Invite students to read stories or watch videos during the unit. Discuss questions below. Discussion Questions Suggest some reasons why caves show up in so many stories. Bat stories emphasize false or unpleasant details, leaving out the important role U.S. bats play in insect control. Movies, by necessity, make caves appear to have more light than they really do.
Many bats are in stories too.
Students will see that limestone caves are not isolated oddities of nature but part of larger natural systems. They will find out how close or far away they live from a major cave and perhaps consider visiting a cave some day. Educational Goals Students will be able to locate their own communities and the nearest caves on a map of the United States. Intermediate and advanced students will be able to calculate the distance to their nearest cave, using a rough scale. Teacher Background Your class may live near rock formations rich with caves.