Creature Karate

1
Creature Karate

• A Battle of Wits and Geographic Fits

2
Teks Covered (3rd Grade)

• Music 117 3rd Grade,2,a -- singing music
• Science 112.5 3rd Grade 8, bc --- collecting and
  analyzing info to construct explanations
• S.S. 113.5 3rd Grade 16, a,b,c -- obtain info
  from a variety of sources, categorizing,
  contrasting and comparing this material
• L.A. 110.5 3rd Grade 12, c,d -- look up
  information using various references and
  technologies

3
Creature Karate

• Fun activity for learning how to research
• Small group interaction heightens learning
• The karate theme keeps research interesting
  because it has a purpose
• Easy lesson to scaffold groups will want to know
  ways to get more info!

4
Creature Karate

• Creature Karate, a jaguar really can duel a blue
  jay?!
• Creature Karate, places where elephants really
  cant stray!
• Creature Karate, earn those points all of you
  go-getters!
• Creature Karate, working in groups makes
  learning better!

5
How To Play

• Class divides into groups of three
• Teacher explains how the karate is scored and
  models how effective resource gathering can be
  done
• Teacher selects two animals and an ecosystem for
  each group
• Teacher then circles classroom scaffolding during
  group interaction

6
The Game Itself

• Animals are called contenders.
• The ecosystems are arenas.
• Students get points for each bit of info they
  gather.
• Gathered material is categorized as either
  a)defense, b)diet, or c)findings (misc.)
• Specialized skills gain 2 points
• The eco information is based on its inhabitants
  and survivability.

7
Scoring For Contenders

• 1 point for each factoid
• 2 points for getting more data than your group
  members (this can be optional).
• 4 points awarded if your animal is an Olympian
  (fastest, biggest, slowest, etc.)
• 2 points deducted if your arena (ecosystem) would
  eradicate your species

8
Scoring for Arenas

• 2 points each if either or both contenders can
  live in your ecosystem
• 1 point for every plant and animal you can find
  that live in your arena
• 25 points if your arena has 10 or less animal
  inhabitant species
• 50 points if your arena has 5 or less inhabitant
  species

9
While Playing.

• Debate in groups should be allowed
• This is meaningful learning occurring
• Once finished, learners should draw their
  contender based on what theyve learned about it
• When the group is finished, the group should add
  up all of its points as a cumulative total.
• Dont let groups know it is a cumulative total
  until they are tallying. (This is optional.)

10
In Closing

• Groups should construct sentences on their sheet
  based on the results of their karate match. Why
  did the winner ultimately win? (There is no one
  answer.)
• (Optional Ending)Groups come to the front and do
  a readers theatre where they monologue their
  traits and after all have gone describe the
  karate match.