Endangered Animals

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Teaching and Learning Proforma -
ENDANGERED ANIMALS

(Key idea - Life on Earth has a history of change and disruption yet continues from generation to generation.)

Intended Outcomes:

Gain an understanding of

conditions which might have caused extinction
ways of conserving species
how catastrophic events affect species survival
ways to ensure survival

Co-operative learning strategies to be modelled and practiced with their peers.

Students will be given regular opportunities to develop their skills in speaking, listening, reading, viewing and writing.

Engaging students:

In groups children discuss what they already know and place on a concept map about the relationship the following have on animal's survival -

animal competition
loss of habitat
hunting

Refining (students’ questions, ideas and teacher’s intentions):

In small groups children research to extend their knowledge on

how hunting eg for trophy, or food and clothes
greenhouse effect
animal competition eg introduced species
clearing land for agriculture, roads, industry, forestry, dams, mines and housing
bushfires

are effecting the survival of some species

Discuss the difference between vulnerable, endangered and extinct.

Extending:

Children will complete cloze and comprehension activities.

A wordbank of terms will be kept by each child.

Discuss the effect introduced species have had on our native species eg feral donkeys, pigs, goats, rabbits, horses and camels are destroying native vegetation. (see Australian Endangered Species produced by the Australian Nature Conservation Agency - Animal Invaders. URL:http://www.erin.gov.au/life/end_vuln/end_sp.html)

Children will have access to the computer program - Discovering Endangered Wildlife -Sunburst Communications. Some of the activities from this resource will be focused on during the course of the unit.

Grade 6s to research an endangered Australian animal
Grade 5s to research an endangered world animal

The following will be included in the research -

A general description of your animal
Is your animal extinct, endangered, highly endangered or threatened? What is the reason for this?
What type of environment does your animal need to survive?
What impact have humans had on your animal?
What measures are being taken to help the survival of your animal?
A map showing distribution of animals either world wide or Australian.
Illustrations

Reflecting on what we have learnt

Presentation of children's work in a Big Book.

Each child to give an oral presentation.

Discuss feelings about performing animals.

What are organisations doing help? eg Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth.

In what other ways are endangered animals being saved? eg establishment of national parks or nature conservation reserves, laws to protect the capture of some animals, zoos have breeding programs for some of the world's most endangered animals.

What can you do as an individual? eg adopt an endangered animal, avoid buying products made from endangered animals, write letters to governments or organisations.

Teaching Resources:

Garoni, Dennis Practical Projects

Walters, Lynley Non-fiction Cloze and Comprehension Activities

Australian Endangered Species - produced by the Australian Nature Conservation Agency
URL: http://www.erin.gov.au/life/end_vuln/end_sp.html

Cloze in on Themes Book 4

Discovering Endangered Wildlife - Sunburst Communications (CD-Rom)

Mammals - The Multimedia Experience Webster Publishing

National Wildlife Federation - endangered Species Facts About Endangered Species
URL: http://www.nwf.org/nwf.ed.wildlife.ends0001.html