Show pictures of and discuss the differences between rabbits and hares with students. Characteristics of newborns differ between rabbits and hares. Hares give birth to babies with fur and the ability to see and move around. Newborn rabbits have no hair and are blind at birth. Hares are generally larger than rabbits. The largest hair grows up to a length of 22 inches and weight of 10 pounds. Hares also have larger feet and ears than most rabbits. Have the students ability make diagrams or charts comparing and contrasting rabbits and hares compare.
Discuss the habitats of rabbits and hares with students. Show pictures and read science books together to assist students in forming images of the rabbit and hare habitats. Discuss the types of locations they live in, food they eat and homes they create. Provide students with materials such as small boxes in which to create a rabbit or hare habitat model. Students will also need paper or other craft objects with which to create the habitat details.
Read aloud children's literature such as "The Tortoise and the Hare" by Janet Stevens or "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter. Before reading, instruct children to listen for both facts and fiction details about the hare or rabbit in the story. After reading the story once, go back through the story and create a class chart with students. On the chart, create a column headed "facts" and one with the heading "fiction". As you go through the book again, have students pick out story details that belong on both sides of the chart.
After reading aloud books, class discussions and multimedia instruction about rabbit and hare habitats, diets, homes and activities, ask students to imagine that they are a rabbit or hare. Students must think about characteristics such as most rabbits and hares being nocturnal gatherers of twigs, leaves and berries to eat while watching out for predators such as hawks and owls. Instruct students to write two or three fictional journal entries as if they were a rabbit or hare. The journal entries should include details about the rabbit or hare activities, diet and home.