The Mixed-Up Chameleon.

The Mixed-Up Chameleon            

Introduction:

The Mixed-Up Chameleon is one of Eric Carle’s best loved children’s books. It tells the story of a chameleon who leads an uneventful life, until the day he comes across a zoo. Amazed by all of the beautiful animals, he wishes for some of the qualities of the creatures he sees. To his delight, his wishes come true.The chameleon becomes big and white like a polar bear, handsome like a flamingo, and strong like an elephant – each time taking on a physical characteristic of the animal he has just seen. Before long, the chameleon is an incredible mix of creatures but discovers that he is no longer able to catch his favourite meal – a fly. With his final wish, he returns to being a chameleon, catches the fly, and reminds us all why it’s important to be yourself.

Activity 1:

Get in the mix

Start muddling mammals and randomising reptiles…

_ to explore habitats, interdependence and adaptation.

Read the book to the children.

 _act out the various animals whose features are slowly added to the chameleon.

 _Each child who comes to the front has to add the relevant part to the chameleon until he is completely mixed-up.

_ challenge the children to come up with their own mixed-up animal. In pairs or individually, sketch, draw or paint a new creature that is made up of several different parts

_When the creatures are completed, they will need to be named.

Activity 2: What is that?                                                               And now for the science bit…

_ children have had the opportunity to create their own mixed-up creatures, it is time to see just how much they really know about their new pets.

 In groups,  pupils come up with a series of questions they could ask to find out more about their creature:

_ Where would it live?

_ What would it eat?

_What conditions is it suited to?

When the questions have been generated, they can be used by the children to think in more detail about their pet.

 _ encourage them to use what they know about the animals to describe potential habitats or feeding relationships.

_ask the children how they might find out more about the animals they have used.

_Challenge pupils to answer as many questions as possible about the animals that make up their creature.

Activity 3: Location, location

Create a hybrid home…

_We have created incredible mixed-up creatures, researched the component animals, and even named them, but what do we do with them now?

 The creatures must live somewhere, but with such a mix of animals, what would the ideal habitat look like?

-children are challenged to design an enclosure for their mixed-up creature.

_ It must meet the needs of every animal used in order for them to survive.

_ All of the children’s knowledge and research will be needed to create a habitat that will support their creature.

 The design may start by looking at the basic habitats that each animal requires – it could develop to include other animals that would form part of the mixedup creature’s food chain.

_To complete the design, children can add labels to explain the different features they have included.

Activity 4: Become a zoo guide

Activity four build your own zoo…

_Each team, or group, is given one of the creatures to work with, and they must carefully follow the design to recreate the enclosure (complete with mixed-up creature) in the classroom,

_When the habitats are completed, the children act as safari guides, taking groups of visitors around their zoo and sharing their knowledge of the incredible creatures that live there.

                                           

Lesson Plan
The Mixed Up Chameleon by Eric Carle

Curriculum Area
Technology and Language Arts (Writing)

         I wish I could ______ like a _______"I wish I could fly like  a bird.

   ")__ students will use KidPix software during computer lab to write, illustrate and publish their statements.

***************
--Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes.
--Use appropriate instruments, computers,to access information, process ideas and communicate results.

Learning Objectives
_Child will be able to do the following:

_Listen to and comprehend the story “The Mixed Up Chameleon”.

_Participate in discussion of book either through expressing ideas or actively listening to others' comments.

_Comprehend mini-lesson on writing original sentences using a fill-in-the-blank method.

_Use imaginative thought to generate ideas for independent writing.

_Independently use KidPix software to publish sentence and draw appropriate illustration to accompany it.

Materials
Book 'The Mixed Up Chameleon' (Eric Carle)
KidPix

Time Required
Read aloud and Book Discussion: 20 minutes

Mini-Lesson on writing "I wish I could..." statements: 5 minutes

Xo´s: 30 minutes

Assessment.

"I wish I could ____ like a _____." Student illustrated and published this statement according to time frame allotted.