What If You Had Animal Ears? (What If You Had... ?)
#4 in What If You Had Series
What’s inside...
The book, 'What If You Had Animal Ears!?' by Sandra Markle, invites readers to explore the different types of animal ears and how they function. Markle captivates her audience with engaging facts, comparing the chosen animals' ears to human ears and their abilities. The book poses an intriguing question: If you could have any animal's ears, whose would you choose? What if you woke up one morning and your ears weren't yours? 'What If You Had Animal Ears' explores the possibility of having animal ears, from the elephant's large ears to the jack rabbit's expressive ears, and discusses the advantages of each, while affirming that human ears are perfectly suited for us.
Discussion points
What animal ears would you choose to have and why?
How do you think having different ears would change the way you hear things?
If you had animal ears for a day, what activities would you try?
Can you think of any advantages or disadvantages of having certain animal ears?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to use their imagination by asking them to visualize themselves with different animal ears. Foster a deeper understanding by discussing how these changes might impact their senses and daily activities. Validate their thoughts and feelings by sharing what you might choose and why. Lastly, relate the discussion back to the book's content to reinforce their learning and retention.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding biodiversity
Explanation: The book explores various animals and their unique ears, teaching children about the diversity in the animal kingdom.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate and respect the variety of life forms around them, fostering a sense of environmental consciousness.
Example Lesson: Empathy and perspective-taking
Explanation: By imagining what it would be like to have animal ears, children are placed in someone else’s 'shoes', which helps develop empathy.
Real-World Application: This can help children understand and relate to feelings and experiences of others in their daily interactions.
Example Lesson: Creativity and imagination
Explanation: The playful and imaginative scenarios of having different animal ears encourage creative thinking.
Real-World Application: Children can apply creativity in problem-solving and in expressing themselves in various forms such as art or storytelling.
Example Lesson: Observational skills
Explanation: Discussing the functions of different animal ears enhances attention to detail and observational skills.
Real-World Application: This skill can be translated into better focus and observational abilities in classroom settings or while learning new concepts.
Example Lesson: Importance of adaptive traits
Explanation: The book highlights how animal ears are adapted to their environments, which introduces the concept of adaptation in nature.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the significance of adaptability and apply it to adjusting in new or changing situations in life, promoting resilience.