Students investigate how animals’ body parts and behaviors help them survive in different habitats by gathering information from books, videos, and kid-friendly digital sources, including resources from the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. They synthesize their research into simple paragraphs and create a diorama, Google Slides show, or poster presentation that teaches others about an animal and its home. Throughout the project, students practice asking questions, comparing habitats, sharing ideas clearly, and using feedback to improve their work. The learning culminates in a student gallery where they exhibit their products and explain their thinking to families or classmates.

Students will make observations and compare how different animals’ body parts and behaviors help them survive in specific habitats. They will gather information from books, videos, and age-appropriate digital sources, then synthesize their research into clear sentences and short paragraphs for a diorama, Google Slides show, or poster presentation. Students will practice asking questions, listening closely, and sharing ideas clearly as they prepare for a student gallery with feedback from classmates and connections to the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park. They will also reflect on what strategies helped them research, revise, and present their learning independently over time.

Students create research notes, labeled habitat sketches, and short synthesized paragraphs as they gather information from books, videos, and kid-friendly sources, including resources connected to the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. Midway through the project, they build a draft Google Slides page or poster to explain how an animal’s body parts and behaviors help it survive in its habitat, using teacher and peer feedback to revise. By the end, each student produces a final animal habitat diorama and either a Google slide show or poster presentation. These products are shared in a student gallery exhibition where students present their findings and answer questions from classmates, families, or community guests.

Begin with a “mystery habitat” provocation using photos, short San Diego Zoo or Safari Park animal clips, footprints, feathers, and replica body parts to spark noticing and questions about how animals survive where they live. Students rotate through stations, make observations, and talk with partners about which body parts or behaviors help each animal in its habitat, then co-create a class wonder wall around the essential question. If possible, invite a zoo educator for a brief virtual visit to introduce several animals from different habitats and model how scientists observe closely. Close by revealing that students will become animal researchers who create a diorama, Google Slides show, or poster and share their findings in a student gallery.

Host a student gallery where children display their animal dioramas, posters, and Google Slides on tables or screens, organized by habitat so visitors can compare how animals survive in different homes. Invite families and, if possible, a guest educator or virtual speaker from the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park to ask questions and give feedback as students present their research paragraphs and explain body parts and behaviors. Include a simple “Habitat Detective” viewing sheet for visitors to notice one new fact from each display and leave kind comments. End with a short reflection circle where students share what they learned about researching, presenting, and comparing animals across habitats.