Objective
By the end of this lesson, Fletcher will understand the key features of the Ice Age, including the types of animals that lived during that time, the climate conditions, and how these factors influenced the environment and the creatures that inhabited it.
Materials and Prep
- Pencil and notebook for taking notes and drawing.
- Colored pencils or crayons for illustrations.
- Access to a comfortable space for reading and activities.
Before the lesson, it might be helpful to do a little research about the Ice Age, including some famous animals like mammoths and saber-toothed cats. This will make the activities more engaging!
Activities
- Ice Age Animal Drawing: Fletcher can choose his favorite Ice Age animal and draw it. He should include details like its size, fur, and any unique features. After drawing, he can write a few sentences about why he chose that animal.
- Weather Report: Fletcher can pretend to be a weather reporter during the Ice Age. He can describe the cold climate, ice sheets, and how it affected the animals. He can present this to a family member or even record himself!
- Ice Age Story Time: Fletcher can create a short story about a day in the life of an Ice Age animal. He can include challenges they faced, like finding food and avoiding predators, and illustrate key moments from the story.
Talking Points
- "The Ice Age was a really long time ago, about 2.4 million years ago! Can you imagine how different the world was back then?"
- "During the Ice Age, huge glaciers covered parts of the Earth. This made it super cold and changed where animals could live."
- "Some of the coolest animals from the Ice Age include mammoths, saber-toothed cats, and giant ground sloths. What do you think they looked like?"
- "The Ice Age animals had to adapt to survive. For example, mammoths had thick fur to keep warm. What would you do to stay warm in that weather?"
- "The Ice Age ended around 10,000 years ago. What do you think happened to the animals when the climate started to change?"