Wildlife educator talks turkey to 5th graders

Mr. Bruce Rhone’s fifth-grade students were treated to a visitor this month as Lynnsey Dohmen, education program contractor with the Texas Wildlife Association, talked about “animal adaptations” and turkeys.

Students Daeja Davidson and Blanca Abasta wrote about the classroom presentations and what they learned from Mrs. Dohmen, who visited at the request of Mr. Rhone.

“Animal Adaptations” by Daeja Davidson

When Mrs. Dohmen came on September 7th, 2012, she taught us about animal adaptations. This was the first time Mrs. Dohmen came.

Mrs. Dohmen taught us about animal adaptations using different skins and skulls of the animals. We had to be very careful with them because they were real. It seemed cool to touch them, but some people weren’t as excited.

Mrs. Dohmen also gave us an activity. We had to figure out which animal was which using the skin and skull of that specific animal. Mrs. Dohmen taught us a lot about animal adaptations.

Raccoon

Badger

Skunk

Fox

Bobcat

I even took it a step further. On September 9, 2012, I went to the zoo. I saw all the animals and took notes and asked the guides about the animal environments. The guides said the animals live in a safe and real environment. Turns out that the animals are used to where they’re at.

On the 2nd visit, Mrs. Dohmen taught us about turkeys. Turkeys make a special sound to attract female turkeys. Female turkeys like the fan (feathers) from the male turkeys. Female turkeys take care of their eggs by themselves. Turkeys camouflage on trees from their predators. Turkeys are very smart. Mrs. Dohmen came to visit us on September 20, 2012. Turkeys adaptations, too. Turkeys don’t live up in trees because they can’t fly very high. Turkeys live in the ground. Turkeys walk more than flying. Turkeys can gobble rocks, but the rocks break into pieces when they’re inside by their neck. Turkeys don’t have teeth. When they eat their food they just put it inside their mouth in whole. Turkeys have beaks, not a regular mouth…Turkey males fight with their claws from their feet. Turkeys can fight for food or for females. Turkeys are weird. We had great time learning about turkeys with Mrs. Dohmen.

Mrs. Dohmen, a wildlife biologist, also showed students how to make a turkey caller by using straws, string, feathers and masking tape, and they all had fun testing it.

“I had a great time with Mr. Rhone’s class,” Mrs. Dohmen said. “The students were inquisitive and seemed to enjoy their lessons.”

Upper photo: Blanca Abasta (left) and Daeja Davidson

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