Introduction

Activity
List

Classroom
Materials

Web
Resources

DPS
Standards

ILT Project
Site
Endangered Animals

(Grades 4 - 5)

Endangered Animals - Activity #1

Intended Learning

Students will become familiar with the terms threatened and endangered.

Materials and Resources

  • KWLW worksheet for students
  • One larger copy of KWLW sheet for class discussion.
  • computers (one for each group of 4)
  • http://www.netrekker.com (DPS on-line subscription database developed for students by teachers)

Standards

Reading & Writing

  • Standards 1, & 5

Activity Description

Introduction:
Tell students they will learn what endangered and threatened mean. They will write what they Know about these terms, and what they Want to know (the “K” and “W”). They will leave the “L” and the “W” blank until later.

After students have completed the worksheet, they will share through a class discussion what they know. The teacher should put all answers on larger copy on the board. The sharing should answer most, if not all, of the “W”’s they have listed as what they want to know.

If all the “W” questions were answered, then students should fill out what they have learned (“L”). Continue on if there are still some unanswered things the students want to know.

If there are still unanswered questions, assign the students into groups of 3- In each group, the students should collaborate and write on one sheet of paper the things they would still like to know. List these remaining questions on the large copy of the KWLW. As a class decided where they can find the answers, such as Internet or library. If they decide the Internet, write down ideas of search words or websites that could help.

Conclusion:
After they have completed this, re-gather as a class and share the additional information and have student complete the “L” section of the worksheet. Make sure there are no unanswered questions and students have a clear understanding of the terms.

Endangered Animals - Activity #2

Intended Learning:

Students will learn the importance of note-taking versus copying word for word sentences and paragraphs. They will learn how proper note taking will lesson the amount of writing they will do.

Materials and Resources

One additional teacher for a minute activity.

Standards

Reading & Writing

  • Standards 4, & 7

Activity Description

Introduction:
Explain the importance of proper note taking and using your own words when doing so. You can also mention what plagiarizing is and how serious it is taken in higher education.

Role-Playing about note taking

You need a cooperating teacher who will role play. Have the teacher stand on the opposite end of the room from you. Tell the students that you are a teen-ager who has to take a phone message for your parents from a friend of theirs who is at the mall, calling from a pay phone.

Script:

  • The extra teacher (calling friend) needs to have a complicated message (the wordier the better, and talking fast). The teenager tries to remember it all without writing it down then panics as soon as the phone is hung up.
  • The teenager (you) can’t remember a thing and wishes the friend would call back and she does because she forgot something she wanted to say in the message.
  • The teenager says she is happy she called back because she forgot the message already. She gets a pencil and paper. She proceeds to try and write down every word the friend is saying.
  • The friend asks if she is writing down every word and tells the teenager to write down only the important ones because she is on a pay phone and doesn’t have any money left.
  • The teenager does that and writes down keywords: friend’s name, place, time, location to meet and what to bring….but not the whole message!

Conclusion:
Write the key words on the board from the message. The class will reconstruct the entire message. Tell the students that you just took notes without writing down exactly what the person said word-for-word.

  • Discuss why it made more sense to write key words and not exact words.
  • Encourage students to use this in the next activity and in the subsequent activities.

Endangered Animals - Activity #3

Intended Learning:

Students will learn about the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Materials and Resources

Standards

Reading & Writing

  • Standards 3, & 4

Activity Description

  • Introduction:
    Tell the students they will learn about an act that was created to help those animals that are threatened and endangered.

  • The teacher can allow the students to work independently or be put in groups of 2-3 to complete the Scavenger Hunt.

  • Students should go to the following website to complete the notes.
    http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/esa.html

  • After the hunt is completed, have students share their information with a partner. After the pairs share (approximately 3 minutes each), have them share with another pair to make a group of four.

  • Conclusion:
    After this activity, briefly share what was learned as a whole class.

Optional:
Students can store their scavenger hunt in their digital locker at Gaggle.net for use in Activity 9.

  • Post the scavenger hunt information on a wiki YOU create, such as Endangeredanimalproject.pbwiki.com. (this is an EXAMPLE, not an actual wiki).

  • Tutorials on information for creating a PB Wiki can be found at: http://techtraining.dpsk12.org/ILT

Endangered Animals - Activity #4

Intended Learning:

Students will research information about a specific endangered animal.

Materials and Resources

Standards

Information Literacy and Technology

  • Standard 1, 2, 3, & 4

Activity Description

  • Introduction: Explain to students that they will select an endangered animal that they would like to learn more about for use in a project.

  • Allow students to research the following website to select an animal they would like to create a fact sheet for. http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/map.html. Record their choices on the Endangered Animal List. Optional: Teacher can cut the names of the animals off the list and put in a hat for a random selection.

  • Once students have selected their animal, pass out a copy of the Note Fact sheet for them to record information. They should go to the following websites for the information. Encourage students to use their own words.

Optional:
Feel free to allow students to create their own fact sheet with any art supplies in the classroom. Add any websites you know about Endangered Animals in addition to these.

Conclusion:
Ask several students to share the information they learned about their animal in front of the class and encourage class discussion and participation.

Endangered Animals - Activity #5

Intended Learning:

Students will become familiar with websites they can use in their upcoming and culminating projects and learn how to copy this information into a social bookmark for sharing.

Materials and Resources

  • http://del.icio.us/ (user name: endangeredanimals password: thelast1)
    This is information you need to share with the students! They are ALL logging on to the same bookmarking site and sharing the websites they find.

Standards Addressed:

Art

  • Standard 1

Reading & Writing

  • Standard 5, & 7

Activity Description

  • Introduction:
    Explain to the students that they will be searching the Internet for websites that will help them learn more about their particular animal and about other endangered animals. They will post their websites using a social bookmarking website called http://del.icio.us/, using the SAME login (endangeredanimals) and the same password (thelast1) for other students and for future use in their culminating project. Encourage them to find as many websites as possible about endangered animals.
  • As students discover websites pertinent to their animal and others, they can record the websites in the del.icio.us website that has already been set up for them. This allows all students to simply record and annotate the websites in ONE location and eliminates writing down and retyping the website addresses. All the students will have access to the website and can store the websites on the same location, but remember to give the students the del.iciou.us password for this project.
  • Optional:
    Teacher can facilitate class discussion about the different websites and have the students reflect what they learned.
  • Conclusion:
    As a class, discuss various websites that were found and calculate the number of websites that students found for sharing. Ask students if they found any particularly good websites and have them share what they thought was interesting.

Endangered Animals - Activity #6

Intended Learning:

Students will learn how to incorporate previous information into a current project.

Materials and Resources

  • Art supplies (glue, construction paper, markers etc.)
  • Computers (one for each student)
  • Brochure template (optional use for either printout or to be done electronically)
  • Ark Helpers Society website that gives information about the information brochures and what students should include in the project.
  • Gallery Walk Worksheet

Standards Addressed:

Reading & Writing

  • Standard 2, 4, & 7

Art

  • Standard 1

Information Literacy and Technology

  • Standard 1, 2, 3, & 4

Activity Description

  • Introduction:
    Depending on the number of computers you have available, have students sit in front of a computer independently or in groups of 2-Explain to them they will be creating an informational brochure about their animal.
  • Walk through the website with the students and review the assignment. If possible, have the website already available on the computer for them to instantly look at.
  • Optional:
    • Students can create a PowerPoint presentation.
    • Students can use paper/pen template
    • Students can make their own using Word.
  • Conclusion:
    Discuss with the students what they learned from making their brochures.
    Post the brochures around the room and have the students do a gallery walk and read each. You can also post the brochures around the school for all students and staff to view.
  • Optional:
    have students fill out Gallery Walk worksheet as they go around the room and have them discuss their individual findings as a class.

Endangered Animals - Activity #7

Intended Learning:

Students will learn to discuss an article through a Socratic Seminar.

Materials and Resources

  • Computers (one for each student)
  • Copies of article, Mining Threatens Largest Tiger Reserve
  • Kusch ball or some sort of “speaking” ball or object
  • Socratic questions/ideas for article
  • Highlighters

Standards Addressed:

Reading & Writing

  • Standard 1, & 4

Science

  • Standard 5

Activity Description

  • Introduction:
    Pass out articles to the students, the class should read the article together. The teacher should encourage students to ask any questions about the article or words in the article.
  • After the article is read, the students should all get into a circle facing each other. The teacher should review that students should talk only when they have the “speaking” ball. The teacher should tell the children that the object of the activity is to discuss things from the article that they think are interesting, that they disagree with or that they have questions about. Other students can add to a point or answer a question or concern about the article. There are no right or wrong answers, it is simply a discussion. Use the Sample Thoughts/Questions sheet if students have a hard time getting started or need a bit of encouragement.
  • Conclusion:
    Ask students what they learned from the activity. Have them share their dislikes and likes about the activity.

Endangered Animals - Activity #8

Intended Learning:

Students will learn about the various reasons for why animals are becoming threatened and endangered and they will understand the issues surrounding these reasons.

Materials and Resources

  • Computers (one for each group of 3-4)
  • Causes and Effects worksheet
  • Butcher paper for lists
  • Highlighters

Standards Addressed:

Reading & Writing

  • Standard 1, 2, 4, 5, & 7

Activity Description

  • Introduction:
    Ask students if they can recall one reason that was threatening the safety of the tigers in the reserve (from the previous activity). After discussion from one or several students, explain to them that they will be learning about other reasons that affect other endangered animals.
  • Explain that they will research the Internet in their groups and write down all the various causes that affect animals and their safety. They should record these on the worksheet.
  • After groups are done, they will visit other groups and highlight the causes that they have in common with that group. Afterwards, as a class, compile a final list with the causes that all groups had in common.
  • Conclusion:
    Put each cause on a piece of butcher paper and attach each one on the wall in various spots around the room. Separate students into groups where each group starts at a separate piece of butcher paper. Have students brainstorm why each cause affects the animals. After 4-5 minutes, groups move to the butcher paper to their right, until all groups have been to each piece of paper. Each group should report out the ideas on the piece of butcher paper they started with. Discuss the ideas as a class. Post the results in the class or even in the school so other students can see the research.

Endangered Animals - Activity #9

Intended Learning:

Students will learn what they can do to help save endangered animals and their habitats.

Materials and Resources

  • computers (one for each group of 3-4)
  • Art supplies (markers, glue, colored pencils, butcher or poster paper…)
  • digital camera
  • pbwiki.com site (for posting of the posters)
    http://www.endangeredspecie.com/Ways_To_Help.htm
  • The website gives students ideas about how they can make a difference in the plight of endangered and threatened animals.

Standards Addressed:

Reading & Writing

  • Standard 7

Art

  • Standard 1

Information Literacy and Technology

  • Standard 1, 2, 3, & 4

Activity Description

  • Introduction:
    Explain to students that there are things we can all do to help save these animals and their habitats. Tell them they will research and come up with several ways students can do their part, and then will create posters with their #1 suggestion. This will be done as a “public service” poster to be posted on the Internet for the world to view!
  • Students (in their groups) should go to the website below, then determine their poster designs, layouts, and messages.
  • Optional:
    The posters can be created in KidPix or TuxPaint, Word, or using the electronic postermaker at: http://poster.4teachers.org/index.php (this is a FREE, easy way to make electronic posters and post them—you will need to create ONE account for yourself and then the students can use that, but you need to do this ahead of lab time.).
    • Option for posterboard:
      If the posters are going to be large, students can create all the “parts” or sections of the final poster separately, then cut them out and paste them onto the final, larger project.
  • Take a digital picture of the poster, save the file to your computer, then post it to the wiki site for this project.
  • At this point, send an email to parents and staff giving them the site to visit to view your students’ work.
  • Conclusion:
    Have each group share their poster to the class and mention one thing that they personally will do to help the animals.
  • Optional:
    Depending on time, the teacher can be creative with forming some sort of campaign school-wide where the students can educate other students or start a project around the school, such as recycling etc.

Endangered Animals - Culminating Activity #10

Intended Learning:

Students will use all the skills they have learned so far to create a podcast commercial about an endangered animal.
Note: This activity could take up to a week depending on the class’ experience with podcasts.

Materials and Resources

  • Computers (one for each group of 2-3)
  • Kidspiration (organizational software tool available from DPS-district license)
  • Gaggle.net (filtered free email from DPS—site license)

Standards Addressed:

Reading & Writing

  • Standard 1, 2, 4, 5, & 7

Science

  • Standard 5

Art

  • Standard 1

Activity Description

  • Introduction:
    Briefly review with the students the various activities and things they have learned over the past few weeks. Explain that they will use all the skills they have acquired and the information gathered to create a podcast commercial about an endangered animal. This podcast should discuss information about the animal, why they are endangered and a proposed recovery plan. The recovery plan should discuss how students think they could stop the decline of their animals.
  • Students should be put into groups of 2-Each group should select a different endangered animal from previous activities.
  • Students will create a podcast public service announcement about their animals, include information specific to their animals (use fact sheet information), reasons why these animals are endangered and ideas for a recover plan. Students may use Kidspiration to plan their podcast.
  • Conclusion:
    After podcasts are complete, classmates and other school students can vote on the documentary that does the best job. The teacher can present the finished podcasts using the computer attached to an LCD projector and students can vote using their gaggle account.
  • Options:
    Mac – iLife 06 - Garage Band – podcast. Use wiki with recorded commercial*Audio – audacity/sound recorder

Endangered Animals - Additional Activity #11

  • Students can interview a field researcher
  • The following website discusses adaptations various have developed to survive in particular environments. This site introduces students to, or extends students' knowledge of the concept of adaptation in animals - the idea that certain animals have developed features which help them survive in their environments. With older children, this can lead into the concept of “survival of the fittest”, which could be integrated with a unit of work in SOSE (Darwinism, Nazism, etc.). From this lesson, students will show their understanding of the concepts discussed in a creative way.
    http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ScienceAnimalAdaptations58.htm