Caring & Understanding Hermit Crabs
Unit by Lisa Gorman
Initials: ____ Date: _______
Date Taught: ___________
OBJECTIVES:
1. Students will correctly label the parts of a hermit crab.
2. Students will understand the needs of a hermit crab.
MATERIALS:
1. Hermit Crab Anatomy worksheet
2. Hermit Crab Maze worksheet
3. Several published hermit crab reference books
4. Globe
5. Photo of crab in bottle cap
6. Dime-sized tiny sea shell
7. Eight-inch wide large sea shell
8. Tape of recorded hermit crab croaking sounds
9. Tape player
10. Interactive anatomy poster with Velcro labels
11. Thermometer
12. Humidity gauge
13. Care sheet
14. Large printed word of hermit crab scientific name
PROCEDURE:
1. Ask what a scientific name is and why we have them.
2. Show large printed word of hermit crab scientific name.
3. Ask what an arthropod is, then define it.
4. Ask what a crustacean is, then define it.
5. Show that hermit crabs come from the Carribean area by using the globe.
6. Ask why hermit crabs wear a shell.
7. Show photo of wild crab in bottle cap.
8. Explain size of shell in relation to a crab’s age.
9. Discuss eggs in the sea for 26 days at 1/8 inch length.
10. Discuss the molting process.
11. Explain that they are nocturnal.
12. Listen to croaking sound.
13. Pass out all worksheets and poster labels.
14. While students record on their worksheets, invite students with labels to come up and place them appropriately on the chart while you discuss each item.
15. Discuss a crab’s need for warmth. Have a student read the thermometer to see if room temperature is adequate.
16. Discuss a crab’s need for high humidity. Have a student read the humidity gauge to see if room humidity is adequate.
17. Explain the importance of providing crabs with calcium.
18. Invite students to attend summer Crab Convention, Miss Crustacean Beauty Pageant, and hermit crab races.
19. Allow students to ask questions.
STUDENT EVALUATION:
Students’ understanding will be assessed by how well they labeled the hermit crab parts on their worksheet. The relevance of questions students ask will also reveal their understanding of the material taught. Those students who volunteer to label parts on the poster board will demonstrate their understanding in front of the whole class.
MY EVALUATION:
COOPERATING TEACHER’S EVALUATION:
