Transcript

Inspired by Creature Features

by Steve Jenkins

Researched by the

4th Grade Students

As part of our author study, the students read the book Creature Features: 25 Animals Explain Why They Look The Way They Do and discovered many unusual animal features.

Then, as an extension activity, each student chose an animal to research. Each child created a slide to include a picture, a question to the animal about a unique feature, and had the animal “answer” the question.

Why do you jump really high?I jump high so I can find the location of hunting seabirds, and they can show me where to find the fish.

Alexis S.

My mouth is so big so I can eat birds and sheep.

Andrew B.

Dear Wolverine: Why is Michigan’s nickname the Wolverine state?

My type of species was once very common there.

Daniel G.

WHY IS THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR BODY SO HARD?

IT IS HARD FOR PROTECTION,SO OTHER SEA ANIMALS CAN’T HURT ME.

Dear Dinichthys:

Why is your tail so

bushy?

It’s bushy, because it gives me more balance when I move on trees. Elodie S.

Dear Eurasian Pine Marten,

Potto

Henry M.

Why do you grasp branches with your hind legs?I use them for

holding on to branches for long periods.

Dear Potto,

Dear great white shark: why can you detect blood so far away?

It’s very handy for eating. I’m a predator, and it’s good for me to eat wounded things so I don’t have to

waste energy.

Chris D

Desert jerboa, why are your legs so skinny?

My legs are so skinny so they can jump high to reach food. I can jump up to 10

feet, the equivalent of a human jumping up to 165 feet.

By Jonathan P.

Dear naked mole rat: Why don’t you have hair? You’re naked!

I don’t have hair because I live in the dry grasslands, and it is in a hot climate.

GEORGE M.

DEAR PORCUPINE:

WHY DO YOUHAVE SO

MANY SPIKES AND

MOVE BACWARDS?

I MOVE BACKWARDS

BECAUSE I NEED TO

SCARE OFF MY

PREDATORS, AND I HAVE MY SPIKES

ON MY BACK.

Dear Blue WhaleWhy do you have weird things in your mouth?

They’re like teeth but they’re baleen, and I use them to strain little fishes out

of the water. Instead of biting, I just swallow them whole. By Jack C.

Actually, I’m a male Tree Kangaroo. The colors are

to attract mates.

Dear three-toed sloth: why is some of your fur green?

I MOVE SO SLOWLY THAT GREEN MOSS GROWS ON MY FUR, AND IT KEEPS ME SAFE FROM PREDATORS.

NICHOLAS

Dear bottlenose dolphin:

What do you eat, and how do you

communicate with humans ?

Dear Indian Flying Fox,

Chase F.

Why are your wings so big?

My giant wings, which can be up to four times bigger than my body, help me glide

in the air.

DEAR TASMANIAN WOLF:

WHY DON’T PEOPLE KNOW A LOT ABOUT YOU?

PEOPLE DON’T KNOW A LOT ABOUT ME, BECAUSE I WAS EXTINCT BEFORE THEY COULD STUDY ME.

By KATIE S.

Dear American pika: why are your cheeks so big?

I can carry a lot of food in my mouth, even plants that are toxic.

By: Jared

Sarah


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