Sept. 3, 2008: The Elephant Sanctuary

The Mini Page is a syndicated, four-page tabloid written for young children found each Wednesday in the Rocky Mountain News. This issue of The Mini Page is available through the eEdition Archive to registered eEdition subscribers. Click here to learn about subscribing to the eEdition at no cost to you (for Colorado teachers).

Activities:

1. Make a "Bigger Than an Elephant" poster. Cut out newspaper pictures of items that are as big as an elephant, or bigger. Paste them on your poster.

2. Write the letters E-L-E-P-H-A-N-T down the left side of a piece of paper.
Now cut out newspaper words that start with each letter and that describe elephants. Paste them next to the right letter. (For example, you might paste the word "enormous" next to the first "E.")

3. How many places in your community are concerned with animals? Look through the newspaper and circle any services or stores that focus on making life better for animals.

4. Which elephant, Asian or African: (a) has larger ears, (b) has one "finger" at the end of its trunk, (c) is more wrinkled, and (d) is endangered?

5. Put yourself in the place of a circus elephant who goes to live in an elephant sanctuary. Tell your story. Use details to describe the changes in your life.

This week's standards:

• Students understand the characteristics and life cycles of organisms. (Science: Life Science)
• Students understand the interactions of animals and their environments. (Science: Life Science)
  
  (standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)