Dragon Tails
(Science)
Created By Shelci Newsom and Amanda Kehrli
4th Grade
45 minutes
Objectives:
Students will be able to describe fictional dragons and how they differ from real
Komodo Dragons.
Students will gain a knowledge about the physical characteristics, diet, behavior, and
habitat of the endangered Komodo Dragon
Standards:
Montana State and NSES Standards for Science:
Science as Inquiry- Students will demonstrate processes and scientific
knowledge by using scientific reasoning and critical thinking to develop
their understanding of science.
Unifying Concepts of Science- Students will demonstrate an
understanding that systems, models, changes, evolution, form and
function and design innovation are the unifying concepts of science.
Engage:
Ask the class to brainstorm some characteristics of dragons. Look for physical characteristics
that answer the questions who, what, when; List some of these on the board. After the class
has a good list, ask them if they think dragons are real or fictional. Why? Discuss this topic as a
class.
Explore:
Ask if anyone has ever heard of a Komodo dragon. Is this dragon real or fictional? What are
some of its characteristics (who, what, when)? Is it actually a dragon or could it be something
else? What else could it be? Why? Discuss this as a class.
Give each student a KWL chart. Explain what this chart is; describe each section of the chart to
the students. The “K” portion is what the students already know. The “W” portion is what the
students want to know or hope to learn, and the “L” portion is filled out after the lesson, it
includes what the students learn. Right now we will be filling in just the “K” portion of the KWL.
This portion is what the students know. Give them a few minutes to do this before moving on.
Once the “K” is filled in on the students’ KWLs, ask the students to write down some things that
they would like to learn. This should go in the “W” column. Each student should have at least
one thing that they do not know already and would like to learn about Komodo dragons from
this lesson.
Explain:
Watch the national geographic video from YouTube about a Komodo dragon. Project it onto
the front board. The video shows the dragon’s nose, claws, and eyes. Pause at each point to
discuss what the students are seeing. The perspective through the eyes of the Komodo dragon
should also be a topic of discussion. Pause it to show the class what it is like to see out of the
eyes of a Komodo dragon. What is it like? Be sure to stop the video at 1 min 42 sec. After the
video, have a discussion about what the Komodo dragon is like based on what was just seen.
After watching the video, pass out the information page on the Komodo dragon. Read it out
loud as a class. After reading, ask the class if they can add some thoughts about what some of
the characteristics of a Komodo dragon are.
Immediately following the reading, give the students a few minutes to write in the “L” column
of their KWLs about what they learned. Did their “W” portion get answered? Discuss as a class
what they learned.
Evaluate:
Draw a blank venn diagram on the board. Ask the students if they know what it is. What needs
to be added to it before we fill it in? (titles) What does the middle signify? (both)
Komodo Dragon
Dragon
Both
As a class, fill in the diagram for fictional dragons, and Komodo Dragons to show the similarities
and differences. When completed, discuss the results as a class.
Assessment:
Students will turn in their completed KWLs. These will show how much each individual learned
about the topic.
Extension:
Have a class discussion about other fictional/mythological characters that they know about.
What real animals are similar to these characters? This leads into the Social Studies lesson
about mythology which will be taught immediately afterwards.
References:
1. Handout Information retrieved on November 18, 2009 from
http://www.honoluluzoo.org/komodo_dragon.htm
2. Video Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7CQInAXoqY&feature=channel
3. KWL chart from www.abcteach.com
Komodo Dragon
Scientific name: Varanus komodoensis
Common name: Ora, Komodo dragon, buaja darat (land crocodile)
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Komodo dragons are the world's heaviest living lizards. They can grow to a length of 10 feet (over 3 meters), with
an average length of 8 feet (2.5 meters) and weight of 200 lbs (91 kg.). Females are usually under 8 feet and weigh
about 150 lbs. (68 kg.).
The Komodo dragon's keen sense of smell, if aided by favorable wind, enables it to seek out carrion up to 5 miles
(8.5 kilometers) away. Despite its size, the Komodo is fast moving and agile. They can climb trees and like all
monitor lizards they are good swimmers.
Their teeth are laterally compressed with serrated edges, resembling those of flesh-eating sharks. They have about
60 teeth that they replace frequently and are positioned to cut out chunks of its prey. The highly flexible skull
allows it to swallow large pieces of its food. The Komodo’s mouth is full of virulent bacteria and even if its prey
survives the original attack, it will die of infection later. In addition, recent research3,4 suggests that the Komodos
have a venom gland which is more important in disabling their prey.
Young dragons up to 29 inches (.75 meters) live in trees and eat insects, birds, eggs, small mammals and other
reptiles. They will descend from the tree for carrion.
DISTRIBUTION and HABITAT:
The distribution of Komodo dragons is restricted to the Lesser Sunda Islands of Rinca, Komodo, Flores and the
smaller islands of Gili, Montang and Padar. Padar does not have a permanent population. The total range is less
than 1,000 sq. km. Komodo National Park makes up all islands except Flores.
The natural habitat of Komodo dragons is extremely harsh by human standards. These arid volcanic islands have
steep slopes and little available water most of the year. A short monsoon season often produces local flooding.
The average annual temperature at sea level on Komodo Island is 80F degrees. Dragons are most abundant in the
lower arid forest and savanna.
Outsiders found out about the Komodo dragons after WW1 when a report came from a downed aircraft and the
surviving pilot swam to Komodo Island.
BEHAVIOR:
In the wild, Komodo dragons are generally solitary animals, except during the breeding season. Males maintain and
defend a territory and patrol up to 1.2 miles (2 km.) per day. Territories are dependent on the size of the
dragon. Feeding ranges extend further and may be shared with other males. A dragon will allow other dragons to
cross its territory when they are on a food run.
Dragons maintain burrows within their core ranges and occasionally males will swim from island to island over long
distances. They regulate their body temperature (thermoregulation) by using a burrow.
DIET:
The Komodo is carnivorous and cannibalistic and it has a prodigious appetite. They regularly kill prey as large as
pigs and small deer, and have been known to bring down an adult water buffalo. They are opportunistic feeders
and will eat anything they can overpower including small dragons and small or injured humans (dragons make up
to 10% of their diet).
An eyewitness account revealed that a 101 lb (46 kg.) dragon ate a 90 lb. (41 kg.) pig in 20 minutes. As a
comparison, a 100 lb. person would have to eat 320 quarter pound hamburgers in less than 20 minutes to keep up
with the dragon.
In the zoo, the Komodo dragons are fed previously frozen rats.
REPRODUCTION and GROWTH:
The life expectancy of a Komodo is between 20 to 40 years. As noted above, Komodo dragons are generally
solitary animals, except during the breeding season.
The female wild dragons will utilize the nest mound of a brush turkey in which she will lay a clutch of up to 30 eggs.
Hatchlings are about 15 inches (40 centimeters) and weigh 3.5 ounces (100 g.).
Juveniles are multi-hued, (yellow, green, brown and gray); with a speckled and banded skin. Adult colors vary from
earthen red to slate gray and black.
STATUS:
Endangered: The largest threat is volcanic activity, fire and subsequent loss of its prey base. Currently habitat
alteration, poaching of prey species and tourism may have the most pronounced effect. Commercial trade in
specimens or skins is illegal under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Wild Population: 3,000 to 5,000.