Moonflower: an Introduction to the City’s Nightlife

Suggested Time: 45-60 minutes
Overview
Students will learn about nocturnal animals and plants, using the mysterious and beautiful moonflower as an introduction to the vibrant nightlife around them. After becoming more familiar with the types of wildlife that coexist with humans, often at night, students will conduct their own research project to learn more about a particular species.
Vocabulary
Objectives
Next Generation Science Standards
Required Project Materials
Multimedia Resources
Optional Multimedia Resources
Before the Lesson/ Background Information
Homework from Previous Session:
The Lesson
Part 1: The Moonflower (15 mins)
  1. Read The Moonflower with the students.
  2. Take time to teach the fun facts about animals and plants in the margins of the pages.
Part 2: Nocturnal Animals (15 mins)
  1. Ask students to think about the local wildlife that comes out at night. What about their own yards?
  2. Many nocturnal animals, such as raccoons and possums, thrive in urban environments. Ask these students if they have had any experiences with any of these animals. Read or refer to Wild in the City and/or Coyotes in the Crosswalk.
Part 3: Research Project (15-30 mins)
  1. Have the students pick a nocturnal animal (or plant) they’ve seen nearby but might not actually know that much about. They can also pick one from one of the books. Possible species include bats, raccoons, and morning glories.
  2. Have the students write down two or three questions they have about the animal. The questions can relate to the animal’s feeding habits, biology, habitat, or any ecological factor.
  3. Have each student research the animal by looking them up on reputable sites, like National Geographic. Then have the students share the interesting facts they’ve discovered with each other.
  4. Let the class know that they’ve just conducted a mini research project. They identified a problem, or something they wanted to know more about; they looked for existing literature on the topic; and they shared and discussed their results.
Homework
Ask the students to observe their own yard or a nearby park, schoolyard, or other green space. They should list any animals (such as insects) they find there and describe what they are doing. If they don’t see any animals, they can also describe a plant and try to find out what it is and how it thrives. Have them report their findings during the next class session.