Common European Mole |
The Common Mole (Talpa europcea) belongs to the order of the Insectivora, an order of animals small in size, and m stly of more or less purely nocturnal habits. Closely akin to it are the hedgehogs and shrews, which belong to th. same order. The insectivora are in many ways closely related to the bats. In general appearance some of the members of the order closely resemble the gnawing animals or rodents. Shrews in particular are very like mice, and are usually, indeed, spoken of as shrew-mice. It was its close resemblance to the shrew that led people in England in olden times to call the bat a flitter-mouse, a name by which it is still spoken of in some parts of the country.
The mole is clearly distinguished from other insectivores by the perfect adaptation of its form to a subterranean life. It inhabits the northern hemisphere both in the old and in the new world, not a single species of mole being found south of the equator. Its dwelling or fortress is usually formed under a hillock, and in its construction the mole displays considerable ingenuity and engineering skill.
Moles are exceedingly voracious animals, and though living chiefly on worms and grubs, will, if they get the opportunity, kill and devour mice, small birds, lizards, and frogs. The mole, in such cases, hurls itself on its victim as if frenzied with rage, and grasps it with the ferocity and tenacity of a bull-dog. The mole is also a very thirsty creature, and usually makes a run to the nearest ditch or pond, or supplies itself with water by sinking a perpendicular shaft.
The mole, though he sometimes condescends to make use of a common passage, is far from being a sociable animal, and has always his own nest or fortress, where in the spring he brings his bride. He seems, however, to be possessed of strong family affection. Most commonly in April the young appear. They number usually four or five, and are most assiduously attended to by their parents, who see to it that the nest is softly lined with grass and fine roots.
Required for Observation: A picture and/or video of a mole.
Method of Student Observation:
- Elicit that the form of the mole's body is peculiarly adapted to a subterranean existence ; elicit also the use of the short, thick fur in keeping out particles of earth.
- Compare the limbs of the mole with our own ; also with those of the bat. Why are the fore -limbs so much stronger than the hind ones ?
- Elicit the adaptation of the pointed snout ; the reason why the eyes and ears should be so closely protected by fur ; and the advantage of the absence of external appendages to the ears.
- Compare the teeth with those of other well-known animals.
- Show a diagram of the mole's nest, with its radiating system of tunnels.Elicit the various points in which the mole is adapted to its habit of burrowing, and especially the reason why the palm of the hand is directed backwards.
- Compare the habits of the mole with those of the bat, especially with regard to their food and their natural aversion to light.
- Note that the mole devours the farmer's enemies ‚ worms and grubs, but that it also disfigures the land by casting up its ''hills.''
- Note that the position of the mole in the animal scale is very near that of the bat. Both are mammals exhibiting a considerable degree of development.
How to Grade Study Notes For Student Journals: Every student will need a journal to write in weekly for this online nature study series. Teacher will assign the weekly content in advance.
- Make sure the facts are: written in complete sentences, the first word of each sentence capitalized, and a period should be included at the end of each sentence.
- Spell check your vocabulary and write the words correctly.
- Dress up your journal entries with student clip art, drawings of your own in color or in black and white.
- Student may also include photographs of their own taking for extra credit.
Look for the following facts about moles inside of student journals. Assign a point value to the quality of the content.
- Body. - Long and narrow ‚ cylindrical in form. Covered with a very closely-set, velvety fur. Terminates in a short tail.
- Limbs. - Four in number. Short, strong, and terminating in distinct toes with strong claws. Fore-limbs especially strong, with the palm of the hand directed backwards.
- Head. - Provided with a long, tapering snout.
- Eyes closely surrounded by the thickly-set fur.
- Ears without external appendages, and closely covered with fur.
- Teeth pointed. No broad masticating teeth.
- Home. - The home of the mole is the soil, where it burrows its way in search of food. It constructs a couple of circular galleries round a central chamber, and from these it makes a series of burrows or runs in all directions.
- Burrowing. - The work of burrowing is performed mainly by the strong forepaws, the soil being shovelled backwards as the work proceeds. The sharp snout assists the creature in pushing its way through the soil. The soil is thrown to the surface at intervals, forming little heaps called mole-hills.
- Food. - The food consists of worms and grubs. These are caught by means of the pointed teeth, and generally swallowed whole.
- When the soil is dry, and the worms burrow deeply, the mole also burrows deeper ; but the excavations of the mole are generally very near the surface.
- Young. - The young of the mole are produced alive, and are nourished by the milk of the mother. Hence, like the bat, the mole is classed among the mammals.
Video at Youtube for Students to Watch:
- How Hard Do Mole Dig? by The New York Times
- The weird and wonderful star-nosed mole by BBC Earth
- How to feed and raise a baby mole by The Dodo
The Mole Anchor Chart and Classroom Discussion: Direct discussions, develop vocabulary and demonstrate correct sentence writing. Anchor charts are used in many different grades the following example below may be used in 2nd through 4th grade during a group discussion.
- The mole has a pointed snout.
- Its body is covered with soft fur.
- The soft fur hides its small eyes.
- The mole has a pointed snout and its body is covered with soft fur which hides its small eyes.
- The mole's legs are very short. The fore-feet of the mole are like little hands.
- Its claws are like fingers with long nails.
- The fore-feet of the mole are like little hands and its claws are like fingers with long nails.
- The mole can burrow or scratch its way under the ground.
- It finds worms for food.
- The mole can burrow or scratch its way under the ground, where it finds worms for food.
- The long narrow body and the pointed snout, as well as the strong claws, help the mole to burrow under the ground, where it can catch worms.
A Paper Mole in The Hole Craft: To make this project you will need: 1 paper plate, a 1/4 cup of rice, green construction paper, parts of a recycled paper egg carton, white school glue, acrylic paints (brown, grey, pink flesh), one cotton ball, one chenille stem and scrap paper.
The finished mole in a hole art collage. |
Step-by-Step Directions:
- Cut a nose shape from a recycled egg carton and glue this to the center of a paper plate.
- Then puddle white school glue around this cardboard ''nose'' and sprinkle rice in the glue. Let this dry overnight.
- Shred multiple shades of green and yellow paper to paste around the rice. Let dry.
- Paint the rice with brown acrylics and paint the nose piece with grey acrylic.
- Shred the cotton ball and glue it to the tip of the mole's nose. After it drys paint it pink.
- Cut pink paws from paper and glue these into the dirt (rice).
- Cut a chenille stem in half, twist shredded cotton about it with white glue in order to give it a smooth wormy surface. paint is pink and poke a hole under the mole's nose for a mouth to insert the worm inside of.
Left, the beginnings of our mole collage. The nose glued in place, the rice glued down, surrounding the mole's nose and the grass clippings added around the brim of the plate. Right, the rice is painted brown to resemble dirt. |
Free Student Clip Art: Clip
art may be printed from a home computer, a classroom computer or from a
computer at a library and/or a local printing service provider. This
may be done from multiple locations as needed because our education blog
is online and available to the general public.
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