BACKGROUND:
Discuss that a city is a built
environment made for people and replaces the natural environment. It is
a big place for people to live and is built or engineered according to
their needs. The built environment includes tall buildings, theaters,
railroad, airports, streets, and many other objects. Sometimes,
organisms that lived in the preexisting natural environment adapt to the
built environment. This activity includes two stories for the children
to think about. One story is a fantasy about a dinosaur that comes to a
city; the other story is about real animals that live in today's cities
around the world.
PROCEDURE:
- In Home for a Dinosaur, a
dinosaur named Bronty visits the city and creates havoc because he is
too big. Bronty doesn't fit into the city because he is too big and the
city wasn't built for dinosaurs. Bronty needs a large space to live, so
his environment is different.
- After you read this story, ask
students if Bronty has a right to live in the city, and if so, how can
the city be made to accommodate his large size. Please reinforce that
dinosaurs never lived with people.
- Ask students if there would be any
other problems that would arise. For instance, where would the dinosaur
find food? Where could they go for entertainment? The students will
develop their own silly questions about a dinosaur in their world, so be
prepared!
- City Critters Around the World is
a series of poems that introduce the children to far away lands and the
animals that live in those cities. Before you read the story, ask
students what animals there are in their city.
- There are many animals in today's
cities in the United States. Squirrels, birds, opossum, rats, mice,
spiders, insects, dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, and fish
are common to almost any city. These animals are not dependent on the
city and have learned to adapt to the environment which was changed
without their consent.
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