Coyote Study with Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe
In Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe, the main character Cricket sometimes hears coyotes howling in the woods. Students will use the novel as a starting point for learning more about a coyote’s howl, as well as its appearance, habitat, diet, behavior, and offspring.
Lesson Created By: SamanthaBell, Jo Watson Hackl
Essential Question
How do living things continue to adapt to changes in the environment?
Grade(s):
- 6
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
Computer and projector for classroom use; Personal computers for student use.
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe by Jo Hackl
Lesson Progression
INTRODUCTION ACTIVITY:
Using a projector, play a video of a coyote howling. Below is one from the Virginia Living Museum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jpvGQmpnLQ
In the video, the coyotes howled because they heard a siren. As a class, discuss other reasons why they think coyotes may howl. Make a list of these reasons on the board.
MINI-LESSON:
1. Discuss with the class the reasons scientists believe coyotes howl. As you do, make a new list beside the first one. Reference articles can be found on these webpages:
https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2014/03/coyotes-decoding-yips-barks-h...
http://news.psu.edu/story/141205/2007/01/15/research/probing-question-wh...
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/08/coyote-america-dan-flores-hi...
2. As a class, compare the two lists. How are they similar? How are they different?
MAIN ACTIVITY:
1. In Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe, Cricket hears coyotes howling in the woods. Instruct the students to read the following pages, taking specialnote of when the coyote howls: Pages 42, 93, and 136. When does Cricket hear the coyotes? What can be inferred from this information?
2. Divide students into five groups. Have each group research information about coyotes online. (If individual computers are not available, look up different sites as a class.) Instruct each group to research one of the following: coyote appearance, diet, habitat, behavior, and offspring. Instruct students to write down the facts they find.
3. Instruct each group to create a poster featuring the facts they learned.
4. Have each group present their poster and facts to the rest of the class. After the presentation, instruct the other students to write down the facts the group presented.
CLOSING ACTIVITY:
Both coyotes and wolves howl, but the howls sound different. Play this video featuring wolves howling for the class. How do the howls differ from those of coyotes?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IaYm3NjJnM
EXTENSIONS:
Coyotes are similar in appearance to wolves, but they are different animals. Create a poster featuring both a coyote and a wolf that shows how they differ.
Coyotes were once found only in the deserts and prairies of the mid-western United States. Today, they are found throughout the North America, including urban areas. Research and write a report about why the coyote’s habitat and range has changed.
National Geographic - How the Most Hated Animal in America Outwitted Us All
Article about the coyote's adaptability
View ResourceStandards
- Life Science: Diversity of Life – Classification and Animals
- 6.L.4 The student will demonstrate an understanding of how scientists classify organisms and how the structures, processes, behaviors, and adaptations of animals allow them to survive.
Assessments
Students answer the following questions about coyotes:
1. Are coyotes a threat to people? If so, in what way?
2. Coyotes are classified as carnivores. Would you classify them that way? Why or why not?
3. In some Native Americans stories, coyotes are portrayed as clever tricksters who deceive or cheat people. Based on what you’ve learned about coyotes, why do you think they were portrayed this way?
4. In what ways can the coyote be described as adaptable?