Monday, May 21, 2018

Wild Tracks!: a Guide to Nature's Footprints by Jim Arnosky. 2008

Who Made that Track?

Inspiration Book:
**Wild tracks! : a guide to nature's footprints by Arnosky, Jim - Sterling, p2008, c2008 --591.47--3-6 Includes four large gatefolds. Presents detailed illustrations of life-size paw, claw, and hoof prints; and explains how to identify tracks and how fast the animal might be traveling.
Rationale: A long time ago when Jim Arnosky and I were young, and he wasn’t quite so famous, my school did an all school reading motivation project with him. One day I was talking to a second grader and asked him who his favorite author was. He said, “Jim Arnosky. All the boys really like his animal books and his drawings.” I knew right then that our theme for the year would be about nature and animals based on Arnosky’s books. I contacted Arnosky, and throughout the year classes communicated with him and he with them. Once a month we had an all-school nature afternoon. Each teach chose one aspect of nature, developed a lesson around that and taught the lesson to multi-grade groups. We ended the year with a campfire and sleepover.

Then I went to the AASL conference, and who should I meet at the Scholastic booth, but Jim Arnosky! In the meantime, for a decoration, one of my parent volunteers had made a life size Crinkleroot who “manned” the library desk for the year. I was able to give Crinkleroot to Mr. Arnosky when I went to a children’s literature conference in New Hampshire where he spoke. His books have generated many memories and many, many book sharing ideas over the years. Since the Inspiration Book is about animal tracks, that’s what the emphasis is in this My Books Alive entry. Several other Arnosky books have their own entries and another is an author/illustrator study.  In 2012 two books about tracking animal scat were selected as outstanding science books. They have a separate entry in My Books Alive, but could complement the lesson here. Do the this animal track lesson first, then introduce the scat books.
In this entry students in Grades K-3 learn about tracks and careful observations to identify what animals have been visiting a site. Lindsay Barret George’s books form the basis because Wild Tracks is a little too advanced. Then in Grades 3-5 we explore the Inspiration Book and tracks from a specific site, and in Grades 5-8 students learn about the tracks in the original book, but research a variety of Internet sources.
Grades K-3--The Story of a Track
Background: The inspiration book’s primary audience is thrid grade and above. As a result it is not featured in the K-3 lesson. Instead, author/illustrator Linday Barrett George’s books that encourage careful observation to identify animals not just by tracks but by other evidence left behind. This is a lesson in visual literacy.
Preparation: Make copies of the tracks found in the book and display around the story area. Set up individual tracks, a trail, a trail of tracks that are close together and another farther apart. Mix two sets of tracks together.

Learn a bit about George at her website  http://www.lindsaybarrettgeorge.com/; learn enough to share with the students about her interest in nature.
Computer connected to the Internet with projection capability. Explore Bear Tracker Mammals http://www.bear-tracker.com/mammals.html and locate animals from the book to show photos of other signs of those animals.
Introduction: What have I scattered around the library? Yes, they look like tracks. A “track” is a single print made by an animal, and a  set of tracks is a “trail.” Can you find a trail of tracks? Tracks can tell you how fast and at what gait an animal was moving. Can you find a slow moving animal’s tracks? A fast moving animal’s tracks?  A series of tracks and trails can
show an encounter between different animals or different animals visiting the same place. Can you find a sample of an encounter?
Tell a little about Ms. George.
Then Read Aloud:
In the snow : who's been here? by George, Lindsay Barrett - Greenwillow Books, p1995, c1995--E--K-3--Rd Lvl: 1.5 Two children on their way to go sledding see evidence of a variety of animal life.
(Project photos you’ve selected from http://www.bear-tracker.com/mammals.html)
Read aloud another one of George’s books:( I like to use Around the Pond because it’s another seasonal book and you could also talk about seasons. It also has additional footprints and you could repeat the activity projecting photos of other animals.)
Around the pond : who's been here? by George, Lindsay Barrett - Greenwillow Books, p1996, c1996--E--K-3 Rd Lvl: 2.8 While picking blueberries on a warm summer afternoon, Cammy and her brother see signs of unseen animals and their activities including footprints, a dam, and a floating feather.
OR
In the woods : who's been here? by George, Lindsay Barrett - Greenwillow Books, p1995, c1995--E--K-3 Rd Lvl: 1.9 A boy and girl in the autumn woods find an empty nest, a cocoon, gnawed bark, and other signs of unseen animals and their activities.
OR
In the garden : who's been here? by George, Lindsay Barrett - Greenwillow Books, p2006, c2006--E--K-3 Rd Lvl: 2.3 As Jeremy and Christina pick vegetables for their mother, they see evidence of animals and insects that have been in the garden before them.
Related Titles:
Who's been here? : a tale in tracks by Hodgkins, Fran, 1964- - Down East, p2008, c2008---E--K-3 Rd Lvl: 1.5 The reader is invited to follow the paw prints of a rambunctious golden retriever and then identify his animal friends, including a cat, a raccoon, a bear, and others, by studying their tracks in the snow.
Tracks in the snow by Yee, Wong Herbert - Square Fish, p2007, c2003--E--K-3 Rd Lvl: 1.6
A little girl investigates tracks in the snow, trying to determine what could have made them.

Tracks count : a guide to counting animal tracks (Little Naturalist-PK) by Engel, Steve; illustrated by Petersen, Alexander— Craigmore Creations, 2014. Dewey: 591.47; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.4. Text and illustrations present a counting book featuring the tracks of different animals.
Crinkleroot's Book of animal tracks and wildlife signs by Arnosky, Jim. - Putnam, p1979, c1979--599--K-3 Explains how to find and understand the signs made by animals around water, in the woods, and in the snow. --OP
Big tracks, little tracks : following animal prints by Selsam, Millicent Ellis, 1912- - HarperCollinsPublishers, p1999, c1999--591.47--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 3.5 Keeping a sharp eye out for clues like animal tracks and odors can help people identify the animals that have passed through an area.
Who was here? : discovering wild animal tracks by Posada, Mia — Millbrook Press, 2014. Dewey: 591.47; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.8.  Introduces the types of tracks made by animals from different regions of the world.
Crinkleroot's book of animal tracking by Arnosky, Jim - Bradbury Press, p1989, c1989--599--K-3--Rd Lvl: 4.9---Revision of Crinkleroot's Book of animal tracks and wildlife signs. Explains how to find and understand the signs made by animals around water, in the woods, and in the snow. -OP
Life-sized animal tracks by Townsend, John — Book House, 2018. Dewey: 591.47; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.4. Pygmy shrew -- Daubenton's bat -- Common wall gecko -- House mouse -- Brown rat -- Eastern chipmunk -- Red squirrel -- Spotted skunk -- American mink -- European hedgehog -- American porcupine -- Common otter -- European rabbit -- Nine-banded armadillo -- North American beaver -- Red fox -- Grey wolf -- Fallow deer - Reindeer -- Common seal -- American alligator -- Eurasian lynx -- Red-necked wallaby -- Spotted hyena -- African cheetah -- African lion -- Siberian tiger -- Giant panda -- Polar bear -- Silverback gorilla -- White rhinoceros -- Brown bear -- Northern giraffe -- African elephant calf -- African elephant. A guide to animal tracks, featuring life-sized representations of thirty-four different animal species tracks, bite-sized facts about each species, and maps with global ranges for each species.
Teacher Resources:
Lindsay Barrett George website http://www.lindsaybarrettgeorge.com/
Jim Arnosky Website http://www.jimarnosky.com/
Crinkleroot site including coloring pages http://www.crinkleroot.com/
Grades 3-6: Describing Tracks
Background: I like to do quick research with students when they are quite young. My thesis is that short quick research is not so daunting as a big paper and I also want to encourage students to do their own personal research whenever they have a question. The research can be as simple as a definition or find a picture.
Preparation: Computer and Internet availability and projection capability
Supply of drawing paper for making animal tracks. Rulers or meter sticks.
Explore Bear Tracker Mammals http://www.bear-tracker.com/mammals.html . Write the animals found in the book on 4 x 6 cards--one per card.



Introduction: TeachingBooks is a literature resource for students and teachers. Sometimes the organization interviews authors and illustrators and posts them on their website. The interviewer asked Mr. Arnosky----
TEACHINGBOOKS: Your 100th book, Wild Tracks! A Guide to Nature's Footprints came out in April of 2008. What did you do to mark this occasion?
And Mr. Arnosky answered:
JIM ARNOSKY: I went back to the woods, to the northern forests, to celebrate and to create this book. I'm very proud of it. This is a book about animal tracks. They are all life-size, and there are gatefolds. You've got a life-size buffalo track and a life-size horse with a shoe on its foot, and a life-size burro without a shoe on its foot. There are polar bears tracks and mouse tracks.
The TeachingBooks website also posted a link to a video of the entire book. Let’s take a look together.
**Wild tracks! : a guide to nature's footprints by Arnosky, Jim - Sterling, p2008, c2008--591.47--3-6. Includes four large gatefolds. Presents detailed illustrations of life-size paw, claw, and hoof prints; and explains how to identify tracks and how fast the animal might be traveling.
Today we’re doing quick research. I’m going to give you the name of a mammal on a 4 x 6 card. Your job will be to find the following specific information about your animal: size, shape, front and back, any other markings, and one other fact at http://www.bear-tracker.com/mammals.html . Make a drawing of your track--life size, please.
The size of the track helps tell the size of the animal. Let’s put your tracks in size order from smallest to largest. Be sure you’ve made your track life size. Whose animal is the largest? Whose is smallest? (Have each student identify the animal and tell the one fact they found out.
Reread the introduction to Mr. Arnosky’s book. Tracks can tell a lot.
Related Titles:
Big tracks, little tracks : following animal prints by Selsam, Millicent Ellis, 1912- - HarperCollinsPublishers, p1999, c1999--591.47--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 3.5 Keeping a sharp eye out for clues like animal tracks and odors can help people identify the animals that have passed through an area.
Who was here? : discovering wild animal tracks by Posada, Mia — Millbrook Press, 2014. Dewey: 591.47; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.8. Introduces the types of tracks made by animals from different regions of the world.

Camp out! : the ultimate kids' guide, from the backyard to the backwoods by Brunelle, Lynn - Workman Pub., p2007, c2007--796.54--3-6 Rd Lvl: 4.2 Gearing up: how to plan and what to pack -- Home away from home: setting up camp -- Good grub: fun food for hungry campfolk -- Camping skills: tying knots, getting around, and staying found -- Something's in the air: watching the weather -- What's up?: the night sky -- Backpack naturalist: experiments and projects -- Crafty camping: outdooorsy arts and crafts -- Letting loose: campout fun and games -- Who goes there?: animal tracks and scat -- The singing camper's book of silly songs. Provides practical guidance for young campers on such topics as packing, pitching a tent, tying knots, exploring nature, and cooking, presenting 174 games, skills, projects, crafts, experiments, songs, and recipes--including eight varieties of s'mores.
Dinosaur tracks by Zoehfeld, Kathleen Weidner - Collins, p2007, c2007--567.9--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 4.2 Tells how footprints made by the dinosaurs have been preserved, looks at the tracks made by different dinosaurs, and explains what these impressions tell scientists about the animals that made them.
Life-sized animal tracks by Townsend, John — Book House, 2018. Dewey: 591.47; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.4. Pygmy shrew -- Daubenton's bat -- Common wall gecko -- House mouse -- Brown rat -- Eastern chipmunk -- Red squirrel -- Spotted skunk -- American mink -- European hedgehog -- American porcupine -- Common otter -- European rabbit -- Nine-banded armadillo -- North American beaver -- Red fox -- Grey wolf -- Fallow deer - Reindeer -- Common seal -- American alligator -- Eurasian lynx -- Red-necked wallaby -- Spotted hyena -- African cheetah -- African lion -- Siberian tiger -- Giant panda -- Polar bear -- Silverback gorilla -- White rhinoceros -- Brown bear -- Northern giraffe -- African elephant calf -- African elephant. A guide to animal tracks, featuring life-sized representations of thirty-four different animal species tracks, bite-sized facts about each species, and maps with global ranges for each species.
Footprints in the snow by Matsuoka, Mei - Henry Holt, p2008, c2007--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 4.8 Wolf is offended by all the stories of mean wolves he has been reading, so he sets out to write a story about a nice wolf, but his wolfish instincts soon catch up with him.
Explore rivers and ponds! (Explore Your World) by Mooney, Carla — Nomad Press, 2012. Dewey: 577.6; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 7.1. Introduces freshwater habitats and the creatures that live there through twenty-five activities. FREE Teaching Resources available for download from Follettt.

Teacher Resources:
Teaching Books Printed Interview http://www.teachingbooks.net/interview.cgi?id=7184

Grades 5-8: Whose Track was That? Describing Tracks
Background: This lesson is basically the same as the one described above for Grades 3-5, except the descriptions of the tracks are more precise and analytical and the students learn the difference between quantative and qualitative observations and descriptions. The list of animals is also different, coming from the Wild Tracks books and requiring students to possibly use a number of resources to get the information.
Preparation: Write the names of the following animals that are in Arnosky’s book on 4 x 6 individual cards: Deer, American buffalo, bighorn sheep, domestic sheep, domestic goat, wild boar, pronghorn antelope, peccary, domestic cattle, buffalo, domestic pig, burro, horse, black bear, grizzly bear, polar bear, snowshoe hare, raccoon, opossum, beaver, otter, muskrat, armadillo, porcupine, rabbit, mouse, skunk, long-talied weasel, badger, mole,chipmunk, squirrel, cottontail rabbit, domestic cat, bobcat, jaguarundi, ocelot, lynx, American lion, jaguar, African lion, domestic dog, kit fox, red fox, gray fox, coyote, Arctic fox, red wold, timber wolf, cottonmouth moccasin, white ibis, turtle, crow, sparrow alligator, heron or egret, turkey, bluejay, grouse, duck, gull, goose.
Make hotlinks for the following resources that students may use. If you have other resources you prefer, include them: http://www.bear-tracker.com/mammals.html



EEK! Wisconsin Natural Resources for Kids (background) http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/nature/track.htm
Introduction: TeachingBooks is a literature resource for students and teachers. Sometimes the organization interviews authors and illustrators and posts them on their website. The interviewer asked Mr. Arnosky----
TEACHINGBOOKS: Your 100th book, Wild Tracks! A Guide to Nature's Footprints came out in April of 2008. What did you do to mark this occasion?
And Mr. Arnosky answered:
JIM ARNOSKY: I went back to the woods, to the northern forests, to celebrate and to create this book. I'm very proud of it. This is a book about animal tracks. They are all life-size, and there are gatefolds. You've got a life-size buffalo track and a life-size horse with a shoe on its foot, and a life-size burro without a shoe on its foot. There are polar bears tracks and mouse tracks.
The TeachingBooks website also posted a link to a video of the entire book. Let’s take a look together.
**Wild tracks! : a guide to nature's footprints by Arnosky, Jim - Sterling, p2008, c2008--591.47--3-6. Includes four large gatefolds. Presents detailed illustrations of life-size paw, claw, and hoof prints; and explains how to identify tracks and how fast the animal might be traveling.
Today we’re doing quick research about animal tracks. I’m going to give you the name of a mammal on a 4 x 6 card. Your job will be to find the following specific information about your animal: size, shape, front and back track, any other identifying markings.
Make quantitative and qualitative observations about you track.  
Qualitative observations-observations made by using your senses. Has the letter L in it so remind you about how it Looks.
Quantitative observations—observations made using measurements. Has an N in it so it has to do with Numbers.
On the blank side of your card, draw a picture of your track. Then on a separate card, write a descriptive paragraph using the observations. Make your description clear and exact enought that a reader could pick out your track from the drawing cards.
(Collect the drawings, shuffle them, and scatter them on a table. Then have each student read their paragraph and have another find the track drawing they think matches the description.)
Related Titles:
Animal tracks & signs by Johnson, Jinny - National Geographic, p2008, c2008--591--6-8 Rd Lvl: 6.7 Presents an illustrated guide to how to interpret tracks and sign from over four hundred animals, covering droppings and pellets, dens, nests, and other indications of behavior, with diagrams and information on different animals' range, habitat, and food.
Explore rivers and ponds! (Explore Your World) by Mooney, Carla — Nomad Press, 2012. Dewey: 577.6; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 7.1. Introduces freshwater habitats and the creatures that live there through twenty-five activities. FREE Teaching Resources available for download from Follettt.
Get the scoop on animal poop! : from lions to tapeworms, 251 cool facts about scat, frass, dung and more! by Cusick, Dawn - Imagine Pub., p2012, c2012--590--Int Lvl: 3-6--Rd Lvl: 7.1
Provides over 250 facts about animal feces and how it is used by various species.
Teacher Resources:


EEK! Wisconsin Natural Resources for Kids (background) http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/nature/track.htm
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