Scientific Observation: Animal characteristics and features!

Our next onsite exhibition is “Creature Feetures”.  This exhibition will support the Next Generation Science Standards teachings regarding animal and plant adaptations taught in schools. In that exhibition, you will see microscopic animals magnified through Igor Siwanowicz’s magnificent photography, use your feet to power an exhibit and get up close to observe CuriOdyssey zoo animals widely varying characteristics and features.

We have also created a series of blog posts with videos and experiments to help you develop your own observation skills.  You will learn how plant and animal features developed in response to their environment.

Bobcat Characteristics

Bobcats, Frankie and Caro

Check out our bobcat feeding video (six minutes).  Look at the two bobcats (fed separately) in the video.  Here are some questions you can use for discussion.

• What do you observe the bobcats eating?
• How do the bobcats eat? What did you see or observe?
• Did the bobcats use body parts in addition to the mouth to help them eat? If so, which ones?
• What differences and similarities do you observe in the two bobcats? What features or characteristics are the same or different?
• How might these variations in the two bobcats help them out in the wild?
• Looking at the two bobcats, where do you think they might live in the wild?

Now, try out those observation skills with a few other animal feeding videos that you can check out on the CuriOdyssey YouTube channel.

Throughout your animal and plant exploration, search for variations, characteristics, habitats, structures, how the plant or animal is impacted by their environment, the structure and function of their body, and so much more.  All of the “creature feetures” will help you understand animals, plants and even yourself.  Have fun observing, experimenting, and exploring!