Feb. 24, 2010: Awesome Otters

The Mini Page is a syndicated, four-page tabloid written for young children found each Wednesday in The Denver Post. 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. Draw a picture of otters swimming. Paste newspaper words about otters around the picture.

2. Divide a piece of paper into two columns. In one, paste newspaper words/ pictures of animals smaller than sea otters. In the other, paste words/pictures of animals larger than sea otters.

3. Draw two large circles that overlap in the middle. In the left circle, describe sea otters. In the right, describe river otters. In the overlapping center, describe how sea and river otters are alike.

4. How are these important to otters: (a) kelp, (b) thick fur, (c) webbed paws, and (d) sea urchins?

5. Design a brochure to save otters and their habitats.


Mini Page activities meet many state and national educational standards. Each week we identify standards that relate to The Mini Page content and offer activities that will help your students reach them. This week's standard:

• Students understand the characteristics and life cycles of organisms. (Science: Life Science)

(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)