What Went ByAmanda Thomas • Sarah Kiger

Coach Meeting

Wednesday, January 29, 2019

Why is What Went By important?

● Students will learn about key animals in southeastern Michigan.

● Learn new skills including animal identification, track identification and some map reading.

● Get outside and learn about nature.

Concepts Covered

● Physical Characteristics

● Identifiable Adaptations

● Sound/Call

● Habitat

Thirteen-lined ground squirrel

Vs.Eastern

Chipmunk

American Toad Call Muskrat lodge

Adaptations: Little brown bat &

echolocationVirginia Opossum &

opposable thumb

Concepts Covered

● Diet

● Behavior/Migration

● Threats to species

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake is federally listed as Threatened

Horay Bat - nocturnal; may migrate south or hibernate if it stays in Michigan

White-tailed Deer are herbivores

What to prepare:● Outdoor exploration is a healthy life

habit, get outside and identify animals in their natural habitat.

● Learn elementary animal identification.○ The test will not trick students,

questions will be grade appropriate.

● Bring a field guide! ○ One copy of each field guide is

provided by WESO.

● Student teams (one to two students) will share a written test. Clues are multimedia.

Rules/Competition Format:● Students will only need to know the common names of identified animals.

● Questions will be in familiar formats: multiple choice, true or false, fill in the blank, etc.

● Specimens may include but not be limited to: pelts, nesting materials, paw prints, droppings, etc.

● The multimedia questions will consist of pictures, videos, and sound clips.

● Range map comprehension will cover seasons that animals are in Michigan - not general geography.

Sample test questions:● Which of these squirrel varieties is named for its red, bushy tail?a) Thirteen-lined ground squirrel b) red squirrel c) southern flying squirrel d) fox squirrel

● This is the only Marsupial found north of Mexico: __________________________

● The animal who left these tracks is nocturnal and has an 8-20” stride: __________________________

Web-based resources:● www.michigan.gov/DNR

Web-based resources:● Animal Diversity Web (via DNR): https://animaldiversity.org/

Web-based resources:● https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/species/animals

Suggested Local Field Trips:○ Leslie Science & Nature Center - Critter

center is closed but Black Pond Wood is open for hiking

○ U of M - Museum of Natural History○ Matthaei Botanical Gardens (known location

of Eastern massasauga rattlesnake)If you are willing to drive (entrance fees may be required):

○ Howell Nature Center○ Eddy Discovery Center at Waterloo Recreation

Area○ Kensington Metropark Nature Center

Other helpful resources:● Follow WESO via email or check frequently for

“news and updates”: https://wesoscience.org/● The app and website iNaturalist - this can be

filtered for amphibians, reptiles, & mammals● Washtenaw County Nature Programs - you can also

sign up for email updates● Let us know if you come across anything that we

have missed!