Lessons marked with an asterisk (lessons 1.1 and 1.3) are highly recommended as preparation for the Life as a Lizard Game. Learning Materials are available from links in the Support Materials section at the bottom of this page.

*Lesson 1. 1 Introduce the Life as a Lizard Unit

Learning Resource Information

• Time: ~ 15-30 min.
• Learning Objective: Activate students prior knowledge and create context for studying lizards through performing a KWL and journal activities.
• State Education Standards: Not yet available
• National Education Standards: View all National Education Standards for this lesson.
• Learning Materials: Lizard, Predator and Prey Species List
• Suggested Materials: Science notebook
• Homework: Lizard Watch: Students keep notes on where and when they see lizards at home, at school and in their neighborhoods. Students draw and write about their observations.

Lesson Steps:

1. Depending on age level you can do a KWL (What you know, What you want to Know and What you have Learned) chart, have students peruse books on lizards, and if possible check out some lizard information on the internet and lizard multimedia.
2. Tell the students that they will be playing Lizards, their Predators and their Prey in a fun role playing game. Tell students that like all good actors they will need to research their roles before they go on stage. Either pass out the Lizard, Predator and Prey Species List or write the names on the board for the students to copy.
3. Ask students to begin a Lizard Watch noting where they see lizards around their home and neighborhoods and to keep a record of this in their science notebooks. They should also draw and write about their observations.

Lesson 1.2 Lizard Behavior: Mini Field Trip and Practicing Role Playing

Learning Resource Information

• Time: ~ 30-45 min, depending on whether you take the class on the mini field trip.
• Learning Objective: Students observe lizards in the schoolyard. Students construct lizard behavior through reading information on lizard behavior, observation, discussion and practice.
• State Education Standards: Not yet available
• National Education Standards: View all National Education Standards for this lesson
• Learning Materials: Sonoran Desert Lizard Behavior List
• Where lesson performed: In classroom and around schoolyard

Lesson Steps:

1. Go on a mini-school field trip to look for lizards and write down the behaviors that are seen.
2. Review the Sonoran Desert Lizard Behavior List, and ask students to determine how each behavior will be acted out (e.g. decide how to depict aggressive and "running" away behavior that is appropriate for the classroom). Practice acting out the behaviors as a class.

*Lesson 1.3. Life as a Lizard Glossary Words

Learning Resource Information

• Time: ~ 45 min.
• Learning Objective: Students play "Memory" and complete a worksheet to gain vocabulary for the Life as a Lizard Game and to increase overall understanding of the Life as a Lizard Unit learning objectives.
• State Education Standards: Not yet available
• National Education Standards: View all National Education Standards for this lesson
• Learning Materials:
1. Life as a Lizard Glossary Words
2. Glossary Word Worksheet and Story Assignment
3. Key Word Fun Memory Game Instructions
• Homework: May assign worksheet as homework.

Lesson Steps:

1. Pass out glossary words and go over them as a class.
2. Using the Life as A Lizard Glossary Words students play Key Word fun "Memory."
3. Each student makes two different decks of cards, one set will have a keyword on one side of each card, the other set will have a definition of a keyword on one side of each card.  Though each group of players will use only one set of each deck of cards it is important to have each student make their own deck so they will become familiar with the vocabulary words.
4. It at your discretion whether the students may use their list of vocabulary words and definitions while they play.  You may want to let them start with it, but as they become familiar with the definitions you may want to have them play several rounds without their list of words.
5. Students complete the Life as a Lizard Glossary word worksheet and write accompanying story.

Support Materials

• Lizard, Predator and Prey Species List
• Life as a Lizard Glossary Words
• Key Word Fun Memory Game
• Glossary Word Worksheet
• Life as a Lizard Interview Questions
• An Introduction to Lizards
• Life as a Lizard Prop and Classroom Set-up list
• Life as a Lizard Action Cards
• Life as a Lizard Game Cast Cards: Lizards
• Life as a Lizard Game Cast Cards: Predators and Prey
• Life as a Lizard Game Instructions
• Life as a Lizard Lizzie Award activity

Return to the Life as a Lizard Unit Home Page

Learning Information

• ToL Learner Level:
  • Beginner; Intermediate
• Target Grade/Age Level:
  • All Grade/Age levels.
• Additional Treehouse Type:
  • Fun and Games