Spiked & Armored- Armadillos

Length: 1 hr Ages: 3-5 years old Science Adventure Club

*Please make sure the classroom is set-up and the animals are in secured locations in Education
building before the class starts. Please start class promptly as 1 hr goes by extremely fast.

Station Play (10 minutes) - see station list for specific stations; interact with participants

Starting class (5 minutes)

1. Welcome everyone to Science Adventure Club.
2. Sing Welcome Song (Shake Your Sillies Out, etc.)
3. Introduce yourself and the theme, Spiked & Armored- Armadillos. Discuss
Defense Mechanisms.
4. Go over rules:
a. No running! We don’t want anyone to get hurt.
b. Be good listeners and stay on your matt.
c. Stay with the group.
d. Be nice to animals. This is their home and we need to be respectful and
kind.

Story Time (5 minutes)

1. Read Just Like Me by Adam Relf
2. Don’t Ever Cross that Road: An Armadillo Story by Conrad Storad

Pictures, Biofacts, and Discussion (in circle- 5 minutes)

1. Show children pictures and biofacts of Armadillos
2. Ask children: What makes Armadillos Special?
3. Facts
a. South, Central and North America
b. Eat Insects and Invertebrates
c. Hard Leathery Skin that acts like a shell or Armor
d. “Armadillo” in Spanish means “Little Armored One”
e. Roll up into a Ball and hide all their Vital Soft Areas from Predators
f. Use Claws to Dig for Food and to Dig Dens/Burrows
g. Poor Eyesight but Excellent Hearing
h. Solitary Creatures
i. Have 1-8 babies in a litter

Animal Encounter (on mats or in circle- 10 minutes) - Hairy Armadillos

1. Discuss Mammals
a. What does it mean to be a “Mammal”?

Wrap-Up and Goodbye (on mats or in circle- 5 minutes)

1. Ask children questions about Defense Mechanisms. Pass out parent page to
parents and stickers to children.

Craft (10 minutes)- Corrugated Armadillos

See craft Instruction Page

Carousel Ride (10 minutes)

 Corrugated Armadillos

Materials
1. Armadillo Template
2. White Cardstock
3. Corrugated Cardboard- stripped
4. Markers/Crayons
5. Google Eyes
6. Glue
7. Scissors

Instructions
1. Print and Cut out Armadillo Template on White Cardstock
2. Glue Head, Feet and Tail to Body
3. Color with Markers or Crayons
4. Strip Corrugated Cardboard of its Top Layer so that the Ridges are Visible
5. Cut out and Glue to “Gray” area of Template
6. Add a Google Eye