My Kingdom for a Shelter

One of the basic habitat needs of animals (humans included) is shelter. Animals use different materials in their habitat to create shelters. Wildlife shelters vary by species and while some are elaborate, the underground burrows of prairie dogs for instance, others are very simple, such as a songbird’s use of a bush to escape a storm. Use Project WILD’s “My Kingdom for a Shelter” to explore animal shelters. Pick an animal, explore where it lives and how it makes shelter and then try to recreate it!

Young Child Extension
Talk with little kids about how our homes keep us warm and safe; compare how animals need places to be warm and safe as well. Explore some animal shelters in books and pictures. Try reading “My Very First Book of Animal Homes” by Eric Carle. Then have kids draw pictures of their homes or an animal home that they choose.

Book List

Grades PreK-2
Allen, J. and S. Mendez. 2009. Animal Homes. Kingfisher.
Arnosky, J. 1997. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing Animal Habitats. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Carle, E. 2004. A House for Hermit Crab. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Carle, E. 2007. My Very First Book of Animal Homes. Penguin Group (USA).
Chessen, B. and P. Cahanko. 1997. Animal Homes. Scholastic, Inc.
Hoberman, M. A. and B. Fraser. 2007. A House is a House for Me. Penguin Group (USA).
Lock, D. 2007. Animals at Home. DK Publishing, Inc.
Magellan, M. 1990. Home At Last. Humanics Children's House.
Squire, A.O. 2002. Animal Homes. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Tatchell, J., A. Baker, and J. Rigby. 1999. Animal Homes. E.D.C. Publishing.
Wilkes, A., et al. 2003. Animal Homes (Kingfisher Young Knowledge Series). Kingfisher.

Grades 3-5
Arnosky, J. 1997. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing Animal Habitats. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Hoberman, M. A. and B. Fraser. 2007. A House is a House for Me. Penguin Group (USA).
Magellan, M. 1990. Home At Last. Humanics Children's House.
National Geographic Society. 1987. Animal Architects. National Geographic Society.

Grades 6-8
Ballard, C. 2008. Watching Wildlife: Animal Habitats. Heinemann.
Ganeri, A. 2005. Animal Homes (Nature Files Series). Chelsea House Publishers.

Grades 9-12
Benvus, J.M., and G. Wolff. 1989. The Field Guide to Wildlife Habitats. Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group.
Hansel, M. 2007. Built by Animals: The Natural History of Animal Architecture. Oxford University Press, USA.
Franz, B.S. 2006. The Wildlife Habitat Journal-Restoring and Exploring Wildlife Habitat in Your Own Backyard. Lulu.com.