Tricky Tracks Lesson Plan

Grades: 2 - 4
Length of Program: 1 - 2 hours
Time of Year: Year round
Preferred Adult/ Student Ratio: 1/5

Summary:

Mud and snow are fantastic places to find signs of those animals we don t always see. In this program, your class will learn how to identify the tracks of some common Wisconsin animals. Finish up the program by making a plaster cast of a track to take home. In winter months, when snow is on the ground, your class can go on an adventure as they identify tracks and discover activity signs left behind by Horicon s resident wildlife.

Teacher Preparation:

None

Academic Standards Addressed:

None

Special Instructions:

Please make sure students are dressed appropriately

Materials:

• Mammal Track ID Handouts
• Mammal Track PowerPoint Presentation
• Plaster
• Cups
• Spoons
• Water
• Mammal Track Molds

Procedure:

Divide the class into pairs. Have the pairs gather at the tables to make the mammal tracks. (It is a good idea to have the tables covered with newspaper and cups sitting out half filled with plaster ahead of time.) Give each pair of students a spoon and each student a mammal track mold. Pour a little bit of water into each cup and ask the students to mix the plaster and water thoroughly; the finished product should be the consistency of thick oatmeal. Both students in the pair should fill their molds using the mixed plaster in their cup. Allow to dry for 15 - 30 minutes before removing plaster from mold.

Ask the students to sit down for the presentation. Give the Track ID handouts to the class. Go through the different groups of mammal tracks using the PowerPoint presentation. For the younger kids, ask for volunteers to come to the front of the room and demonstrate how the different groups move and make their tracks. Pass the track molds around and ask them to guess what animals they come from using their handouts. If there is snow outside, take the class on a track hike to test their skills.

Wrap-up:

Allow the students to take the handouts home with them to test their skills in the snow.

Contact Information

Bill Volkert
Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area
N7728 Hwy 28
Horicon, WI 53032
(920) 387-7860

Questions for Wildlife Management