Florida Mammals

Florida Mammals


Standards-Based Activities
(4th-5th Grades)

1) Reading & Science
2) Reading & History
3) Reading & Poetry
4) Writing
5) Math
6) Answer Page


Created by the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve (JEA & FPL)
For more Standards-Based activities,
Check out the Preserve’s website at Http://pelotes.jea.com
(904) 665-8856

Provided by the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve, JEA & FPL

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“Florida Mammals”

This activity can stand alone or be used
as extension materials for the following
Environmental Activity Curricula:

Project WILD “Deer Crossing” p. 212
Project WILD “Oh Deer!” p. 146
Project WILD “How Many Bears Can Live…?” p. 134



To learn about attending a workshop in Florida to receive these
Environmental Curricula Texts, see below.

Project WET – contact Project WET State Coordinator at
(386) 329-4752.

Project Learning Tree (PLT) – contact PLT State Coordinator at
(850) 222-5646.

Project WILD – contact Project WILD State Coordinator at
(850) 488-4676.

Project Aquatic WILD - contact Project WILD State Coordinator at
(850) 488-4676.

Schoolyard Wildlife - contact Project WILD State Coordinator at
(850) 488-4676.
Provided by the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve, JEA & FPL

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Florida Mammals

Standards-Based Reading Questions

Science: Let’s Read about Mammals

One example of a mammal is a Red Fox. This animal can have gray fur, but it’s
usually a brownish-red color. The tip of its tail is always white. All mammals have hair.
Foxes like to live at the edge of woods and fields. They usually sleep in the
grass where they can watch for predators (dangerous animals). Foxes eat plants and
animals, so they are called “omnivores.” [HINT: “Omni-“ means “everything.” “Vor-“
means “hungry. Since foxes eat plants and animals, they are “hungry” for “everything!”]
Mice and blueberries are their favorite foods.
The fox, like all mammals, is a warm-blooded animal. This means that a fox
must eat food everyday, to keep its body a nice warm temperature all the time. Food
energy helps a fox stay warm in the winter.
Foxes, like other mammals, do not lay eggs. When they are ready to start a
family, they find a burrow made by another animal. Then they dig it out to make it big
enough to hold their babies.
Baby foxes are called “kits.” When the babies are small, the father’s job is to
bring food to the mother. The mother’s job is to clean the babies and feed them milk.
The kits are big enough to come out of the den at 6 weeks old. Later, the
parents bring small animals to the den, so the kits can practice hunting. At 6 months
old, the young foxes are full-grown.
Foxes can catch a disease like rabies. This disease attacks the brain, and
makes animals act strangely. Cats and dog, which are normally friendly, get mean.
Foxes, which are normally scared of people, become friendly. Never touch or feed a
wild animal! Tell an adult about any strange animal.

There are five ways you can tell that an animal is a mammal. Look for each way in the
paragraphs above. Circle each sentence when you find it. Finding all five proves that a
red fox is a mammal!

1- Has fur or hair
2- Is warm-blooded
3- Does not lay eggs


4- Gives milk to its babies
5- Takes care of babies




Provided by the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve, JEA & FPL

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Florida Mammals

Standards-Based Reading Questions

Science: Let’s Read about Mammals

1. Read the following sentence, which uses information from the text: “Foxes are
omnivores. Omni- means everything. Vor- means hungry. So, foxes are hungry for
everything!” What does the word “omnivore” mean?

a) Only eats plants
b) Only eats animals (meat)
c) Eats plants and animals
d) Does not eat anything

2. What is the author’s main purpose in writing this article? Use details and information
from the article to support your answer.















READ













THINK













EXPLAIN




































































3. Use details and information from the article to support the following statement:
Turkeys are NOT mammals.















READ












THINK












EXPLAIN





























































Provided by the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve, JEA & FPL

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Florida Mammals

Standards-Based Reading Questions


Histories Mysteries - Mammals

Red foxes are small mammals with grayish or reddish fur. They live in forests or grassy
areas. They don’t mind living near people, but are shy, and hide when you walk by.

MYSTERY 1: Even in snowy weather, foxes will not go inside a den to stay warm.
They do not hibernate either. How do they stay warm in the winter?

HERE’S HOW: Foxes have very thick fur coats. In the winter, they grow an even
thicker coat to keep them warm. Some parts of their bodies don’t have fur – like their
nose. When a fox curls up to sleep, its furry tail curls around to cover its nose. This
helps the fox stay warm AND it lets him stay outside so he can watch for food or
danger. The only time foxes use dens is to keep their babies safe and warm!

MYSTERY 2: In many parts of the country, foxes are hunted. At one time, they were
hunted so much that people brought more foxes in from Europe. Why are they hunted?

HERE’S WHY: There are three main reasons foxes get hunted. The first is, some
people really like to make clothes and other things out of fox fur. They hunt the animal,
and then use its fur. The second reason is that some people like to hunt animals that
are smart. Foxes are really smart and tricky. They make a hunter chase them.
Hunters that like to chase animals often decide to hunt foxes. The third reason is that
foxes sometimes hunt chickens . If a farmer doesn’t lock up his chickens at night, a fox
might eat them. It’s an easy fox dinner. Sometimes, even when the farmer puts his
chickens away, the fox will figure out how to break in and kill a chicken for food. People
sometimes hunt these smart fox thieves to protect their farm chickens.

MYSTERY 3: Foxes can catch a disease called rabies. Why aren’t all the foxes dead?

HERE’S WHY: Most foxes do not have rabies. Wild animals don’t always die from
rabies like cats, dogs, and people do. They can even recover from this disease. Foxes
can catch it from eating or being bitten by a rabid animal. Some people put out bait for
foxes that has the rabies vaccine in it. This keeps the foxes from catching this disease.


1. Why are foxes usually hunted?

a) Hunters like to chase smart animals.
b) People think fox fur smells bad.
c) Foxes guard chicken pens against predators.
d) Foxes dig dens in people’s yards.
Provided by the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve, JEA & FPL

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History’s Mysteries: Mammals

Standards-Based Reading Questions, continued


2. Which of the followi ng animals does NOT always die from rabies?

a) Dog
b) Fox
c) Cat
d) Human


3. Read Mystery 2 in the article. Explain the main idea of Mystery 2 using details
and information from the article to support your answer.















READ













THINK













EXPLAIN




































































4. Think about the main idea and author’s purpose for this article. Write a new title
for the article that represents the author’s purpose. Use details and information
from the article to support your answer.















READ













THINK













EXPLAIN



































































Provided by the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve, JEA & FPL

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Florida Mammals - Poetry

Standards-Based Reading Questions

Mammal Mysteries

Mammal fur is soft as snow.
Baby mammals don’t hatch from eggs when they grow.
Mammal babies drink milk all right!
Mammal skin stays warm on the coldest night.
Mammals want you to leave them alone.
Mammals just want to run on home.
If you show mammals a scary sight,
Mammals can give you a big bad bite!
Rabid mammals can give you rabies,
Lots of shots are the only cure, baby!
Don’t touch stray dogs; listen to me good!
Just let mammals live in the oceans, fields, and woods.
When you see a mammal, don’t touch, just look!
Let them go lie low in their own little nook.


1. “Alliteration” is a word that means that the first letter of several words sound alike.
For example: “Mammal Mysteries.” Find another example of alliteration in this
poem and write it below.















READ













THINK













EXPLAIN


































































Provided by the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve, JEA & FPL

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Florida Mammals - Poetry

Standards-Based Reading Questions, continued

Mammal Mysteries

2. Mammals are the only animals that can get rabies. Explain what you’ve learned
about rabies from this poem. Use details and information from the poem to support
your answer.














READ













THINK













EXPLAIN



































































3. Four lines of this poem have the same rhyme pattern at the ends of the lines. Think
about how rhyming words affect the sound and flow of a poem. Explain how these
rhyming words affect the sound and flow of the poem “Mammal Mysteries.” Use
details and information from the poem to support your answer.















READ













THINK













EXPLAIN



































































4. Which of the following is a correct statement about mammals?

a) Mammal skin gets really cold in cold weather.
b) Mammals have fur or hair.
c) Mammal babies have to survive without their parents’ help.
d) Mammal babies hatch from eggs.
Provided by the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve, JEA & FPL

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Florida Mammals

Standards-Based Writing Prompts



1. Dolphins live in the oceans all over the world. Imagine that you are a dolphin
swimming through the ocean, playing in the surf, and catching fish to eat. Write to
explain what your life would be like as a dolphin.


2. Nature walks sometimes allow people a glimpse of a wild mammal. Think about a
mammal you would like to see. Write to explain why you would want to see this
mammal.


3. Scientists are beginning to release captive-bred Florida panthers back into the wild.
Think about the different points of view that Floridians might have about the panthers
released within 100 miles of their homes. Write to explain to a lawmaker why
panthers should be released into the woods OR why panthers should not be
released into the woods.

Provided by the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve, JEA & FPL

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Florida Mammals

Standards-Based Math Questions


1. The Raccoon Rescue Group is made up of people trained to help small mammals
that have lost their mothers. Each person in the Raccoon Rescue can take care of
three squirrel, raccoon, or opossum babies at a time. If the Raccoon Rescue has 35
members, what is the highest number of baby animals they can care for at one time?

a) 105 animals
b) 32 animals
c) 138 animals
d) 11 animals


2. Dr. Reynolds is studying a group of manatees. He has learned that manatees swim
at an average speed of 3 mph. The following table shows the distance that Dr.
Reynolds’ manatees swam in one day. What is the average distance the males
swam and what is the average distance the females swam? Show your work.

Name
Male/Female
Distance (miles)
Salty
male
21
Aries
female
15
Jumpy
female
16
Barney
male
12
Mickey
male
18
Cherish
female
14
Ruby
female
23









Provided by the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve, JEA & FPL

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