As you review the web-site above, think about the different habitats in the pictures.
Have you ever travelled around the province? Where have you been?
What makes a habitat a home?
Animal Homes: Use this link to research animal homes. Answer the questions shared with you by your teacher.
Animals have needs they must meet in order to survive (e.g., food, water, shelter, air, space). Animals live in specific habitats where they can meet their needs. Below are 3 animals native to Newfoundland and Labrador. What do their habitats have to provide for them to survive? Use the links below to research the animals needs, food, habitat and predators. Take it a step extra, create a poster of one of animals using google docs, or pencil and paper if you like.
Small Creature Investigation (or Cregation)
If you are able and with the help of a parent, find a worm, carpenter, snail or slug and create a small habitat for it. Carpenters, snails and slugs often can be found under pieces of wood or in damp areas and they can be observed. Depending on what you want to do (observe or create a habitat) you may need a container.
Whether you are recreating the creatures habitat or observing it, you need to know what are its basic needs for it to survive? Got paper? An old exercise book and pencil will be helpful. Take notes and draw some pictures. Now you have a Habitat Journal.
Lets start our cregation (creature investigation). Here are some questions to consider:
• Does your creature prefer a light or dark, moist or dry, warm or cool habitat?
• Does your creature prefer sand, soil, aquarium gravel, or wood chips?
• Does your creature prefer to shelter under logs or rocks?
• Does your creature prefer to eat fresh, dry, or rotting leaves?
• Does your creature prefer a habitat that includes bark, leaf litter, dry grass, or live plants?
Use your journal to answer the questions above and write about your creatures habitat.
Reminders: Take care and to show respect when handling and caring for live animals. Students should wash their hands before and after handling the animals. Animals removed from their natural habitat should be returned following completion of the investigation.
Ordinary Amos and the Amazing Fish
Amos has a pretty ordinary life. He has a house, a favourite chair, a cat and a fireplace. Ordinary, until one day he goes fishing and is caught. Now he is in a person bowl.
Watch the video by clicking on the picture. What does Amos need in his person bowl to survive? Does he get everything he needs?Do you think this is a real or artificial habitat?
Plant Adaptations
Click the Cactus to watch the video, "Plant Adaptations" by makemegenius. As you watch, try to remember how the desert, ocean and tropical plants have adapted to their environment.
The following pictures were taken during a Habitat Hike. Use one of the pictures to help write a Science Journal Entry about how humans have an impact on the environment.
Are you near a park? Ask your family to walk along with you to explore. What did you see? What was the weather like? What plants and animals did you see?
How are animals adapted to their environment?
Habitat walk around Long Pond and Neils Pond
In your community or close by, there are ponds, forests and trails just out of sight. Just off a busy road in Paradise and behind the largest hospital in Newfoundland and Labrador. Take the opportunity with your family to walk and see habitats in your area.
Saw this small stream on a walk to Long Pond behind Health Science Complex. Many different habitats to explore.
Long Pond Walk - This area is in transition. You can see the large numbers of small trees surrounding the larger dead ones.
Perfect habitat for ants, carpenters, and insects. This tree will continue to rot providing nutrients to the soil and a home for many animals and insects.
Found this sign on a walk around Neils Pond behind Sobeys in Paradise. Beautiful walk with a variety of wildlife, including the fish on the sign, ducks, squirrels and rabbits. All in the middle of Paradise, NL.
Took this picture one day while visiting Hazelwood Elementary. Crocuses flowering next to the parking lot.
Habitat Walk at Kent's Pond
Found this little triangular rock along the way and gave it a new home in a nearby tree. As for the crow, well, he just came along and landed about 10 feet from me. It didn't seem mind me fumbling in my coat for a phone. Just a reminder, this crow is wild and I took that fact very seriously. Do not approach wild animals. Finally, a great view of the Confederation Building and some local residents from Kent's Pond area.
Habitat Walk at Adam's Pond and Quidi Vidi
The first two pictures are from Adam's Pond, which is a beautiful walk in Paradise. There are are lots of people using the pond and trail for recreation. I didn't see anything interesting until recently when I saw the small fish and one duck - but just one duck.
The third picture is from Quidi Vidi. Hundreds of people walk along its shore everyday. I have walked that trail hundreds of times, but I have never seen a nest in a tree.
Go for a Habitat Walk around your neighbourhood with your family. See what you can find.
The House Hippo
Habitat Journal Activity
Click on the picture to watch "The House Hippo". Invent an animal that is adapted to living in your home. Do not use the regular pets we have, but other animals that can be presented like the House Hippo. When is this animal active, what does it eat, where does it sleep and how is it adapted to the habitat you call home.
Extinction Animals
of Newfoundland and Labrador
Invasive Species in Newfoundland and Labrador
Invasive species facts for kids - Kids Encyclopedia
Department of Environment and Conservation Wildlife Division, Endangered Species and Biodiversity
Stop the introduction of Invasive Species into Newfoundland and Labrador - Poster
Importing Exotic Species - What consumers in NL should know.
FOOD CHAINS
Plants and animals need food to grow and survive. Plants make their own food and are called producers. Animals get their food by eating plants and other animals and are called consumers. Predators are animals that hunt other animals. The animals they hunt are called prey. The relationships among producers and consumers and predators and prey can be represented in a food chain.
Food Chain for Kids
What is a Food Chain?
Click the food chain picture below to play the Food Chain Game. Game requires Flash. You may be prompted to enable Flash. If not, watch the address bar for the icon blinking. Click it to enable Flash.
Journal Activity
In your journal, explain what you think will happen in each food chain if one element disappears. A disappearance could be the result of disease, overhunting, or fire.
Climate Change
Picture credits
Moose - https://www.flr.gov.nl.ca/wildlife/snp/programs/education/animal_facts/mammals/images/moose.jpgBeaver - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/why-beavers-matter-1.4121550Puffin - https://www.townofelliston.ca/5ttd/puffins.htmlBook cover - ORDINARY AMOS AND THE AMAZING FISH- ChaptersCactus - makemegeniusHouse Hippo - media smarts www.breakthefake.ca The Newfoundland Wolf - http://www.cosmosmith.com/newfoundland_wolf.aspHarlequin Duck - Peter Masses - https://www.flr.gov.nl.ca/wildlife/endangeredspecies/harlequin_duck.pdfHabitat Walk Pictures - Taken at Kent's Pond, Neil's Pond and Long Pond by Mr. Edison