Title: Animal Fruit Oatmeal

Grade level: K-5th grade with adult supervision

Learning objectives:

• Name different animal body parts.
• Describe the different shapes and colors of animal body parts.
• Explain the differences between body parts of different types of animals.
• Safely create a healthy and fun breakfast.

Materials:

1. Oats
2. Hot water
3. Variety of fruits
4. Knife 
5. Cutting board 
6. Bowl 

Safety: This activity has two safety concerns: the use of hot water to make the oatmeal and the use of knives to cut the fruit. Young explorers, make sure you ask a trusted adult for help with this activity! Adults, please supervise your young explorer and provide help as needed. 

Background information:

Animals come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. The reason animals look so different from one another is because species have evolved, or changed over time and generations, to better survive and reproduce in their environments. Animal body parts are shaped in specific ways that allow the body part to do its necessary functions. For example, the wings of birds evolved to be light, long, and feathered to help them fly! Other examples include the smooth fins that whales use for swimming, and the arms that we humans have (instead of wings or fins) that allow us to climb and reach things. Thanks to these specializations and changes in body parts over hundreds of years, our planet now has so many diverse-looking animals that should all be celebrated!

Activity:

Choose an animal to create out of fruit. Look up a photo of this animal and see if you can name the different body parts the animal has (you may want to do some research if you’re not sure what they are). Notice the colors, shapes, and sizes of different body parts on the animal.

Next, create a plan of what fruits could be cut up to create the colors and shapes you noticed on the animal. You can use different types of berries, sliced up apples, bananas, pears, or peaches, or any other favorite fruits! It may be helpful to make a sketch of your plan before you start putting the fruit pieces together.

Cut the fruit into your planned shapes. Using your fruit pieces, lay out the pieces on a plate or cutting board to build your animal. 

Boil hot water and mix with oats to create oatmeal (thicker oatmeal will work better so your fruit pieces don’t sink down into the liquid). Place the fruit pieces on top of the oatmeal to create your animal. Optional: Snap a photo of your oatmeal creation and email it to us at the.ethogram@gmail.com along with a caption explaining what animal you created!

Now you can enjoy eating your tasty animal oatmeal!

Questions/Reflection:

1. What kinds of shapes did you use for different body parts?
2. What colors did you use for different body parts?
3. If you created more than one animal, did your animals have similar or different body parts?
4. If you created more than one animal, what patterns do you notice in the body parts of different types of animals? (For example, compare and contrast the body parts of a mammal, a bird, and a fish.)

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If you would like to view or print out a pdf version of this activity, click the Download button below.

If you have any animal oatmeal artwork that you would like to share to The Ethogram, you can submit it using these guidelines.

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Original idea and main image artwork contributed by Alan.

[Written and edited by Nicole W. Keough (formerly Korzeniecki) and Jessica Schaefer]