Prospect Park Zoo: High School
Endangered Species
Grade level-
9th grade
Learning Standard-
S2b- Demonstrates an understanding of biological evolution.
S2e- Demonstrates an understanding of evolution, diversity, and adaptation
of
organisms.
Time requirements:
Approximately 1-hour preparation time and 90 minutes of class time.
Topics covered in this lesson:
Endangered
species
Pre-visit
a) Purpose-
The purpose of this lesson is to allow students to select an
endangered animal. In addition, students will be provided reading materials
that will allow them to understand the factors that have lowered their
animal's survival rate. They will be asked to analyze these factors and to
predict how the extinction of this species will affect the ecosystem where
it
lives.
b) Objectives-The student will be able to:
1- Identify species that are designated as endangered.
2- Identify the habitat and behavioral pattern of their selected species.
3- Recognize predator- prey relationships.
4- Understand how the extinction of one species may affect another.
c) Materials required- Illustrations of endangered animals, Internet access,
web sites of interest, handouts containing information about the habitats
and
diet of the endangered species.
d) Student learning prerequisites
1- Students have to be familiar with the food chain, in order to understand
what will happen to one species if their predator/prey is extinct.
2- Students should be familiar with the following vocabulary words: extinct,
endangered, vulnerable and rare.
Visit:
Students
will visit some of the endangered animals that were on the original
class list (i.e. Red panda ). In addition, they will be asked to observe the
animals in the pond area and describe what they see. They should select one
species and predict how their extinction would affect their ecosystem.
Post visit-
Students will be asked to write an essay, which includes the
predictions they made and a list of preventive actions that can be taken to
prevent animals from going extinct.
Possible questions that may be brought up:
1) How does the extinction of species affect human beings?
2) What can we do to prevent the extinction of animals?
3) If we do take steps to prevent extinction, are we disrupting the evolution
of the species?
MSTEP
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