Mrs. Kilpatrick's Class' Critters

This activity was done for Earth Day to further our knowledge of the balance of nature in ecosystems. We had the opportunity to explore how living things depend upon each other in an ecosystem and how animals hunt for food and keep from being eaten for food. We went outside to observe the area where our animals (critters) were going to be hidden, and looked carefully at the colors that were found in this ecosystem, as well as at the shapes of the objects such as trees, bushes, fences, rocks, etc. that were in the ecosystem. We then designed an imaginary critter based upon our observations and described how our "critter" defends itself using its body parts or behaviors. We drew a diagram of the critter's important elements, and also made our critters with various materials to show how it might actually look in nature.

Critter Information Sheet by Dan
Name:	Very Minimum
Length:	10 mils (100th of an inch)
Height:	5 mil (200th of an inch)
Weight:	1 gram
Predators:	Anteaters
Food it eats:	Green Plants
Critter Diagram:
My critter defends itself by using its pincers to hurt enemies. The pincers are sharp because it helps it to tear things. The pincers move fast so the enemy gets attacked before it can react. It also defends itself by having a very small body. The method of defense is used so that other animals can't see it. Another defense method is its wings. It uses its wings as an escape method. My critter quickly flies away by using its wings.

Critter Information Sheet by Eugene
Name:	Spikefish
Length:	1 foot long
Height:	6 inches
Weight:	27 pounds
Predators:	Piranha
Food it eats:	Baby salmon and eels
Critter Diagram:
The spikefish have spikes for protection. They travel in schools also for protection. It uses its color to hide in the corals.

Critter Information Sheet by Marqia
Name:	Porcupine Caterpillar
Length:
Height:	28 inches
Weight:
Predators:	Birds, such as eagles, crows, and parrots
Food it eats:	Worms, ants, and cockroaches
Critter Diagram:
The Porcupine Caterpillar defends itself by using his or her spikes to kill its predator, or it sees them with its two heads and it runs. They also camouflage with their surroundings. While they are running from their predators, they sometimes lose their spikes. The good thing about losing their spikes is they grow bigger, stronger, and taller spikes.

Critter Information Sheet by Kelly
Name:	Coo-ko-coo
Length:	11 inches
Height:	2 inches
Weight:
Predators:	The Coo-ko-coo has one predator. That is a bird.
Food it eats:	The Coo-ko-coo eats bugs, insects, and some small, nonpoisonous spiders
Critter Diagram:
My critter can defend itself in many ways. Here are just three of them. Number one: by blending in with the plants around it. This is good because it can look like the area he is in. Number two: by changing color. This is good because if the predator is near, it can quickly change color. Number three: the stars on the purple felt are not eyes, they are poison squirters. This is good because it could kill some of the birds (enemies).

Critter Information Sheet by Anika
Name:	Black Spotted Big Eyed Fish
Length:	21 inches
Height:	3 inches
Weight:	2 pounds
Predators:	Sharks and snakes
Food it eats:	Leaves, water bugs, frogs, lady bugs
Critter Diagram:
My critter has 6 legs because it will help it swim better. My critter has 39 toes because it will help it run faster from its predators. It also has 39 toes because it will help it catch its prey. It has big eyes so that it can see its prey and predators. It has black spots so that it will help it protect him from its predators.

Critter Information Sheet by Christina
Name:	Regi
Length:	13 inches
Height:	6 inches
Weight:	1 pound
Predators:	Crane
Food it eats:	Grass, leaves, and moss
Critter Diagram:
Regi has antennas to keep other animals from trying to eat it. It also has flippers to swim away from its predators in the water. Last but not least, it has a hard shell to keep safe inside so that predators can't eat it.

Critter Information Sheet by Lindsay
Name:	Tie-dye Setrass
Length:	4 1/2 inches
Height:	1 1/2 inches
Weight:	2 ounces
Predators:	Fish, birds, and frogs
Food it eats:	Flies, tadpoles, and worms
Critter Diagram:
There are three methods that my Tie-dye Setrass uses to defend itself. One way is by flying. If a predator comes too close, it will spread its wings and fly away. My Tie-dye Setrass can camouflage itself very easily on trees and bushes. The Tie-dye Setrass can also hop away very fast and hide under trees or rocks if a predator comes too close.

Critter Information Sheet by Courtney
Name:	Tree Bug
Length:	4 inches
Height:	body: 2-3 inches; antenna: 6 1/2 inches
Weight:	2 1/2 ounces
Predators:	None
Food it eats:	It eats oranges and smaller bugs than it
Critter Diagram:
It has antennae eyes so it can spy. Its antennae eyes are up high so it can see further than eyes within its head. Another defense is its stinger which helps it scare away or kill some predators. Its leaf-looking skin helps it camouflage in orange trees. It does that so it can protect itself in the wild.

Critter Information Sheet by Craig
Name:	Birdwing
Length:	11 inches
Height:	9 inches
Weight:	3-4 ounces
Predators:	Snakes and owls
Food it eats:	Plants, insects, and worms
Critter Diagram:
My critter (Birdwing) can flap its wing and make a strong wind and blow its predators away. My critter can squirt poison from its mouth and poison them so they will die. My critter can scratch its predators so hard that it could even kill them. My critter can fly very fast. When my critter needs to turn, it uses its tail to turn; if the tail doesn't turn, then my critter can't turn.

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