Elementary School Lesson Plans: Wildlife and Globalization
From the Archives
Posted on September 13, 2006
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- People and Endangered Species
This lesson provides students with an overview of some endangered species and of the ways that human activities contribute to species endangerment. When studying these topics, it is important to provide students with a sense of optimism and to help them figure out ways they can help protect species. Students will be asked to devise their own species protection plans.
Time needed for lesson plan: 3-4 hours
To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit National Geographic.
- Bird Baths: Cleaning Up Wildlife After Oil Spills
Over the past several decades, wildlife around the world has faced habitat encroachment, environmental contamination, and other human influences on the natural world. As more and more animals are threatened by shrinking habitats, global climate changes and environmental contamination, people are examining what can be done to minimize the risk and maximize the response to such problems.
In the recent past, oil spills and contamination have caused major problems with bird populations throughout the world. Birds' habitats are destroyed and their bodies are covered with oil, which historically has ended in an extremely high mortality rate in the affected bird populations. Fortunately, a method of mitigating some of the consequences for wildlife has been found by the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC). In a partnership with Dawn, the IBRRC has found a safe way of rehabilitating and cleaning some of the birds affected by oil spills. Their work on the Dawn Save-A-Duck Campaign has been highlighted by the National Geographic Channel.
Time needed for lesson plan: 2-3 hours
To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit National Geographic.- People and African Animals
This lesson asks students to think about the ways that human activities impact African animals and their habitats. After looking at pictures on the Internet and discussing the possible consequences of human activities, students will draw pictures of animals living in their natural habitats with and without the effects of human impacts. Finally, they will write captions describing their pictures. In a lesson extension, students will explore the National Geographic magazine feature Africa MegaFlyover—Charting the Last Wild Places on Earth.
Time needed for lesson plan: 2-3 hours
To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit National Geographic.
- Really Wild Animals: Will People Change Them Forever?
Students have probably already learned a little about animal behavior and threats to the tropical rain forest. This lesson asks them to consider the ways in which human activities in the rain forest might affect the behaviors of some well-known African mammals, particularly in the Congo River Basin.
Time needed for lesson plan: 3 hours
To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit National Geographic.
- Lions and People—Uneasy Neighbors
Although safari-goers often see many lions and leave Africa with the belief that lion populations are doing well, this is unfortunately not the case. Lions outside the protection of national parks and reserves, where tourists usually see them, are seriously threatened. Conflicts arise between people, who want to protect their livestock, and the lions, which are enticed by cattle and other domestic animals. In this lesson, students will learn about lion hunting behavior and will consider how these predators might pose problems for villagers in areas where lions and people coexist, such as the Laikipia plateau in central Kenya. They'll brainstorm how corrals (called bomas), dogs, and other preventive options might help reduce the dangers of lions to livestock, and they'll discuss how Crittercam might help scientists learn more about lion hunting behaviors in order to help the situation. They will conclude by designing plans to help people coexist with lions.
Time needed for lesson plan: 2-3 hours
To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit National Geographic.- What's Happening to the Emperor Penguins?
Emperor penguins face several dangers along their journey to the sea, including leopard seals and difficult ice crossings. The latter problem has been exacerbated in some places recently, as several enormous icebergs have wedged into the ice and made the penguins' trip even longer and more arduous than before. Students will learn about emperor penguins' habitat and behaviors through Web sites such as National Geographic Creature Feature: Emperor Penguins and will illustrate a map to show what they have learned. They will view pictures of icebergs that are affecting penguin colonies and consider what impacts these icebergs might have on the penguins. They will conclude by writing paragraphs describing the maps that they have illustrated.
Time needed for lesson plan: 2-3 hours
To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit National Geographic.
- Bird Baths: Cleaning Up Wildlife After Oil Spills
To return to the main Global Envision lesson plan page, please click here.
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