Education: Classroom Activity
Who Am I?
(Grade 2)
A
lesson submitted by Mrs. Ramirez-Raab
Valley Center Lower Elementary School, Grade 2
Purpose
To encourage children to ask good, meaningful questions to identify animals that may be seen or have been seen on a visit to the San Diego Zoo or the Wild Animal Park, or any zoo or aquarium. Teaches some basic taxonomy (grouping) of different animal groups.
Materials
• Postcards
of animals or pictures of animals cut from
magazines and mounted on index cards
• Yarn
• Hole punch
Preparation
Make a long necklace with the postcards/animal pictures and strands of yarn.
Activity
1. Hang one card around each student's neck, so
that the picture is face up on the student's back.
Be sure the student cannot see his or her animal
picture.
2. Students are instructed to ask one question
of each of the other students, one question per
student, in an attempt to identify the animal
they have on their back. Questions must have a "yes" or "no" answer ("Do
I fly?," "Am I covered with fur?").
You may want to practice asking questions with
the students before the activity begins.
3. How long does it take for each student to learn
their own identity? Which questions gave the most
information? Did it make sense to ask questions
like, "Am I a lion?" at the beginning
of the activity? Were questions like "Do
I have fur?" or "Do I live in Africa?" better to start with?
