This lists the logos of programs or partners of NG Education which have provided or contributed the content on this page.
Program
1. Discuss reasons animals migrate.
Ask: What do most animals need to survive? List students’ ideas on the board. Make sure students include air, water, food, and the ability to reproduce. Then ask students to think of one word that explains why animals migrate (survival). Ask: Isn’t it easier to stay where you are? What might cause a species to migrate? Elicit answers from students such as: lack of food and/or water, harsh weather, and specific needs for mating/hatching. If possible, look at animal migration examples on the worksheet Match the Animal to its Migration Type, from the activity Many Moves of Migration.
2. Have students preview the worksheet Species That Migrate.
Divide students into six small groups. Distribute one copy of the worksheet Species that Migrate to each group. Read aloud the directions. As a class, preview the table by discussing the provided example for sockeye salmon. Answer any questions students may have. Tell students they will watch four video clips. Encourage them to listen for the type of information covered in the table as they watch each.
3. Watch a video clip from Great Migrations and have groups find additional facts.
Show students the video clip “Monarch Migration.” Then have small groups identify migratory habits of the species in the clip, using the Animals A-Z feature on the National Geographic Animals website to find additional facts about each animal. Allow students enough time to complete the row for the monarch butterfly in the worksheet.
4. Repeat the process with three additional video clips.
Show students “Wildebeest Migration” and allow them time to refer to the National Geographic Animals website to find additional facts about wildebeest and complete that row. Repeat the same process for the video clips “Sperm Whale Gathering" and "Red Crab Eggs."
5. Have groups compare and contrast the migratory habits of two species.
Distribute one copy of the worksheet Compare and Contrast Migratory Species to each group. Assign each of the six groups a different pair of species to compare and contrast. Have groups complete the Venn diagram for their assigned species.
6. Have groups present their findings.
Draw a large Venn diagram on the board. Have each group present the information from their completed worksheets by writing facts on sticky notes and placing them correctly in the diagram. As a class, discuss each group’s species using the discussion questions provided on the worksheet.
Informal Assessment
Have small groups combine to form three larger groups. Challenge the groups to write every reason they can think of that a species might migrate; for example, to find a mate, because of a diminished food source, drought, flooding, volcanic activity, destruction of habitat, human presence in a habitat, an earthquake, seasonal changes, overpopulation of an area, or pollution. Then have each group read their list of reasons. Judge whether or not each reason is valid. If another group has the same reason, have all groups cross it off the list. Each group gets one point per reason that no other group wrote. After all three groups have read their reasons, tally the points.
Subjects & Disciplines
- Biology
- Geography
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- explain why animals migrate
- organize factual information about migratory animals based on videos and Internet research
- compare and contrast two migratory species
Teaching Approach
- Learning-for-use
Teaching Methods
- Cooperative learning
- Discussions
- Information organization
- Multimedia instruction
Skills Summary
This activity targets the following skills:
-
Critical Thinking Skills
- Analyzing
- Understanding
- Geographic Skills
Connections to National Standards, Principles, and Practices
National Geography Standards
- Standard 3: How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth's surface
National Science Education Standards
- (5-8) Standard C-1: Structure and function in living systems
- (5-8) Standard C-3: Regulation and behavior
- (5-8) Standard C-4: Populations and ecosystems
What You’ll Need
Materials You Provide
- Completed worksheets from previous activity
- Pencils
- Pens
- Sticky notes
Required Technology
- Internet Access: Required
- Tech Setup: 1 computer per small group, Projector, Speakers
- Plug-Ins: Flash
Physical Space
- Classroom
Grouping
- Large-group instruction
- Small-group instruction
Background Information
Animal migration is the large-scale movement of a species from one place to another. Most species migrate during specific seasons, in search of food or water, or for mating reasons.
Prior Knowledge
- None
Recommended Prior Activities
Vocabulary
process where a community of animals leaves a habitat for part of the year or part of their lives, and moves to habitats that are more hospitable.
to move from one place or activity to another.
to create offspring, by sexual or asexual means.
group of similar organisms that can reproduce with each other.
to live.
state of the atmosphere, including temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity, precipitation, and cloudiness.
Articles & Profiles
Audio & Video
Interactives
Funder
-
Animal Migration
Some animals, such as the Galápagos tortoise (Geochelone nigra), live their entire lives in one place. Others, such as the monarch butterfly (Sanaus plexippus) and Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea), migrate. Animals have adapted to migrate based on seasonal or geographic variations. Humans have added barriers to this process by building roads across major migration routes or eliminating or minimizing food sources along the way. Efforts to reduce human impacts include creating migration corridors, installing wildlife-friendly fencing, protecting breeding beaches, or building animal only bridges or tunnels across roads. Take your students on this journey with these classroom resources.
-
Organisms: Behavior
Organisms can exhibit a wide range of behaviors; some of which can be quite unique, such as the elaborate courtship behaviors of the birds-of-paradise in Papua New Guinea or the peacock spider in Australia. Although often overlooked, plants also have unique behaviors. Two examples of their behaviors include geotropism, the growth of plants against the force of gravity and phototropism, the growth of plants toward the light. Learn more about these fascinating behaviors with these resources.
-
Many Moves of Migration
Students discuss why some species migrate. Then they analyze specific examples of migratory species, learn about types of animal migration, and match various animals to their types of migration.
-
Introduction to Human Migration
Students discuss types of migration and people who migrate. Then they brainstorm reasons for migrating.
-
Why and How Animals Migrate
After watching six short video clips that cover why animals migrate, students synthesize information from the videos and participate in group discussion. Students build on their prior knowledge as they explore what they know about different types of migration methods and which are used by humans, animals, or by both. Finally, students complete an exit ticket to indicate what animal they would like to focus on for their unit project.
-
Animal Migration
Some animals, such as the Galápagos tortoise (Geochelone nigra), live their entire lives in one place. Others, such as the monarch butterfly (Sanaus plexippus) and Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea), migrate. Animals have adapted to migrate based on seasonal or geographic variations. Humans have added barriers to this process by building roads across major migration routes or eliminating or minimizing food sources along the way. Efforts to reduce human impacts include creating migration corridors, installing wildlife-friendly fencing, protecting breeding beaches, or building animal only bridges or tunnels across roads. Take your students on this journey with these classroom resources.
-
Organisms: Behavior
Organisms can exhibit a wide range of behaviors; some of which can be quite unique, such as the elaborate courtship behaviors of the birds-of-paradise in Papua New Guinea or the peacock spider in Australia. Although often overlooked, plants also have unique behaviors. Two examples of their behaviors include geotropism, the growth of plants against the force of gravity and phototropism, the growth of plants toward the light. Learn more about these fascinating behaviors with these resources.
-
Many Moves of Migration
Students discuss why some species migrate. Then they analyze specific examples of migratory species, learn about types of animal migration, and match various animals to their types of migration.
-
Introduction to Human Migration
Students discuss types of migration and people who migrate. Then they brainstorm reasons for migrating.
-
Why and How Animals Migrate
After watching six short video clips that cover why animals migrate, students synthesize information from the videos and participate in group discussion. Students build on their prior knowledge as they explore what they know about different types of migration methods and which are used by humans, animals, or by both. Finally, students complete an exit ticket to indicate what animal they would like to focus on for their unit project.