Teacher Page

Science Standards:

3. Characteristics and Interactions of Living Organisms
3.1 There is a fundamental unity underlying the diversity of all living organisms
3.1.A.  Organisms have basic needs for survival

4.  Changes in Ecosystems and Interactions of Organisms with their Environments
4.1 Organisms are interdependent with one another and with their environment
4.1.C. All organisms, including humans, and their activities cause changes in their environment that affect ecosystems

7. Science Inquiry
7.1.D. The nature of science relies upon communication of results and justification of explanations
7.1.D.a. Communicate simple procedures and results of investigations and explanation through:  oral presentations, drawings or maps, and writings

8. Impact of Science, Technology and Human Activity
8.3 Science and technology affect, and are affected by, society
8.3.A. People, alone or in groups, are always making discoveries about nature and inventing new ways to solve problems and get work done
8.3.A.b. Work with a group to solve a problem, giving due credit to the ideas and contributions of each group member

Introduction

How do humans impact life on earth?  What can we do to help the animal kingdom?  What does it mean when a specific animal is classified as endangered?  Why should we care if animals are endangered? 

In this web quest you will learn why many species on Earth have become endangered and to educate others about these animals in order to help preserve the diversity of life on Earth. Pretend that you are a reporter for the discovery channel.  You will collect information and research endangered animals. You will use the information that you have collected to create a commercial convincing people to protect our animal kingdom.

Your group will research and collect information on an endangered animal of your choice.  In your search you will discover why your animal is on the endangered species list, what role does this animal play in the food chain, and what efforts, if any, are currently being done to help this animal.  You will use this information to develop a plan and create a commercial using power point showing what can be done to help this animal survive.

1.  The class will be put into groups of 3.

To meet the idividual needs of all learners, I put groups together to make each group diverse and have a mix of abilities and interests.

2. Within each group the following roles will be assigned:

• Animal Expert- will research animal characteristics, habitat, food chain, basic needs of animal
• Ecologist- Why is animal endangered? What is the impact humans have had on the animal?
• Investigator- Research efforts currently being done or tried in reguards to animal

I let the groups decide which students where going to take the expert job. This is part of working within a group, making decisions.

3. Within your group, go to endangered species link, choose an animal from the list on the left hand side to save!

4. After all groups have chose an animal, each expert group will form together to research and become experts in their field. You will record your information into a journal.

• Animal Expert- will research animal characteristics, habitat, food chain, basic needs of animal

EPatrol Endangered Species -Click the links of the different continents and learn about the endangered animals that live there.

Endangered Species List

YahooKids endangered species

• Ecologist- Why is animal endangered? What is the impact humans have had on the animal?

Endangered species-This site has information about the Endangered Specie Act, Endangered Species In Your State, Interesting Endangered Species Facts,  Endangered Species Profiles & Photo Gallery, and Laws That Protect Endangered Species

• Investigator- Research efforts currently being done or tried in reguards to animal

World Wildlife Fund-This link is about the world wildlife fund. It shows examples of the work they are doing and information of the animals.

National Wildlife Foundation-This link is about this foundation and the work they do. Also, includes information about endangered species.

* All groups please use offline resources located in classroom nonfiction library for further research. Here are a couple great resources to look at.

Books

• Endangered Species: Wild and Rare (Ranger Rick's Naturescope) by National Wildlife Federation

• I Wonder Why the Dodo Is Dead and Other Questions About Extinct and Endangered Animals
  by Andy Charman

• And Then There Was One : The Mysteries of Extinction
  by Margery Facklam, et al

5. When all groups are experts in their field, you will go back to your group and discuss what was learned.

6. Using your Journal, develop a plan of action to help save your animal.

7.  After you have developed a plan, you will use it to create a commercial.  Your commercial should include, why the animal has been classified as endangered, and what can be done to help protect the animal.

8.  You will create and present your commercial on power point.

Photos of Endangered Species

Evaluation

Collaboration Rubric

Commercial Rubric

The product of your research and commercial helps you to see what an endangered species is. Your research also should have lead you to some of the causes for these species becoming endangered. You have discovered that some of the reasons species are endangered is because of humans and what we have done to the environment. You have taken your base knowledge and applied it to researching a particular species. You have found out about the habitat, where your animal is located in the food web, and where it lives. You have also found out about the organizations that are helping your animal and how they are doing this. With all this new informaiton you have gathered, think about what you are doing to help out endangered species. Next time you should recycle, or reuse, maybe you will remember this project and make the right decision.

You now have a foundation of knowledge to further your study of endangered animals in your area, what local organizations, or laws, are doing about these situations. I hope this project has moved you to do some further research and be more conscious in your own daily lives!

Here is our local Northwest Missouri Department of Conservation website to check out!

Missouri Department of Conservation Website

Thank you for providing me ideas for this project, Emily Dunnagan