Assign students a habitat. Give each student 10 index cards and have them write 10 words and draw 10 pictures related to that habitat. Punch a hole in the top of each index card and tie it to a clothes hanger using a piece of yarn or fishing line. Hang the mobiles up throughout the room to help students see a visual representation of the various habitats.
Ohio has a variety of state and metro parks that provide education programs for students. Many of the programs focus on teaching students about habitats in Ohio and then allowing them to use that knowledge as they explore the park. Programs are often free to local school districts, but they vary based on the park. For example, the Five Rivers MetroParks (metroparks.org) in Dayton offers a Living Forest Tour at the Cox Arboretum MetroPark that guides students through habitats found in Dayton and allows them to explore life found in those habitats.
Assign students an animal native to Ohio to research. Provide students with a list of websites to use for research. Have them find the animal's size, habitat, food and enemies and write the information down. Students should create a five- to 10-sentence report about their animal and include a picture of the animal as the cover of the report.
After teaching students about Ohio's habitats, assign each student a habitat. Students should create a shoebox diorama of their assigned habitat, including drawings or models of animals and plants that are found in that habitat. Students should include a brief written description of the habitat.
Have students create a booklet by folding a few sheets of paper in half and stapling them together. Students should draw a cover to represent Ohio's habitats. On the inside of the book, students should write the names of the habitats and brief descriptions of them. Each habitat should be accompanied by a picture to represent it.
Take students outside to explore the habitat they live in. As students walk around the outside of the school, point out any animals, plants or features that are characteristic of that particular habitat. For homework, have students walk around their homes and write down anything related to the habitat that they see.