HGA | ASGI99 Index


Giraffes of Africa
Kristen Schultz
Grade 1
Spring 1999


Purpose: The giraffe is the tallest mammal on earth. Giraffes are also among the few mammals that can't swim. Their natural habitat is i the African Savanna, a relatively open, grassy plain with few trees and shrubs. Giraffes, like many animals, are threatened not only by their natural predators, but by the loss of their precious habitat and by the carelessness of humans.

In this unit, students will look at the characteristics of the African Grasslands and explore what makes this region unique. Students will also learn about the needs of giraffes and see how their habitat has to meet those needs. With the acquired information, they will create a triorama that accuractely depicts that habitat. The students will also compare the zoo with the giraffe's natural habitat and decide where they think the better place to live would be. To culminate this unit, the students are going to design posters that encouage others to do their part in protecting giraffes and perhaps other animals as well.

Focus Questions: What would the ideal habitat for a giraffe be?

Objectives: The students will be able to

  1. Observe and describe the physical characteristics of the African grasslands
  2. Describe and illustrate the components of the grasslands
  3. Explain the needs of the giraffe
  4. Compare and contrast a zoo habitat versus a natural habitat
  5. Explain how humans have positively and negatively changed the ecosystem

Hawaii Content and Performance Standards:

  1. Use geographic tools and resources to explain the relationship between the physical and human environments.
  2. Demonstrate one's responsibility to the environment.

Geographic Standards:
The geographically informed person knows and understands
#4: The physical and human characteristics of places
#8: The characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems on the earth's surface

Geographic Skills

  1. Asking Geographic Questions: What are the physical characteristics of grasslands? What do giraffes need in order to survive?
  2. Acquiring Geographic Information: Use a variety of resources (maps, pictures, books, videos) to gather information on giraffes and their habitat.
  3. Organizing Geographic Information: Use various graphic organizers to summarize the characteristics of the African grasslands, compare the giraffes' natural habitat to that in the zoo, and create a triorama that accurately depicts the grasslands.
  4. Analyzing Geographic Information: Use the information gained to encourage others to protect giraffes and other endangered animals.
  5. Answering Geographic Questions: Write a mini-essay on the giraffs' needs and how their natural habitat meets those needs.

Geographic Themes: Place, Human Environment Interaction

Lesson Can Be Used With a Unit on Africa, Grassland of the World

Materials Needed:
(Vegetation) maps of Africa, pictures of grassland and not grassland habitats, construction paper and other art supplies for trioramas and posters.

Vocabulary:
Map Legend and Compass Rose
Habitat is the natural home of a plat or animal.
Grasslands are nearly treeless expanses of land where various types of grasses grow. The African grasslands support the highest concentration on large mammals in the world. Also known on Africa as savanna.
Camouflage means the markings and colorings on an animals' coat that enable it to blend in with its surroundings.
Browsers are animals that have delicate snouts and feed on leaves, flowers, and shrubs.
Poaching is the illegal practice of killing animals for meat, skins, ivories, or trophies.
Herbivore plant eating animal

Procedure:

  1. Look at vegetation map of Africa. Locate grasslands.
  2. Through books Here is the African Savanna and other resources to find characteristics of Grasslands. Fill out the summary graphic organizer as a class.
  3. Categorize pictures of grassland/not grassland habitats.
  4. Read Giraffes to discover about the needs of giraffes and make a list of the findings.
  5. Discuss how the grassland habitat meets the needs of the giraffes.
  6. Design a natural habitat triorama. (include characteristics of the geographic area as well as other animal inhabitants) Studtns will also write a short description explaining what they included in their triorama and why.
  7. Compare and contrast the zoo and the giraffes' natural habitat using a Venn Diagram.
  8. Have students think about what they can do as a community contributor to protect giraffes. They may create a poster to increase awareness and encourage others to protect giraffes. They will share their finished poster with the class.

Assessment: (For each activity)

  1. Student should be able to find the African Grasslands on the map.
  2. With partners, students will be able to write a summary statement of what a grassland habitat is.
  3. Students will be able to verbally justify why they placed a picture i na certain category.
  4. Students will be able to accurately list the needs of giraffes.
  5. Students should participate in the discussion and contribute information.
  6. See attached rubrics.
  7. Students will submit a completed t-chart and Venn Diagram.
  8. See attached rubrics.

Appendix:
Summary Graphic Organizer
T-Chart and Venn Diagram
Rubrics for triorama and poster

References:
(BOOKS)
Safari bt Robert Bateman
Here is the African Savanna by Madeline Dunphy
The Serengeti Migration by Lisa Lindblad
Giraffes by Bobbie Kalman and Greg Nickles
Assessing Student Outcomes, c1993 McRel Institute

(WEB SITES)
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/davelarsen/giraffes.htm
http://www.buss.co.uk/chesterzoo/giraffe.html
http://nature-wildlife.com/girtxt.htm
http://planetpets.simplenet.com/plntgraf.htm
http://www.geobop.com/Mammals/Artiodactyla/Giraffid/Giraffa_camelopardalis/index.htm

 

Copyright © Hawaii Geographic Alliance. July, 1999.