In a Montessori classroom, the study of carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores is often introduced in the early elementary years. This is because children at this age are naturally curious about animals and their habitats. By learning about how animals get their food, children can begin to understand the complex relationships between different organisms in an ecosystem and food chain patterns.
Because children learn best through classification, we developed a large chart with movable picture cards named Carnivores, Herbivores, Omnivores Charts with Cards. The material includes two large, durable charts (34″ x 50″) and 30 colorful picture cards. This classification work will ensure that children are assimilating knowledge by helping them to organize and make sense of new information. By classifying animals based on their diet, children will understand how different animals get their food and how they are adapted to their environment.
The chart requires them to think critically about the animals and to identify their similarities and differences. For example, when children classify animals, they might notice their size, teeth, movement patterns (locomotion), and body coverings (hair, feathers, scales…). The classification process will enhance children’s cognitive reasoning, which consists of understanding and analyzing information and sorting it into a logical pattern. This post will suggest an easy way to introduce the topic to your learners!
Materials
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How to Introduce the Material
Introduce the topic of carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. Explain that carnivores are animals that eat meat, herbivores are animals that eat plants, and omnivores are animals that eat both meat and plants. Avoiding a diagnostic assessment and introducing the informed chart first is best. It will prevent children from memorizing assumptions that may be erroneous. It is best to present them with the informed chart first.
On the informed chart, point out the different animals and their categories. Ask the children questions about the chart. For example, you may ask:
-What are the names of the animals in the omnivores category?
-What are the names of the animals in the herbivores category?
-What are the names of the animals in the omnivores category?
-Why do you think the lion is in the carnivores category? (children know the lion to be a ferocious fast-running predator with a large jaw and sharp teeth).
-Why do you think the cow is in the herbivores category? (children are very familiar with cows and may have seen them grazing in pastures).
You may now place the mute chart on the right side of the informed chart and give the children a set of picture cards. Have the children sort the picture cards into the three categories on the mute chart. Once the children have finished sorting the picture cards, they may review their work by comparing it to the informed chart. Later, children should be challenged to classify the animals without looking at the informed chart, which should be kept at a distance from the mute chart.
Follow-up Questions Prompts
As a follow-up activity, you may give children question prompts and have them search for the answers using books or the internet. They may write their answers in journals or create a poster illustrating their findings.
- What do carnivore animals eat?
- What do herbivore animals eat?
- What do omnivore animals eat?
- Why do some animals eat meat while others eat plants?
- How do different animals get their food?
- What are some adaptations that help animals get their food?
- How are carnivore, herbivore, and omnivore animals important in the ecosystem?
Learning about carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores is an important part of a Montessori zoology curriculum. It helps children understand how animals get their food and how they are adapted to their environment. This knowledge reinforces understanding the food chain patterns and animal adaptation. For more Montessori materials, visit our website at www.alisonsmontessori.com.
