Format
A Fernbank Educator will introduce students to the program and share fun visuals including videos, graphics, and biofacts. Students will also meet up to three of Fernbank's live animal ambassadors and participate in discussions and activities. The program will end with a Q&A opportunity for students.
Engaging pre- and post-program activities aligned with standards will also be provided via Moodle.
Objectives
Creature Feature program themes include Animal Groups (K-5th grade), Georgia Native Species (3rd-5th grade), Defense, (3rd-5th-5th grade), Ecosystem Energy (3rd-5th Grade, Classification & Phlogenetics (9th-12th grade)
Animal Groups
1. Group organisms based on attributes and compare the life cycles and traits of each group
2. .Recognize the basic needs of animals.
Georgia Natives
1. Identify animals native to Georgia and the natural region(s) in which they live.
2. Discuss the adaptations—both external traits and behaviors—which help Georgia species
survive in their habitat.
3. Recognize the roles native species play within their Georgia ecosystems.
Defense
1. Explore how external features and adaptations of animals allow them to survive in their
habitat.
2. Recognize the roles animals play within their ecosystems, such as predator and prey.
Ecosystem Energy
1. Trace the path of energy through organisms in an ecosystem.
2. Recognize the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers, and the adaptations which
help them fulfill these roles.
Classification & Phylogenetics
1. Construct a model of the relationships between different groups of organisms.
2. Compare and contrast structural adaptations of different organisms and identify how similar
structures can indicate close biological relationships.
3. Recognize how classifications and structures in animals relate to the roles they play in
ecosystems.
Standards Alignment
State Standards
Georgia
Below are the standards for each theme available.
Animal Groups
1. Group organisms based on attributes and compare the life cycles and traits of each group.
SKL1b; SKL2a; S2L1d; S5L1a
2. Recognize the basic needs of animals. S1L1b
Georgia Native
1. Identify animals native to Georgia and the natural region(s) in which they live. S3L1a
2. Discuss the adaptations—both external traits and behaviors—which help Georgia species
survive in their habitat. S3L1b,c; S5L1a
3. Recognize the roles native species play within their Georgia ecosystems. S4L1a
Defense
1. Explore how external features and adaptations of animals allow them to survive in their
habitat. S3L1b; S5L2b
2. Recognize the roles animals play within their ecosystems, such as predator and prey. S4L1a
Ecosystem Energy
1. Trace the path of energy through organisms in an ecosystem. S4L1b; S7L4b; S8P2c
2. Recognize the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers, and the adaptations which
help them fulfil these roles. S4L1a; S5L1a; S7L4a
Classification & Phylogenetics
1. Construct a model of the relationships between different groups of organisms. SB4a,b; SZ1c
2. Compare and contrast structural adaptations of different organisms and identify how similar
structures can indicate close biological relationships. SB6c; SZ2b; SZ3c
3. Recognize how classifications and structures in animals relate to the roles they play in
ecosystems. SZ4a