Activity

Fur study

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
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.

Some animals also have a thick layer of fat (e.g. bear has 4cm). Compare to our own layer of fat.

Grades taught
Gr K
Gr 1
Gr 2