Overview

This unit's content is provided by Arizona Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, AZPARC.

This unit provides an overview of lizard biology culminating in the "Life as a Lizard" role playing game. The game gives students a chance to move around indoors or outdoors, and use their movement to learn about lizards and their behavior. Participants take on the identities of lizards and act out a day and night in the life of many different species of lizard. There are no winners or losers, only the successful completion of a day and night as a lizard. The game's props are easily made and the unit contains step by step lessons, glossary words, background information, internet and multimedia resources, trivia activities, and suggestions for math extensions and additional student investigations.

Learning Information

• ToL Learner Level:
  • Beginner; Intermediate
• Target Grade/Age Level:
  • Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-12).
  • Can be modified for many age/grade levels
• Learning Objective(s). Learners will:
  • (individual lessons will have additional objectives);
  • * To introduce students to lizard biology.;
  • * To identify and describe different species of lizards that live in the Sonoran Desert.;
  • * To understand predator/prey interactions.;
  • * To understand the importance of lizards in nature.;
  • * To foster a feeling of stewardship towards the organisms that live around us.;
  • * To introduce the specifics of desert lizard ecology and biological communities.
• Type of Activity
  • Classroom resource; Field resource; Informal learning resource
• AZ State Education Standards: (view standards):
  • Science Education Standards Grade 7
• National Education Standards (view standards):
  • Science and Language Arts
• Suggested Time Frame
  • This unit contains three parts, and each part includes three activities that range in time needed averages about 45 minutes.
• Sequence and Context
  • This is a unit that consists of three parts. See the lesson for the sequence.
• Additional Treehouse Type:
  • Fun and Games;
  • Investigation
• Curricular Areas:
  • Language Arts
• Teaching and Learning Strategy:
  • Role-Playing;
  • Movement, Play, Games

Introduction

enter text here

Physical Materials and Tools

• See individual lessons

Lesson

Follow the links below to access lesson plans and activities. Materials listed for these lessons are available in the "ToL Learning Materials" section of each page. Not every part of the unit needs to be completed, feel free to modify the timeline, omit or add pieces as you see fit. Items marked with an *asterisk are deemed necessary for playing the life as a lizard game. You can add additional learning resources to the unit by registering as a treehouse builder.

• Part 1: Introduce Lizards, Build Context and Vocabulary Includes:
• Lesson 1.1 ~ 30 min. *Introduce the Life as a Lizard Unit.
• Lesson 1.2 ~ 45 min. Lizard Behavior: Mini Field Trip and Practicing Role Playing.
• Lesson 1.3 ~ 45 min. *Life as a Lizard Glossary Words
• Part 2: Research and Preparation Includes:
• Lesson 2.1 ~ 45 min. *Assign and Review Lizard, Predator and Prey Roles (Give out Cast Cards).
• Lesson 2.2 ~ 1hr. Gathering More Information - Researching Lizard Roles
• Lesson 2.3 Student Role Playing Preparation Activities
• Part 3: Making Props and Playing the Life as a Lizard Game Includes:
• Lesson 3.1~ 45 min. *Preparing the Props: Making Tails and other items
• Lesson 3.2 ~ 45 min. Create Lizzie Awards
• Lesson 3.3 ~ 1 to 1.5 hrs. *Prepare the Physical Space and Play the Game!

• Part 4: Suggested Extensions
• Become a treehouse contributor and create a treehouse on lizards. Your treehouse can be an investigation, game, story, art and culture piece or a teacher resource.

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

Support Materials

• Learner Section
• Other: See Support Materials Section above, or click on this link.

Education Standards

State Education Standards

• AZ Education Standards
  • Science Education Standards Grade 7

Arizona Science Education Standards Grade 7

National Education Standards

• National Education Standards
  • Science and Language Arts

Life as a Lizard Unit National Education Standards

Portfolio Pages

Lizard Unit Part 1

Lesson 1.1 ~ 30 min. Introduce the Life as a Lizard Unit; Lesson 1.2 ~ 45 min. Lizard Behavior: Mini Field Trip and Practicing Role Playing; Lesson 1.3 ~ 45 min. Life as a Lizard Glossary Words

Lizard Unit Part 2

Lesson 2.1 ~ 45 min. Assign and Review Lizard, Predator and Prey Roles (Give out Cast Cards); Lesson 2.2 ~ 1hr. Gathering More Information - Researching Lizard Roles; Lesson 2.3 Student Role Playing Preparation Activities

Lizard Unit Part 3

Lesson 3.1~ 45 min. *Preparing the Props: Making Tails and other items; Lesson 3.2 ~ 45 min. Create Lizzie Awards Lesson 3.3 ~ 1 to 1.5 hrs; Prepare the Physical Space and Play the Game!