Crawdad

unit study
©2011 by Squirrel academy
Copies of this unit study can be downloaded
from the following:
http://homeschool.sunflowerfaith.com
 About the Crawdad unit study

The crawdad unit study is a basic compilation of online

resources that were used for Squirrel Academy week study of
crawdads.

Crawfish, crawdad, crayfish are used interchangeable

throughout the study.

For help or assistance with the crawdad unit study, you can
contact “Twinkle Mom” also known as “Sunflower” either at
• Squirrel Academy

• Squirrel Academy facebook page

• “Twinkle Mom” a.k.a. “Sunflower” is also a member at

“Conservative Homeschooler-Raising a Generation for

Christ online homeschool community.

Images that were used in this study was obtained from the
Microsoft Clipart Gallery and Wikimedia Commons
 Vocabulary
Words

Suggested use of the vocabulary words could include some of the following:
• Print out the cards and have the kids, look up and fill in the definitions
for the words
• For younger kids, using a diagram, draw parts of the crawdads
• Write the definitions in the back, laminate the cards and use as
flashcards
• Blank cards are included for you to add additional words
Crustaceans Antennae

Bristles Carapace

Arthropod Exoskeleton

Invertebrate Mandibles

Pincers Rostrum
Segmented Tail

Swimmerets Thorax

Uropods Ventral
 Types of Crawdads

In the lines below, write down the different types of

crawdads that are found around the world.
 Draw your own crawdad
Draw your own crawdad
Draw a crawdad habitat
Label the crawdad
 What is a crawdad chimney?

They are small mudballs that can be found, piled around the
entrance of a crawdad burrow when they make (excavate)
their home.

Image from:
The Control of Burrowing Crayfish in Ponds
Read more at: http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-253/420-
253.html

See inside a crawdad burrow here:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/apr/30/crustacean-
frustration/
 Create your own crawdad chimney

What is a crawdad chimney?

They are small mudballs that can be found, piled around the
entrance of a crawdad burrow when they make (excavate)
their home.

Make your own playdough

Basic ingredient
• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 cup salt
• 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 Tablespoon cream of tartar (optional for
improved elasticity)

• Create your chimney by rolling small pieces of the

playdough into small balls and in a circle, pile them
on top of each other.
• When you create your chimney, smooth the inside
of the chimney to help create an inner wall to keep
it from toppling.
• Let dry overnight
• Using brown and bits of black, paint your chimney
 MAKE YOUR OWN WORKSHEETS ONLINE @ WWW.ATOZTEACHERSTUFF.COM

NAME:_______________________________ DATE:_____________

Crawdad Vocabulary Words

K B R I S T L E S U P Z W S A CRUSTACEANS VENTRAL
I A B F B X A R O H T U E D N ANTENNAE
Z A B L T R O S T R U M E S T BRISTLES
U Y S E L B I D N A M T X K E CARAPACE
P N W Z E M G F Q O N N S E N ARTHROPOD
S E T A R B E T R E V N I X N EXOSKELETON
K G A W Q N O B M B F N U O A INVERTEBRATE
Y Q I P K G O G W J W Q R S E MANDIBLES
D X L Z S J E J Q C P D O K H PINCERS
T C S D Z S S R E C N I P E N ROSTRUM
D O P O R H T R A M V W O L T SEGMENTED
K Q K P K V E N T R A L D E H TAIL
E C A P A R A C Y O L T S T S SWIMMERETS
S N A E C A T S U R C C S O Q THORAX
K S T E R E M M I W S H Y N T UROPODS
Resources Used
Links:
• http://web.esc20.net/livsci/pdf/Handouts/LMP-127%20Crayfish.pdf
• http://www.classtech2000.com/ReuterCorner/crayfish/cletusmod2.htm
• online coloring page for the crawdad:
http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/Portals/0/allaroundla/coloringbook/color/colorCrawfish.htm
• Great download with one for teacher and student:
http://www.curriki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Coll_cabocesmst/CrayfishScienceKit
• http://mackers.com/crayfish/
• Discussion of controlling burrowing crayfish-great graphic of a crayfish
burrow:http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-253/420-253.html
• Great 20 page download about the Arkansas crawfish: http://www.deltarivers.com/!
userfiles/pdfs/education/ar_crayfish_activity.pdf
• http://www.johnston.k12.ia.us/schools/lawson/gradelevellinks/crayfish/crayhome.html
• Crayfish modify their
environment:http://centerforeducation.rice.edu/SST/resources/aldine/1st_Grade_Science_CD/as
sets/documents/Grade_1_Life_7_Crayfish_Modify_Their_Environment.pdf

Literature to read:
• Crawdad Creek by Scott Russell Sanders
• Crawdad Creek Unit Study by Homeschool Share
• Clovis Crawfish and Bertile's Bon Voyage by Mary Alice Fontenot
• The Life Cycle of a Crayfish by Bobbie Kalman

Youtube:
• Watch a Crayfish moult: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF6NgMBcNCM
• Crayfish attack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALrq9_fuzEk&feature=related
• Crayfish Lab: http://www.dnatube.com/video/4274/Crayfish-Lab
• Crawfish dissection (illustrations not real): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnaTAyg-o5o

Drop by Conservative Homeschooler-Raising a Generation for Christ, online homeschool community

where there is a discussion of crawdad recipes!
Thank you for using my crawdad unit study and I ask
that if you enjoy using this unit study or have any
comments on how I could tweak this, please feel free to
drop by my blog at

http://homeschool.sunflowerfaith.com ,

or meet me at “Conservative Homeschooler-Raising a

Generation Christ” online community, where you can
find me under the nick, “Sunflower”.

To the best of my knowledge the materials used here

are of public domain useage and I have tried to make
sure to properly credit any and all material used.

If you are the original owner and would like me to

either remove or I've failed to properly credit you as a
source, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Thank you again for using this unit study and my

prayers and hope that it can be a blessing for you and
your family!

God Bless You!