Objective

To learn basic natural history of animals and their habits

Materials

• Animal pictures or paper for writing the animal names
• Pins or tape
  

Time

A few minutes per animal

Procedure

Pin or tape a picture of an animal on the back of one kid in the group, but don’t show the kid the picture. Have him or her turn around so all the other kids can see what animal he/she has become. The kid then asks questions to discover his/her own identity. The other kids can answer only yes, no, and maybe. You can also use sticky notes or other materials you have on hand. One variation of this game is to use things found in nature rather than just animal names (e.g., sun, rock, ocean).

Variation: 

Animal Charades
Set up an area where the kids can act out the behavior of an animal. Write the names of at least 15 domestic animals and 15 wild animals on separate pieces of paper. Randomly give each kid a piece of paper. In turn, each kid must come to the front of the room and act out with noises and body gestures the animal they were given. As a follow-up, ask the students to identify one or more animals that coexist. Have the kids dramatize the animals, their relationships, and the ecosystem where they live.

This lesson plan is an activity from the Environmental Activities for Youth Clubs and Camps, a resource developed by the Peace Corps Office of Overseas Programming and Training (OPATS). It was contributed by Peace Corps/Armenia.