Parent/Child Workshop Agenda

Animal Adaptations (2.5 hours)

The story of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is filled with many extraordinary creatures, both large and small. From the White Rabbit which Alice follows into this fantastical land to the confusing Caterpillar who questions her, Alice meets myriad animal friends and foes on her adventures. She swims in the Pool of Tears with the Dodo and his other feather friends, kicks little Bill the lizard out of the chimney, drinks tea with the March Hare and the Dormouse, becomes misled by the Cheshire Cat, and plays croquet with flamingoes and hedgehogs ... to name a few.

In this workshop's activities, participants will be encouraged to think about the many ways animals are adapted for their environments. Please note, an optional parental development session will require two facilitators.

Activity
Time (Minutes)
Caterpillar Line Race
10
Introduction
5
Book Search
15
Beaks of Our Feathered Friends
30
Bird Beak Building (children)
Parent Development (adults)
20
Animal Feet Relay Race
20
Animal Adventures Game
20
Pool of Tears Extension
20
Conclusion
10

Caterpillar Line Race (Two teams, children vs. adults)

This short game creates a high-energy, exciting atmosphere and introduces the topic for the day. Teams work to get their ball to the end of the line, while alternating passing overhead and between the legs.

Use the activity entitled Caterpillar Line Race from this site. If you would like, extend the activity:

  • After the race has finished, ask participants to share their ideas of what strategies helped them and what hindered them. (For example, they might say that saying the person's name behind them, helped the ball move faster from one person to another because it alerted them that the ball was coming.)
  • Encourage participants to try again, keeping in mind the winning strategies they shared. You could change teams, mixing parents and kids or remain the same

You will need the following materials:

  • a ball for each team - a fleece ball or small kick ball works well

Introduction (Parents and children in a circle)

If the group is comfortable with one another, have each person introduce the person that was standing behind them in the previous game. When introduced, ask them share a favorite animal. Continue until everyone has been introduced to the entire group, then introduce the theme for the day and the activities planned.

Book Search (Parent/child pairs in circle)

Pass out different versions of Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland and ask pairs to find the chapter entitled "The Caucus Race." Challenge them to identify the different birds in the picture for the chapter. Encourage each pair to share with the group their picture and the various birds. Talk about what each bird eats and how its beak helps it to eat.

Beaks of Our Feathered Friends (Parent/child pairs)

Children are given the opportunity to experiment using tools that are similar to various birds' beaks to accomplish the challenge of picking up different types of food. They will think about the shapes, sizes, and operations of bird beaks and how they are adapted to their environments.

Use the activity entitled Beaks of Our Feathered Friends from this site or from the Family Science Night Activity Guide. After giving the pairs a chance to experiment in accordance with the instructions, extend the activity by giving them three timed challenges:

  1. Choose one specific tool, i.e., pliers, and ask all of the children to use that tool. They can choose any of the seeds to "eat." Give them 12 seconds to move as many of their chosen variety of seed from one container to another. Which birds "starved" and which birds had a "full belly"?
  2. Now choose a specific seed for the beaks to "eat." The children choose the tool. Give them 12 seconds to move as many of the seed from one container to another using their chosen beak. Again, which birds "starved" and which birds had a "full belly?"
  3. Finally, allow each pair to choose whichever tool and seed they would like. Give the pairs 10 seconds to move their selected seed with their selected beak. Which beaks work best for each seed?

You will need:

  • an assortment of tools: tweezers, pliers, needle-nose pliers, eyedropper, melon scoop or baby spoon, wrench ?

The following two activities can be conducted simultaneously to provide a brief parent development session. If you opt to skip this session, please feel free to conduct the first of the two activities with both parents and children.

Bird Beak Building (Children only or parent/child pairs)

Participants will create paper beaks and practice using their beaks to pick up seeds.Use the activity entitled Bird Beak Building from this site or on page 5 of the Activity Guide.

You will need:

  • one sheet of paper per participant
  • markers or colored pencils
  • tape
  • optional: materials to create a bird face, i.e. feathers, small plastic lids or buttons, felt

What Is a Scientist? (Adults only)

Parents work with a facilitator to talk about their perceptions of science and various scientific careers.

Animal Feet Relay Race (Mixed teams of parents and children)

After discussing different types of animal feet, participants will don various feet while running a "caucus race."

Use the activity entitled Animal Feet Relay from this site or on page 9 of the Activity Guide.

You will need the following materials per team:

  • 1 pair of socks with batting in the end.
  • 2 pairs of socks with batting sown in under the ball of the foot.
  • 1 set of 3-foot 1' x 4' planks with two straps on each.
  • 1 pair of quart-sized paint cans with ropes attached as handles.
  • 1 pair of fins.

Animal Adventures Game (Parent/child pairs)

Participants use numbers and problem-solving skills to help their Alice character negotiate a path across a game board (the Tub of Tears). Adapted from the Family Math activity "Animal Crossing," this activity allows children to practice their spatial relationship skills. Use the activity entitled Animal Adventures Game from this site or on page 8 of the Activity Guide.

You will need the following materials per pair:

  • animal adventures game board
  • place markers
  • 1 die

Tub of Tears Extension (Everyone)

Play a giant version of the game above using the same rules. Create a giant game board using a tarp, duct tape to mark out squares, and boxes or styrofoam to create giant barriers. Children become the markers and the adults roll giant die. Parents and children together strategize about the best starting place, and parents continue to coach as children cross the board.

Conclusion (Everyone in a circle)

In a circle, encourage participants to share how they think the activities in the workshop relate to science. You might even brainstorm the types of scientists who work with or learn from animals.