How Human Activities Contribute to Species Endangerment

Another Lesson Plan taken from National Geographic
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/endangered.html
**Modified to suit our needs.**

Combining geography, current events, biology & zoology into one assignment ~ Gotta Love That!! Plus we added a *much Loved* field trip to Weeks Bay Nature Preserve.


Intorduction:
"Scientists recognize five mass extinction episodes which have occurred because of major changes in the prevailing ecological conditions brought about by climate change, cataclysmic volcanic eruptions, or collisions with giant meteors. (We have gone over these previously this year.)

The sixth mass extinction appears to be in progress now, and the main cause is environmental change brought about by human activities."

Overview:
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.


Main Concepts:
"The characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems on Earth's surface"
"How human actions modify the physical environment"
Time:
Two 1/2- Four hours

Materials Required:
Computer with Internet access
Notebook
Writing materials

Objectives:
Students will complete the Preserving Biodiversity family activity;
describe reasons why biodiversity is important;
research and take notes on five endangered species;
discuss the ways that human activities contribute to declining biodiversity;
and devise plans to help protect endangered species.

Geographic Skills:
Acquiring, Organizing & Analyzing Geographic Information

S u g g e s t e d P r o c e d u r e
Opening:
Have students go through the Preserving Biodiversity activity to learn about some endangered animals. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/08/biodiversity.html They should see how many animals they can match with the correct ecoregion.
Define the terms "biodiversity," "threatened," and "extinct." Definitions are available at the Bagheera Web site glossary. http://www.bagheera.com/inthewild/class_glossary.htm
Ask students to describe some of the reasons why they think biodiversity is important, and list their ideas on the board.

Development:
Have each student go to the Bagheera site and choose five vanishing species to read about.
http://www.bagheera.com/
In their notebook, have them list the species and take notes on each species' geographical range, habitat, and reasons for endangerment.

Discuss as a class the ways that human activities contribute to declining biodiversity.
What reasons did they write in their notebook?
What human impacts have students read about in this lesson?
What human impacts were they already aware of?
What human impacts do they think occur close to their homes?
Can these impacts be curtailed, or do people need to continue these activities?

Closing:
Have students brainstorm about things they can do to help protect endangered species. They should list as many ideas as they can think of.

Suggested Student Assessment:
Have each child choose one of its ideas and write a plan for how the class could carry the idea out. The plan may focus on one species or may be relevant to endangered species in general.
It must consist of an explanation of why the plan is a good one and what it will accomplish;
a list of the steps that would need to be taken;
a list of the species that will benefit from the plan;
and a description of the difficulties that might be associated with this plan (e.g. in what ways might this plan be difficult to carry out?).



Extending the Lesson:
Have students research Internet or print resources to find out about things that kids are already doing to help save endangered species. Which of these activities are similar to the ones your students devised? Which activities do they think would be the most effective in helping the animals they have learned about?

Wonderful Idea!!!
***Have students use the Internet, print resources, or a local conservation organization to find out about an endangered species near their home. Ask them to research the animal's range, habitat, and food sources and to find out about the human activities that are contributing to its endangerment. Have them write editorials for their local newspaper in which they describe this animal's situation and explain how people can modify their activities to help the animal.*** (Our next assignment.)


Related Links:
Bagheera: A Web Site for Endangered Species
Environmental Protection Agency
National Geographic: Xpeditions Activity—Preserving Biodiversity
World Wildlife Fund