Otto the Otter

🎓 Audience

Education: Grade(s) K, 1, 2, 3, 4, Homeschool/Family, Learning Pod, Library Patrons

 🐾 Topics

Language Arts/English, Literacy, Reading, Science, STEM

🗂️ Format

• Introduction and Prior Knowledge: Learners are invited to share what they know, what they’ve observed in nature, and what they’re curious to learn about otters and the places they live.

• Segment 1 - Story Time: We read Otto the Otter: A Big Surprise together. As the story unfolds, learners explore reading comprehension through interactive discussion, making predictions, noticing seasonal changes, and thinking about the surprise ending.

• Segment 2 - You Otter Know: After the story, we make connections between the story and real-life animals, with opportunities to build vocabulary and critical thinking skills.

• Segment 3 - Q&A Session: We conclude with a live, educator-led Q&A about river otters, their care at Mote, and how healthy watersheds support both wildlife and people.

🎯 Objectives

1. Describe the physical features and behaviors of North American river otters.

2. Compare otters to other mammals and aquatic animals.

3. Engage in a discussion about freshwater habitats and the role of healthy watersheds.

4. Develop curiosity and confidence in asking questions about science-related questions.

5. Explore ways people can help protect freshwater ecosystems and the animals that depend on them.

✏️ Standards this program supports

Common Core

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.K.RI.1 – With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text. Application: Learners are guided through a read-aloud of the story and prompted to ask and answer questions about Otto’s actions and seasonal changes.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.1.RI.1 – Ask and answer questions about key details in a text. Application: Learners respond to comprehension questions and revisit key events in the story to deepen understanding.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.1.RL.5 – Explain major differences between books that tell stories and books that give information, drawing on a wide reading of a range of text types. Application: Learners compare the narrative of Otto to real-life otter observations during the live animal segment.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.2.RI.1 – Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text. Application: Learners explore story events and otter behavior using question prompts and group discussion.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.3.RL.1 – Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. Application: Learners cite parts of the story to support their answers and engage in text-based discussion.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.3.RL.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language. Application: Learners explore phrases from the story, inferring meaning from text and illustrations.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.4.RI.1 – Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. Application: Learners use story details and observed otter behavior to make and support inferences.

Next Generation Science Standards

• LS1A K–2 — Structure and function. Learners observe the physical features of river otters and describe how their bodies help them survive in freshwater habitats. They identify traits such as fur, whiskers, and webbed feet as adaptations for movement, warmth, and hunting.

• LS1A 3–5 — Structure and function. Learners analyze how river otters’ specialized body structures support survival, growth, and behavior in aquatic environments. They compare these traits to other mammals and aquatic animals.

• LS1D K–2 — Information processing. Learners explore how river otters use their senses to find food and stay safe. They identify examples from the story and live animal observations that show how animals respond to their environment.

• LS1D 3–5 — Information processing. Learners explain how animals like otters gather, process, and respond to information using their senses. They connect these behaviors to survival strategies in changing environments.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• • 14 - Life Below Water

  • 15 - Life On Land

Florida Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)

• SC.K.L.14.3 – Observe plants and animals, describe how they are alike and how they are different in the way they look and in the things they do. Application: Learners observe river otters and compare their body parts and behaviors to those of other animals, focusing on traits like fur, tails, and swimming style.

• SC.1.L.14.1 – Make observations of living things and their environment using the five senses. Application: Learners use sight and sound to observe live river otters and describe how otters behave in their habitat.

• SC.2.L.17.1 – Compare and contrast the basic needs that all living things, including humans, have for survival. Application: Learners compare otters’ needs (clean water, food, shelter) with human needs, and discuss how watersheds support both.

• SC.3.L.15.1 – Classify animals into major groups according to their physical characteristics and behaviors. Application: Learners classify river otters as mammals and identify shared traits like fur, live birth, and caring for young.

• SC.4.L.17.4 – Recognize ways plants and animals, including humans, can impact the environment. Application: Learners explore how human actions affect freshwater habitats and identify ways people can protect watersheds and wildlife like river otters.

☑️ Evaluation Link

When answering these questions, please focus on the quality of the content and not the technology. You can answer anonymously. After clicking Did the program take place?, choose if you are you an Educator or Parent.

• cilc.org/ContentProvider/Evaluation

• adaptation: A body part or behavior that helps an animal live in its environment.

• carnivore: An animal that eats other animals, like fish or crabs.

• crayfish: A small animal that looks like a tiny lobster and lives in rivers and ponds. Otters like to eat them.

• den: A cozy place where an otter hides, rests, or takes care of its babies.

• enrichment: fun things added to an animal’s space to keep it active and happy

• freshwater: Water that is not salty. It’s found in places like rivers, lakes, and ponds.

• glands: small parts of the body that make things like smells or oils

• habitat: The place where an animal lives and finds everything it needs to survive.

• mammal: An animal with fur or hair that is warm inside and feeds its babies milk.

• musk: a strong smell made by animals like otters to mark their space

• mustelids: a family of animals that includes otters, weasels, and badgers

• nictitating membrane: a clear eyelid that helps protect an animal’s eyes underwater

• pelt: the fur or coat of an animal

• positive reinforcement: giving a treat or reward to encourage good behavior

• pond: A small body of water where animals like frogs, fish, and otters can live or visit.

• pup: A baby otter.

• quarantine: a time when an animal is kept apart from others to make sure it’s not sick

• raft: a group of otters floating together on the water

• season: A time of year with special weather, like winter, spring, summer, or fall.

• scent glands: body parts that make smells to help animals communicate

• spraints: the droppings (poop) of an otter, which tell us what it ate

• territory: the space an animal lives in and keeps safe from others

• tracks: Marks left behind on the ground by an animal’s feet.

• watershed: An area of land where water flows downhill into the same river, pond, or lake.

• webbing: skin between an animal’s toes that helps it swim better

• wetland: a place where the ground is wet most of the time and lots of animals live

• whisker: A long, stiff hair near an animal’s mouth that helps it feel things, especially underwater.

Verbs

• training: teaching animals to do certain actions, like coming when called or holding still

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Play Otter Bingo

Play virtual bingo using a computer, smartphone or tablet during your program to focus on key concepts and vocabulary.

• Online

• On paper/PDF

🌐 Websites

•  North American river otter

📚 Books & Publications

• Otters: River or Sea? A Compare and Contrast Book by Cathleen McConnell

• Mammals: A Compare and Contrast Book by Katharine Hall

• Otto the Otter by Linda Hansen 

🖥️ Videos

• Creature Feature | North American River Otters

• River otter birthday celebration at Mote Marine Lab

• River otters at Mote Aquarium play with ice treats!