Several projects for first graders can be designed to show children that different animals prefer different types of food. One of the simplest is to try different types of sweeteners to determine which ants like best. Place one shallow container of molasses, one of honey, one of syrup, one of sugar water and another of water in an area where ants are frequently seen. Let children determine which of the sweeteners ants prefer most.
Simple projects for first graders can be used to determine how temperature impacts the growth and behavior of animals. To begin the project, set up four fish tanks. You'll also need four aquarium water heaters and four thermometers to measure water temperature. Set the heaters up in the water at different degrees, all tolerable though some not ideal for tadpole development. Introduce tadpoles into each tank and let students monitor the tanks to see how the tadpoles behave at different water temperatures. Also let the students chart how quickly the tadpoles develop in comparison to their counterparts at different temperatures.
Experiments to see how light affects sleep patterns can be conducted using pet mice, rats or hamsters. Have students observe the rodent's sleep patterns for a few days in the pet's normal environment and under normal lighting conditions. Explain to students that this is the control portion of the experiment. Then place a lamp near the pet's cage so that the animals' environment has more light than usual. Have the students note changes in the pet's sleep patterns and activity level. Then cover the pet's cage with some type of shade so that the rodent receives less light than usual. Again, have the children note changes in sleep patterns and activity.
Most likely your students will have had more experience with the behaviors of dogs and cats than any other animals. Depending upon your classroom and the pets you have available to you, you may want to bring a well-behaved dog or cat into the classroom for your students to observe. Or, you may want children to talk about their own experiences with pets as part of this activity. Students can observe and discuss the ways that dogs and cats behave differently. Talk about the distinct behaviors of the two species, for example what it means when a dog wags its tail as opposed to what a cat is communicating when it does the same thing. Another way in which children can observe the behaviors of dogs and cats is to take your class on a field trip to a local animal shelter.