The P2 classrooms took on the look of a menagerie today as the children came dressed up in their animal costumes ready for our P2 Animal Day with Donald Mahone from Wildside Nature. 

Different stations were set up with skulls, bones and other items related to the vertebrate species such as mammals and birds.  We went around each station examining the different artefacts and identifying which species they came from.  We played a game of squirrel tig to show the decline of our native red squirrel due to the grey squirrel that was brought across from North America in the 1890s. W e used our numeracy skills to measure the wingspan of an albatross and found it would take three children with arms outstretched to equal its incredible length of up to 3.5m.

We then headed into the woods on an animal hunt. Donald talked about the animals we had found and shared interesting facts about each one. We were then set the challenge of building a den for our animals using branches, logs, and twigs from the woods.  We looked at a beaver pelt and saw its flat tail at the end. We learnt that beavers smack these in the water to warn other beavers. We saw its lower jaw with remnants of teeth that the beaver uses to strip away the bark from branches. Donald told us that beavers were hunted for their fur to make beaver hats and for the chemical castoreum which is used to make perfume and medicines. We learnt this chemical is secreted from castor sacs near their bottoms!  We made mini beaver dams with twigs and used mud to fill up the gaps in between.  We tested each one to see which dam held back the water the longest.

Donald said they were the best beaver dams he had ever seen, so well done, P2!

We learnt about bats and how they use echolocation to help them navigate and find their prey.   Finally, we looked at the polar bear and how its survival is threatened by global warming and the melting of their ice platforms which they need to rest on and catch seals from. We played a fun game to understand its plight and promised Donald that we would do our bit to protect our planet and ensure the survival of this wonderful creature.

Our thanks to Donald for a wonderful day enjoying animal antics and learning some fascinating animal facts along the way!