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Do you have an animal lover or nature lover living at your house? Or have been asked to do a lesson on mammals? Or perhaps you have a child that is interested in hunting and wildlife? These are all very good reasons that you may be searching for the perfect lesson that introduces youth to seventeen different mammals that live in the woodlands.
The woodlands are the geographical area that is made up of trees, creeks, streams, brush, and the meadows and fields that surround wooded areas. The woodland areas are not as dense as forests.
The woodland animals that are included in our lesson live in the eastern section of the United States, specifically mammals. A majority of these animals can be found just east of the Mississippi River, south into the Appalachian mountains, and into the Northeast U.S. and parts of Canada.
The seventeen woodland mammals that have been chosen are the most popular mammals that you will see in this region. These animals are the ones that you will find as you go on walks, hiking, and camping adventures with your families.
Seventeen Woodland Mammals of the Eastern United States
- American Beaver
- Coyote
- Eastern Cottontail
- Eastern Gray Squirrel
- Gray Fox
- Red Fox
- Long-tailed Weasel
- Opossum
- Mink
- Muskrat
- Raccoon
- Striped Skunk
- White-tailed Deer
- Woodchuck
- Black Bear
- Bobcat
- Eastern Chipmunk
Many of these animals served a purpose in the early days providing food, warmth, and tools for the native people and settlers that lived here. The animals were hunted to provide nourishment to the people and every part of the animals was utilized to make tools from the bones. Fuel was made from the fat to create light and warmth and the hides were tanned and the pelts were either sold, traded, or used to make clothing or blankets.
Today these animals are hunted for sport, population control, food, and fur. Perhaps your child is interested in becoming a wildlife biologist or wildlife resource officer.
What is a Mammal?
Animals in the Mammalia scientific class have the following characteristics.
- All mammals are warm-blooded.
- Most young are born alive.
- They have hair or fur on their bodies.
- Every mammal is a vertebrate.
- All mammals have lungs to breathe air.
- Mammals feed milk to their babies.
Woodland Mammal Description Cards
In the Woodland Mammal lesson PDF, a description card has been created for each of the seventeen mammals mentioned above. On the description page is a full-color picture of the mammal. The sheet gives important details about the mammal’s habitat, diet, activity, social life, and adaptations.
Habitat: A description of where the animal lives and eats. Where you might find this particular mammal?
Diet: Is the animal a carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore? What does it eat?
Activity: Is the animal active during the day (diurnal) or night (nocturnal)?
Social Life: Does the animal live in a group or in solitude? How many babies do they have a year?
Adaptations: What color is the animal? What other special features (adaptations) does the animal have that help it to survive or make it different from others? You can also ask the child to tell you why these adaptations may be important. Survival, camouflage, what else?
This is a great way to review important science vocabulary and biological terminology with your child.
Woodland Mammal Lesson
Depending on the age or knowledge level of the child or group, you can use the description cards in a variety of ways.
Beginner: As an introduction to different types of woodland mammals.
Intermediate: Studying mammal characteristics and terminology.
Advanced: Studying scientific classification. (on the bottom of every page is the animal’s scientific classification)
In our 4-H environmental program, we purchased animal pelts for each of the mammals from Nature Watch. We stored the pelts in a large tote and took the tote with us whenever we had a request for a lesson on mammals. First, we would review the vocabulary terms. Then, while the students sat on the ground/floor in front of us and we would take out a pelt. We would ask the students to listen to the clues while sitting criss-cross applesauce, hands in their lap. After we gave the clues we would ask them to raise their hands and tell us what the animal was.
The student was rewarded with the opportunity to take the pelt around to the rest of the class to feel and look at the animals’ fur and other adaptations. The Red Fox and Beaver were always my favorites! The Red Fox because it was so beautiful and soft and the Beaver because of the two different coats. The topcoat is longer and coarser to allow the water to run off keeping the beaver dry and the undercoat is soft and downy to keep the beaver warm.
If you have access to pelts like this from your local 4-H program or wildlife program, they are a treat to introduce to your child or group. Or if you are able to attend one of these programs, even better. Here is an example of a raccoon pelt and deer pelt that I found on Amazon.
“Who am I” Presentation
If you don’t have access to pelts, you can use the “Who am I?” PowerPoint Presentation as an alternative. Each animal has two slides. The first slide shows a picture of an up-close view of the animal’s fur. You would show that slide while giving clues from the Woodland Mammal Description Cards. And just like the pelts, you would ask the group or your child to guess what animal this is you are describing. After they guess, the second slide is a picture of the mammal with its name at the top of the slide.
So there you have it! Two different resources that you can use to teach your child or group all about woodland mammals.
I have also included a couple of books below about mammals for your child to learn even more about mammals.
Mammal Books for Kids
1) Mammals (Animal Classifications) by Angela Royston
Grade 1-3, Non-Fiction
Mammals are part of the Animal Classification books that highlight the classes of animals (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, fish, and birds. The mammal’s edition highlights the characteristics of mammals and the exceptions such as marsupials. Great introduction book and series to have in your library.
2) Pocket Genius: Mammals: Facts at Your Fingertips by DK
Grades 3-7, Non-Fiction
We just love the Pocket Genius Books. They always have incredible pictures and facts. This book features almost 200 mammals across the world.
Let me know what you think of the activities and books in the comments below! I would love to hear how you used them.