Free Homeschool Science Lesson Plan: Pygmy Tarsiers

Includes Story, Group Discussion Prompts, Research, and Coloring Pages

Lyn Lomasi
Pygmy tarsiers are tiny primates living on a mountaintop in Indonesia. The creatures are said to resemble the fictional gremlins depicted in a movie. They were thought to be extinct, but were recently discovered by scientists. Below is a lesson plan on pygmy tarsiers suitable for kids in the elementary levels. To make the lesson suitable for older kids, try having them instead do research on the pygmy tarsiers and have them write a detailed report.

Beginning the Homeschool Lesson on Pygmy Tarsiers
The start of the lesson should involve reading to the children (or having them read) information about the pygmy tarsiers. The following report is great for provoking discussion related to the pygmy tarsier.

Pygmy Tarsier Captured in Indonesia: Gremlins Not Extinct as Thought
The pygmy tarsier, a species thought to be extinct around 85 years ago has been found and captured in Indonesia. The pygmy tarsiers, sometimes referred to as gremlins, are a tiny primate species currently inhabiting a mountaintop in Indonesia.
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Interactive Group Discussion on Pygmy Tarsiers
To help enforce the homeschool lesson on pygmy tarsiers, as well as practice reading and science comprehension, group discussion is recommended. Here are some suggested group questions to discuss after reading the report above.

1) Where do the pygmy tarsiers live?
2) Why might scientists have been unable to detect pygmy tarsiers until recently?
3) Could pygmy tarsiers be dangerous? Why or why not?
4) Would pygmy tarsiers make good pets? Why or why not?
5) What are some other members of the primate family?
6) Should scientists track pygmy tarsiers or not? Explain.
7) Do you think there are other animals that can turn their heads 180 degrees like the pygmy tarsiers?

Homeschool Lesson Reenforcement Suggestions

For art, the students could view pictures of pygmy tarsiers online and draw their own or construct them out of clay. Click Here for some pictures.

Also fun, creative, and educational, is to offer free printable coloring pages featuring the tarsier. Coloring.ws has a fun printable coloring page of the tarsier. Enchanted Learning has a labeled anatomy and fact sheet that can also be colored. Christian Answers has a very detailed coloring sheet that the older kids will appreciate.

Try surfing the web for more research on pygmy tarsiers. Some interesting websites for this information include Wikipedia and Animal Diversity Web.

Children should be encouraged to write facts or a report about pygmy tarsiers, according to their age level and academic abilities.

Sources:

Associated Content
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1225926/pygmy_tarsier_captured_in_indonesia.html

MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27786771

Coloring.ws
http://www.coloring.ws/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.coloring.ws/animals/tarsier.gif

Enchanted Learning
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/primate/Tarsierprintout.shtml

Christian Answers
http://www.christiananswers.net/kids/tarsier.pdf

Animal Diversity Web
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Tarsius_pumilus.html

Published by Lyn Lomasi - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle

Lyn's the Community Advocate at Yahoo! Contributor Network. Contact her with community issues & ideas. She's been contributing since 2007 and previously acted as a Community Guide. Read her tips for success...   View profile

20 Comments

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  • Dr. Myron Shekelle 12/9/2008

    Tarsius pumilus is the reason I began studying tarsiers. I am glad to hear that the discovery by my colleagues from Texas A&M is making its way into the home schooling curriculum.

    By strange chance, just as Dr. Gursky's press release was coming out, I had a scientific article based upon my own failed efforts to find Tarsius pumilus. You can learn about that at www.tarsier.org. The site is not specifically designed for students, but please feel free to send me suggestions about how I can improve it for that purpose.

  • Jody Morse 11/25/2008

    Very interesting! I recently read an article about them somewhere else.

  • Rooster 11/24/2008

    We will use this too! Thanks

  • Shannon Cotton 11/23/2008

    Great idea! I was reading about them online the other day, and my four year old saw the picture. He said, "What's that thing? It's eyes are popping out!!"

  • Momie Tullottes 11/22/2008

    You're welcome everyone. Thanks for reading. I did use this with my children, Carter. Actually, initially the plan started as something I wrote and used with my own kids and I figured I may as well share it with others who could find it useful, so I went ahead and did so. Lesson plans are actually pretty fun to write. If you need any tips or advice, let me know. I wish you luck with that and can't wait to see what you produce. :-)

  • Carter Boylston 11/22/2008

    You're so organized- it's great! Did you use this lesson with your own children? I would love to expand my writing skills by doing homeschool lesson plans so I loved reading this.

  • Christine Bruness 11/21/2008

    FANTASTIC! This is awesome, Momie!

  • Eric Patterson 11/20/2008

    Nice lesson plan

  • Lisa Copher 11/20/2008

    very interesting. :^)

  • Charlene Collins 11/20/2008

    Great study!!!

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