Foods for Flying Mammals—Bats!

What do bugs, fish, frogs, and fruit all have in common? Bats eat them! Create a 3-D science project that shows bats’ eating habits.

• 1.

  Bats are fascinating creatures. Learn more about where they live, how they help people, and which ones are endangered.

• 2.

  For this science project, find out what different types of bats eat. You could read Stellaluna by Janell Cannon, Bat Loves the Night by Nicole Davies, or Outside and Inside Bats by Sandra Markle, for example. Some bats eat scorpions, others eat flying insects, and others eat fruit or frogs! Choose one kind of bat that intrigues you and demonstrate what you know about its diet.

• 3.

  Press Crayola Model Magic® compound to cover the outside of both halves of a plastic egg. Make it look like the bat you chose. Be sure you can still open and close the egg!

• 4.

  Roll a Model Magic ball for your bat’s head. Press it on the end of one egg section. Add eyes, ears, a nose, and mouth in different colors. Model Magic that is fresh from the pack sticks to itself.

• 5.

  Make bat wings by rolling Model Magic flat and cutting the shape. Attach wings to the back of your bat. Air-dry the bat with the wings flat.

• 6.

  Make several tiny replicas of foods that your species of bat eats. Add minute Model Magic details. Be sure that all of the food pieces will fit into the "belly" of the bat you created. Air-dry everything for about 24 hours.

• 7.

  Put the food inside your bat’s belly. Show classmates or your family what you know about bat foods. Compare and contrast the diets of various bats on a chart. Which bat diets have the most variety? Which have the least?

Benefits

• Students research information about one bat species and identify the foods in its diet.
• Students create a 3-D visual arts project that demonstrates their understanding of the diverse diet of bats.
• Students present their findings on a chart to compare diets of various bat species.

Adaptations

• Invite a guest speaker such as an animal control specialist or zookeeper to share personal experiences and scientific information about bats. Ask the speaker to bring preserved and model bats to demonstrate animal characteristics. Build interest in findin
• Bats can eat as many as 1000 mosquitoes an hour! How does this help humans? Find out why people should never touch any wild animal, including bats.
• Students with some special needs may find it helpful to refer to bat and food pictures when creating their replicas.
• Find out why scientists are trying to conserve bats. What are some common threats to bat habitats and food supplies? Which species of bats live in your area? How can you help protect them?
• Find out why scientists are trying to conserve bats. What are some common threats to bat habitats and food supplies? Which species of bats live in your area? How can you help protect them?
• Assessment: Students accurately depict the information they researched with their bat models and food replicas. Students carefully constructed their bats so that the "bellies" open and close. Students made at least three food replicas for their bats. Stud