Giant Panda Teacher Packet - Memphis Zoo

A Panda in my Schoolyard!?Goal: Students will understand that animals are dependent on their environment for survival.Behavioral objectives:1) Students will be able to identify four basic survival needs for all animals.2) Students will be able to define a habitat.3) Students will be able to explain why habitats are important for the survival of the giant panda.Curriculum Standard Correlations:Grade 3• 2.3 Examine interrelationships among plants, animals, and their environment.• 3.1 Recognize the basic requirements of all living things.Time: 1 hourGrade 4• 2.1 Investigate the relationships among organisms in a specific ecosystem.Grade 5• 2.1 Investigate the relationships among organisms in a specific ecosystem.Background Information:In order to survive, animals need to live in areas that provide food, water, shelter and space to raisetheir young. These areas are called habitats. Giant pandas live in the bamboo forest high in themountains of southwestern China. During the winter months giant pandas move to lower levels onthe mountains due to the colder temperatures and snow. They move to higher levels on themountains during the summer months. The mountains are covered in heavy clouds with dense mistand rain throughout the year.Streams and rivers can be found in the mountains of China. These streams and rivers provide thegiant panda with a source of water.Giant pandas use caves, old hollowed out trees, and rock crevices for shelter. They also enjoy theshelter of the tall trees found in the bamboo forests. Caves, old hollowed out trees and rock crevicesalso provide the giant panda with space to give birth and raise their young.The main food of the giant panda is bamboo. Bamboo is usually plentiful all year round. Thebamboo is so thick in their habitat that it is often hard to find giant pandas.Materials:Required:• pencils• paper• crayons or markers• clipboards or something else hard for the children to write on.Provided:14