Curriculum Bridges: Bats

CURRICULUM BRIDGES: BATS

[MATH | LANGUAGE ARTS | SOCIAL STUDIES | VISUAL/PERFORMING ARTS | LITERATURE LINKS]

MATH:

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: Grade Level: Beginning

THREE BATS: If 3 bats are flying at 5 mph how long will it take the bats to fly 15 miles?; Grade Level: Beginning

NIGHT FLIGHT: When bats are flying at night they eat insects that are out flying. If one bat eats 5 insects in 1 second how many insects will they eat in 10 seconds?; Grade Level: Beginning

LAYERS OF SKIN: The wing that the bat uses to fly with is made up of 2 layers of skin. How many layers of skin will there be on 6 bats?; Grade Level: Intermediate

AGILE FLIERS: Bats are agile fliers. They can twist and turn to dart after their prey at great speeds. One bat twists 7 times and darts 8 times to capture its prey, and other bats can imitate the first bat. How many twists and darts total will there be for the 15 bats?; Grade Level: Intermediate

TAILS FOR BALANCE: When bats are flying they use their tails for balance and for sudden turns and changes of direction. If 20 bats are flying in the same formation and it takes #1 bat 30 turns to make its destination, what would the number of turns be for #2-20 bats? And what would the total # of turns be for all the bats?; Grade Level: Intermediate

MAMMALS THAT CAN FLY: Bats are the only mammals that can fly. If the wing span of a flying fox bat is 6 feet and the wing span of his brothers and sisters are the same, how many feet total would there be for 18 flying fox bats?; Grade Level: Advanced

THE RED BAT: One kind of bat that lives all over the U.S. is the Red Bat. They are only 3 inches long and look like dry leaves hanging in a tree. They fly 13 mph. If a group of Red Bats are flying to Florida from Chicago, how long would it take them if it was 850 miles.; Grade Level: Advanced

AIRCRAFT RADAR: In flight aircraft rely on radar to find their way through clouds, fog, and mountain ranges. Bats have built-in radar called echolocation (which is the sound bouncing back from the object) to catch moths and insects and make their way through the dark. A bat is flying through a cave and the distances vary on either side of the cave. The distances at the following points in the cave are 252 feet, 650 feet, 729 feet, 832 feet, 1266 feet, 1016 feet, and 1344 feet. What are the total distances?

LANGUAGE ARTS:

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: Grade Level: Beginning

POETRY: Have the class write a poem together about bats and how they fly at night.; Grade Level: Beginning

BATS ARE MAMMALS: Bats are mammals that fly. Flight includes 3 basic needs: lift, thrust, and a streamlined body to cut down on air resistance. As a class make a pictorial dictionary using the words: lift, thrust, streamline, air flow, etc.; Grade Level: Intermediate

FREDDY THE BAT: The muscles of a bat that move its wings are not on the wings but on the back, shoulders, and chest. Have the children write a short story together about "Freddy the Bat" who gets a sore muscle in his shoulders and can't fly.; Grade Level: Intermediate

NEWS ITEM - WINGBEATS: Lift and propulsion are made by the downstroke of the wing of the bat. Have the students write a "News Item" about the bats wingbeats and how this helps the bats to get away fast.; Grade Level: Intermediate

MEMBRANE LIFT: Most bats have a membrane between their legs. This "tail" membrane increases the overall lifting surface of the bat's wings. It may also act as an air brake. Have the students imagine that they are a bat and their tail membrane is torn. Using their imagination have them go to a "Bat Hospital" where they can get their membrane repaired. Have them write about their time in the hospital and how their membrane was repaired.; Grade Level: Advanced

BAT LEGS: Bat legs are used more for flight than for moving about on land. Have the class write a story about a bat who would rather walk than fly.; Grade Level: Advanced

FLIGHT: Flight makes long-distance migrations possible and allows bats to get past barriers that are difficult for nonflying animals. Have the students write an essay about the migration habits of bats in the U.S.; Grade Level: Advanced

ARM AND FINGER BONES: In bats the wing is shaped and supported by arm and finger bones. Divide the class into several groups and have each group write a paper about the arm and finger bones of the bat. Have them share their findings with the rest of the class.

SOCIAL STUDIES:

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: Grade Level: Beginning

CALIFORNIA BATS: Have the class do a study together of bats that are living in the state of California.; Grade Level: Beginning

BABY BATS: As a class do a study of baby bats and how they learn to fly. As extension have the children draw a picture of the baby bat.; Grade Level: Beginning

BATS HELP PEOPLE: Do a class study of how bat research has helped blind people.; Grade Level: Intermediate

FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS: Have the students do a study of the flight characteristics of bats in the United States. Then have them share their findings with the rest of the class.; Grade Level: Intermediate

FOOD PREFERENCES: A bat's wing is highly suited for the special style of flight because of their food preferences. Have the class do a study of a bat's food preferences.; Grade Level: Intermediate

ECHOLOCATION: Sonar is vital for flight for bats. Have individuals in the class do a study on echolocation.; Grade Level: Advanced

PROJECT X-RAY: After the bombing of Pearl Harbor our government did consider using bats as part of a counter attack against Japan. Have the students do a study of this program and share their findings with the rest of the class.; Grade Level: Advanced

FREETAIL BATS: The abundant Freetail Bats fly nearly 1,000 miles in migration. Have the class do a paper on their habits.; Grade Level: Advanced

DIFFERENCES: Have the students do a study of the flight characteristics, abilities, and distinctions of bats and birds in relationship to flight.

VISUAL/PERFORMING ARTS:

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: Grade Level: Beginning

BAT PLAY: Have the class write a play together about bats. Supply books about bats that they can refer to for facts. After they have written the play supply paper (tissue, construction, etc.), paint, and scissors to make costumes for the play.; Grade Level: Beginning

BAT CAPE: Have the children pretend that they are a bat. Have them make a cape out of black tissue paper for their "bat wings". (The wing membrane of a bat extends over its arm bones, hand bones, and finger bones).; Grade Level: Beginning

TRACING BATS: Supply pictures of bats and tracing paper. Have the children trace the pictures of the bats and color. Place the pictures of the bats on the bulletin board.; Grade Level: Intermediate

BAT NOSES: The noses of bats are varied and very unique. Have the students "design" new noses for a new species of bats.; Grade Level: Intermediate

CHINA BATS: In China bats are considered lucky. In the book, "Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats" by Ann Earle there is a sample design of the wu-fu sign. Have the students make this design out of construction paper.; Grade Level: Intermediate

IMAGINARY BATS: Have the students create a new bat species. Have the class first draw the bat and then make it out of paper that you supple - (construction and tissue paper).; Grade Level: Advanced

BAT EARS: The ears of bats are a double creation. Have the class design new ears of a new species of bats. (Most bats have a double ear - one large and one smaller inside the larger one). One rare bat has huge, bright pink ears.; Grade Level: Advanced

BAT DIORAMA: Have the students make a Box Cave and place bats inside made of paper.; Grade Level: Advanced

BAT HOUSE: As a class make a bat house and find a place where you can hang it on a tree or the side of a building. You'll need wood, nails, and screening. The book "Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats" by Ann Earle has the dimensions for the bat house. This would be an interesting class project.

LITERATURE LINKS:

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A First Look at Bats

Author: Millicent E. Selsam and Joyce Hunt

Publisher: New York: Walker and Company, 1991

Grade Level: K-2

Synopsis:: This is a simplified approach to seeing bats. There are black and white illustrations along with a simple text. At the end of the book there is a map of the world and where different types of bats can be found.

Bats: Creatures of the Night

Author: Joyce Milton

Publisher: New York: Grosset and Dunlop, 1992

Grade Level: 1-3

Synopsis:: This is a wonderful book for children with text and animations to match. There are simple illustrations and lists to describe the bats' wings and the different types of bats. This book is highly recommended.

Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats

Author: Ann Earle

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995

Grade Level: 2-5

Synopsis:: This text is lively and the animated illustrations illuminate the world of bats. The information dispels common myths and reveals the vital role bats play in our environment.

Bats

Author: Sylvia A. Johnson

Publisher: Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, Com.,1985

Grade Level: 3-5

Synopsis:: Sylvia describes the appealing habits of bats and explains the many ways in which the creatures benefit us. The full-color photographs show bats from all areas of the world and illustrate the methods they use to maneuver in flight, find food, and raise their young.

Bats, Mysterious Flyers of the Night

Author: Dee Stuart

Publisher: Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, Inc., 1994

Grade Level: 3-5

Synopsis:: This book tells the truth about bats. The high- quality photographs introduce the reader to the fascinating world of bats. There is a glossary of terms at the end of the book.

Billions of Bats

Author: Miriam Schlein

Publisher: New York: J. B. Lippincott, 1982

Grade Level: 3-5

Synopsis:: The author describes many fascinating details about bats. The detailed black and white drawings are excellent and give the reader a true picture of the uniqueness of bats.

Amazing Bats

Author: Frank Greenaway

Publisher: New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1991

Grade Level: 4-6

Synopsis:: This is a well illustrated book which gives a shortened description of different aspects of bats. This book is a must for bat enthusiasts!

Batman: Exploring the World of Bats

Author: Laurence Pringle

Publisher: New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1991

Grade Level: 5-8

Synopsis:: This is the story about a teenage boy's fascination with bats and how the photographer of the book founded a conservation organization. The book also tells why bats are essential allies of mankind.

Bats of the World

Author: Gary L. Graham

Publisher: New York: Golden Press, Western Publishing Co., Inc., 1994

Grade Level: 6-9

Synopsis:: This a broad spectrum book about bats with colored illustrations. It covers flight, echolocation, habits, reproduction and diversity of about 20 different types of bats.

Wonders of the Bat World

Author: Sigmund A. Lavine

Publisher: New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1969

Grade Level: 6-9

Synopsis:: This is a general treatment of the myths of bats and their true identity. The senses, behaviors, and observations of bats are also covered. There are black and white pictures.

Bats

Author: Alice L. Hopf

Publisher: New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1985

Grade Level: 6-9

Synopsis:: This book has interesting black and while photos. The text covers the unique wings, navigational systems, behaviors, care of young, and the importance of bats to man.

The World of the Bat

Author: Charles E. Mohr

Publisher: New York: J.B. Lippincott Co., 1976

Grade Level: 6-9

Synopsis:: Through a wonderful blending of text and photographs the author explores the structures, evolution, and annual phases of a bat's life cycle.

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