live in a group with the oldest and wisest female as the primary authority. What advantages does this living arrangement provide the elephants?

4. Some scientists believe elephants have emotions similar to humans. What evidence supports this belief?