In the News: The Giraffe's Survival is in Danger (Interactive Notebook Activity for Kids)

The Giraffe
Possible Interactive Notebook Activity
by
Gail Skroback Hennessey

Click here for the free download of this Interactive Notebook Activity.

In less than 30 years, the number of giraffes have drastically decreased by almost 40 percent. That makes the giraffe in more danger of extinction than the elephant. In 2016, the conservation group, The International Union for Conservation of Nature, listed the giraffe on its Red List of species which are endangered. Specifically, the giraffe has been moved from "least concern" to "vulnerable". The main cause for their dwindling population is the destruction of their habitat. Additionally, the group says that illegal hunting of giraffes and civil unrest in the areas where giraffes roam are also causes for their declining numbers. Learn more about the giraffe with this webquest!

Did you Know?

1. There are nine subspecies of giraffe. One is stable, three are actually increasing in number and five have dwindling numbers.
2. Did you know that the okapi is the only close relative of the giraffe?
3. The tallest land animal, the giraffe’s legs are about six feet long!
4. Each giraffe’s spots are different. They are like a human fingerprint.
5. People once called the giraffe a "camel-leopard" because of its small hump and leopard spots. That is how it got its species name of Camelopardalis.
6. Hisses, grunts, snorts, roars and even moos are some of the sounds made by a giraffe.
7. Giraffes sleep less than 30 minutes a day.
8. Did you know a giraffe can reach speeds of about 35 miles per hour (56 km/hr)?
9. Giraffes don't drink much water, just a few drinks every few days. In fact, they drink less water than a camel! Drinking isn't easy as their necks can't reach the ground. A giraffe must spread its front legs when it wants to take a drink of water.
10. Although giraffes can lie down, they tend to spend most of their lives standing.
11. Did you know that a giraffe can clean its ears with its tongue? That's an amazing feat that humans can't do!
12. Weighing up to 24 pounds, a giraffe’s heart is about two feet long.
13. Did you know a giraffe’s tail can be up to eight feet long? The tail of the giraffe is the longest of any land mammal.
14. You can tell the age of a giraffe from its spots. They get darker as a giraffe ages.
15. You can find giraffes living in the grasslands, woodlands and savannas of Africa.
16. With bristly hair, the purple-bluish tongue of a giraffe is tough enabling them to eat thorny Acadia trees (one of their favorite foods).

Your Turn:

1. Pretend you are a giraffe. Write a day in your life. What did you do? What did you see? What did you hear? Include three facts learned about the giraffe in your diary entry.
2. Illustrate one of the fun facts about the giraffe.
3. Use each letter of the word, GIRAFFE, and write a poem.
4. Write a persuasive paragraph and explain why you think that humans should try and save the giraffe from extinction. Give two reasons in your persuasive paragraph.
5. Write a story on how a giraffe got its long neck, long tail or long legs.
6. Read the myth, "How Giraffes Got Long Necks". Write a summary of the story.

Check out my webquest on the giraffe (it includes these fun facts as well as extension activities and links for teachers).

Additional Resources on Animals:

1. Learn about the rhino with this fun and very informative webquest.
2. Learn about the polar bear with this informative webquest. Additional extension activities and resources are also provided.
3. Learn about the leopard with my Leaping Leopard's Webquest! Grades four and up. The webquest has eight web questions and eight extension activities (and links to more information).
4. Learn fun facts about the elephant with this webquest.

Gail Hennessey

Check out my website for teachers and kids. There are lots of geographic activities, short reads, bell ringers, news, career surveys, factoids on different topics and more.