Summary Students touch real fur and examine the hair closely and compare it to their own. Science content Biology: Features, Adaptations of Living Things (K, 1, 3, 7) Science competencies (+ questioning + manipulation + others that are in every activity) Planning/conducting: data collection/recording (K up) Evaluating: inferring (3 up) Lessons activity is in Black bear features Bears and hibernation Materials animal fur (pelt if available) worksheet (attached for bear fur) ruler magnifiers Procedure See a real animal pelt and feel real fur. Find the underfur (in bear fur) that keeps them warm, and the guard hairs that keep off rain and dirt. Use a magnifier to look at the fur closely, and a ruler to measure the length of the hairs. Compare to our own hair. We wear clothes that have the same job as animal fur. Bear fur is made of two types: find the downy underfur, and the coarse guard hairs. Underfur is soft and dense and is the insulator. The outer guard hairs are thicker, longer and coarser. They do insulate, but have other purposed as well: They keep out dirt, debris and insects. They repel water (bears shake just like a dog when they come out of water). They can be used to communicate. Raised hackles indicate that the bear is angry or frightened. Attached documents worksheet_how_does_a_bear_stay_warm.pdf Grades taught Gr K Gr 1 Gr 2
