We took advantage of the wonderful resources available to us through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Morton Arboretum's Education Center. The Illinois Mammal Education Trunk included pelts, skulls and replicas of tracks and scat (animal droppings) for a number of animals such as raccoon, beaver, squirrel, coyote and white tailed deer. We asked the students to select a mammal for study and to create a booklet with pelt, skull, track and scat illustrations through careful observation of each.
Using the beaver pelt, I demonstrated how to draw simple, large shapes first and then to add the smaller shapes and details within. I encouraged students to really look at what they were drawing: for the skulls, to carefully draw the correct shape from both the side view and the front view; to note the size of the eye sockets in relation to the head size; and to record the correct number and type of teeth visible, depending upon the view.
I love these illustrations, especially those of the skulls and tracks, as these allowed students to provide the greatest amount of information. To complete the books, students conducted research about their mammal's habitat, habits and diet using the Directory of Illinois Wildlife on the University of Illinois Extension's website:
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/directory_mammals.cfm
The students' illustrations are currently on view within the second floor landing display case. Do stop in for a peek!
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| beaver pelt and skull |
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| white tailed deer pelt |
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| Jessica's raccoon skull illustrations |
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| raccoon skull (lower jaw unattached) |
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| raccoon pelt and skull |
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| Aidan drawing the squirrel skull, side view |
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| Cyrus drawing the coyote skull, side view |
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