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A habitat is the kind of countryside or surrounding in which a plant or animal naturally lives. The home of the plant or animal is within its habitat. A racoon may live in a hollow log which is its home and in a forest which is its habitat. Habitat can also be thought of as the food, water, shelter and space that all species need in order to survive.
Sample some of the following activities to learn more about habitats.
People
To See Things To Do Teacher
Resources Bibliography
Places To GoThe following are places to go (some real and some virtual) to find out about habitats.
AfriCam
Haven't you always wanted to go on a safari to Africa and see amazing African animals in the wild? You CAN do this--you can watch real African animals any time of the day or night. This site has10-12 web cams set up at different watering holes in Africa.
Haven't you always wanted to go on a safari to Africa and see amazing African animals in the wild? You CAN do this--you can watch real African animals any time of the day or night. This site has10-12 web cams set up at different watering holes in Africa.
Arctic
Circle
The overall goal of Arctic Circle is to stimulate among viewers a greater interest in the peoples and environment of the Arctic and Subarctic region as it relates to our three themes: natural resources, history and culture, social equity and environmental justice.
The overall goal of Arctic Circle is to stimulate among viewers a greater interest in the peoples and environment of the Arctic and Subarctic region as it relates to our three themes: natural resources, history and culture, social equity and environmental justice.
Colossal Cave Mountian Park
Make like Batman and visit a bat cave! This virtual tour gives you an idea of what a cave habitat is like. Find out more about cave habitats from the National Caves Association.
Make like Batman and visit a bat cave! This virtual tour gives you an idea of what a cave habitat is like. Find out more about cave habitats from the National Caves Association.
Death
Valley
Native Americans called it Tomesha which means "ground afire." Visit one of the most inhospitable habitats in North America where average summer temperatures are 120 degrees and can peak to 135.
Native Americans called it Tomesha which means "ground afire." Visit one of the most inhospitable habitats in North America where average summer temperatures are 120 degrees and can peak to 135.
Fantastic
Forest
This virtual forest is brought to you courtesy of National Geographic. Follow the forest path and encounter a variety of habitats. Click on the different parts of the forest to find your way.
This virtual forest is brought to you courtesy of National Geographic. Follow the forest path and encounter a variety of habitats. Click on the different parts of the forest to find your way.
Lost on Everest
Situated on the borders of Nepal and Tibet, Mt. Everest is the highest elevation on earth - 29,028 feet. Take a virtual tour of the habitat at the top of the world.
Situated on the borders of Nepal and Tibet, Mt. Everest is the highest elevation on earth - 29,028 feet. Take a virtual tour of the habitat at the top of the world.
Secrets
of the Ocean Realm
This Web site looks at some of the most unique and fascinating creatures that inhabit the ocean's depths, and offers classroom activities, broadcast information, behind-the -scenes info, detailed information about the creatures profiled, and more.
This Web site looks at some of the most unique and fascinating creatures that inhabit the ocean's depths, and offers classroom activities, broadcast information, behind-the -scenes info, detailed information about the creatures profiled, and more.
Sonoran
Desert
Find out about the different habitats that exist in this huge desert, about desert tortoises and other animals that live there, and about survival in this harsh environment.
Find out about the different habitats that exist in this huge desert, about desert tortoises and other animals that live there, and about survival in this harsh environment.
What's It Like Where You Live?
Answer the question: What's It Like Where You Live? Learn about terrestrial biomes and aquatic ecosystems.
Answer the question: What's It Like Where You Live? Learn about terrestrial biomes and aquatic ecosystems.
People To SeeAsk
an Ecologist
Ask an Ecologist answers questions and provides information referrals regarding habitats, marine life, geology, oceans and landmasses.
Ask an Ecologist answers questions and provides information referrals regarding habitats, marine life, geology, oceans and landmasses.
Jake
the Sea Dog
Do you have a question about whales, fish, sharks, penguins or other ocean animals? Ask Jake!
Do you have a question about whales, fish, sharks, penguins or other ocean animals? Ask Jake!
Sea World - Ask
Shamu
Explore answers to some of the most common and most interesting questions posed to our Ask Shamu team. Topics include animal life, zoological careers, and conservation issues.
Explore answers to some of the most common and most interesting questions posed to our Ask Shamu team. Topics include animal life, zoological careers, and conservation issues.
Sir
Edmund Hillary
Read an interview with Sir Edmund Hillary. See what he has to say about cold, mountainous habitats.
Read an interview with Sir Edmund Hillary. See what he has to say about cold, mountainous habitats.
Things To DoAggie Horiculture
Gardens provide habitat for insects and other invertebrates. This site has instructions for planning, developing, and maintaining a school or classroom garden and ideas to integrate gardens in educational curriculum.
Gardens provide habitat for insects and other invertebrates. This site has instructions for planning, developing, and maintaining a school or classroom garden and ideas to integrate gardens in educational curriculum.
Biome
Basics
Explore deserts and discover that they are second only to tropical rain forests in the variety of plants and animals that live there.
Explore deserts and discover that they are second only to tropical rain forests in the variety of plants and animals that live there.
DesertUSA
DesertUSA is a comprehensive resource covering the North American deserts, their history, culture and biodiversity.
DesertUSA is a comprehensive resource covering the North American deserts, their history, culture and biodiversity.
Environmental
Protection Agency
Play the games at the kids page of the EPA to learn how children can protect the environment.
Play the games at the kids page of the EPA to learn how children can protect the environment.
Investigating An Ecosystem: The Seashore
Follow along with an elementary school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as they explore the ocean habitat. Find out why the ocean is salty, why it is blue, learn about ocean animals, ocean geography, and read about and possibly duplicate some of their experiments and observations.
Follow along with an elementary school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as they explore the ocean habitat. Find out why the ocean is salty, why it is blue, learn about ocean animals, ocean geography, and read about and possibly duplicate some of their experiments and observations.
Oceans
Alive
Educational site dealing with Australian Oceans, marine life, biodiversity, whale tracking and spotting, and general marine environmental issues suitable for school dicussion.
Educational site dealing with Australian Oceans, marine life, biodiversity, whale tracking and spotting, and general marine environmental issues suitable for school dicussion.
Old Growth Forests
You often hear about old growth forests. Find out exactly what they are, how they develop, and why they are so important.
You often hear about old growth forests. Find out exactly what they are, how they develop, and why they are so important.
Rainforest Action Network
Rainforest Action Network campaigns for the forests, their inhabitants and the natural systems that sustain life by transforming the global marketplace through education, grassroots organizing, and non-violent direct action.
Rainforest Action Network campaigns for the forests, their inhabitants and the natural systems that sustain life by transforming the global marketplace through education, grassroots organizing, and non-violent direct action.
Temperate Rainforest
According to this site, 31% of the earth's landmass is covered by forests or woodlands.
According to this site, 31% of the earth's landmass is covered by forests or woodlands.
Toothwalkers: Giants of the Arctic Ice
Find out how the walruses and their human neighbors, the native Inuit peoples, survive in their frozen habitat.
Find out how the walruses and their human neighbors, the native Inuit peoples, survive in their frozen habitat.
Treasures@ Sea: Exploring the Ocean Through Literature
Treasures@Sea is a literature based unit about the ocean. It contains web based lesson plans, interactive games, puzzles and quizzes, print activities, and experiments.
Treasures@Sea is a literature based unit about the ocean. It contains web based lesson plans, interactive games, puzzles and quizzes, print activities, and experiments.
Trust
for Public Land
A land conservation and open space resource for landowners, government agencies and community groups interested in protecting land for human enjoyment.
A land conservation and open space resource for landowners, government agencies and community groups interested in protecting land for human enjoyment.
Vancouver
Aquarium
Check out Canada's largest aquarium in British Columbia and virtually visit an ocean habitat.
Check out Canada's largest aquarium in British Columbia and virtually visit an ocean habitat.
Teacher Resources Virtual Field Trips are teacher and student-created
tours of curricular topics. (You can learn how to use this UEN Virtual
Field Trip tool created by UEN for Utah educators).
Lesson Plans/Webquests
Online Activities/Hotlists are a listing of internet
sites with fun, interesting, and educational tasks attached to each one.
(You can learn how to use this WWW
Activities tool created by UEN for Utah educators).
Bibliography
- Buller, Laura. Habitats and Environment. New York: M. Cavendish Corp., 1990.
- Curtis, Patricia. Animals and the New Zoos. New York: Lodestar Books, c1991.
- Feltwell, John. Animals and Where They Live. New York: Dorling Kindersley ; Boston, Mass.: Distributred by Houghton Mifflin, c1992.
- Green, Jen. Under a Stone. New York: Crabtree Pub. Co., c1999.
- Hacker, Randi and Kaufman, Jackie. Habitats: Where the Wild Things Live. Santa Fe, N.M.: J. Muir Publications; New York: Distributed to the book trade by W.W. Norton, c1992..
- Hickman, Pamela M. Habitats: Making Homes for Animals and Plants. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley Pub. Co., c1993.
- Kerrod, Robin. Animal Life. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 1994.
- Lauber, Patricia. Fur, Feathers, and Flippers: How Animals Live Where They Do. New York: Scholastic, c1994.
- Perham, Molly. Wildlife. London; New York: Watts, 1997.
- Relf, Patricia and Cole, Joanna. Scholastic's The Magic School Bus Hops Home: A Book About Animal Habitats. New York: Scholastic, c1995.
- Taylor, Barbara. Animal Hide and Seek. New York: DK Pub., c1998.