The lessons in this issue address the questions: “What are the limits on how big or small an animal can be?” and “What effect does an animal’s size have on the animal itself?”
There is a discussion of the ways large animals differ from small ones, with a focus on metabolism and body temperature. Two activities ask students to use background information and a chart to compare the size and other characteristics of a shrew to that of an elephant. Another activity involves students in “creating” their own animal in the form of a cube of marshmallows in order to introduce the subjects of surface area and body temperature. An activity sheet features an illustrated chart of numerous animal size differences.
Note: This is an archival publication dating back to 1987 and any supplements or suggestions for off-site education may not be available.
Download "Art to Zoo: A Mouse Like a House? A Pocket Elephant?: How Size Shapes Animals, and What the Limits Are " (PDF).
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