Squirrels

Objectives:

• Students will be able to describe the physical characteristics of squirrels.

• Students will be able to identify the behavioral characteristics of squirrels.

Suggested Grades:

3rd Grade - 4th Grade - 5th Grade

Lesson Procedure:

Print the reading comprehension worksheet passage and questions (see below).

Students should read the passage silently, then answer the questions. Teachers may also use the text as part of a classroom lesson plan.

Lesson Excerpt:

Squirrels are small mammals in the class known as rodents. There are hundreds of species of squirrels that are divided into seven groups. They come in a variety of sizes and colors. Two types - tree squirrels and ground squirrels - are found throughout most of the United States, especially in forests. Of these types, fox squirrels and gray squirrels are the most well-known species. These animals depend on trees, often oak trees, for shelter and a place to raise their young. They also hide from predators in trees, and acorns from oak trees are a big part of a squirrel's diet. Squirrels also eat leaves, fruit and plant buds, and they may also eat bird seed from bird feeders. Occasionally, squirrels eat bird eggs and even other small animals, though they usually only do this when no other food is available.

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