Lesson Plan #9
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Endangered Species: A Science
Lesson
GRADE LEVEL
Grades 7 to 12
CURRICULUM
Language Arts, Journalism, Science
OVERVIEW OF LESSON PLAN
Students explore wildlife conservation by investigating animal
species that are near extinction due to their value as commodities.
Students defend the protection of an endangered species researched
in class by creating an informational poster and by writing a
profile or feature article that explains the importance of preserving
their selected species.
Online journalism is a valuable tool for your students to
express their views on endangered species and how Canadians can
help protect these species. Through SchoolNet News Network (SNN)'s
online website: www.stemnet.nf.ca teachers and student can learn
more about journalism/writing skills, and have a safe, structured
environment for students to publish their writing.
MATERIALS AND PREPARATION
ACTIVITIES/PROCEDURES
1. WARM-UP/DO-NOW: In their journals, students
respond to the following questions (written on the board prior
to class):
- What may cause the extinction of a species of animal or plant?
- What examples can you think of in which humans sell wild
animals or parts of wild animals, and how does this affect the
possible extinction of that species?
- How else do the needs of humans sometimes conflict with the
survival needs of wild animal species?
Students then share their responses.
2. As a class, discuss the issue of endangered species in
Canada (list attached) focussing on the following questions:
- What do biologists predict might save these species from
extinction?
- In what ways could these species be preserved?
- What do humans do to endanger natural habitats of other living
creatures?
- How do activities such as mining, pollution, agriculture,
and recreation impact the natural habitats of various species?
3. Divide students into pairs or groups of three, and
allow each group to select an animal species that is nearing
extinction. Using available resource materials, students research
their animal, answering the following questions:
- What is this animal's natural habitat, and where in the world
can this habitat be found?
- What are the causes of this animal's endangerment?
- In what ways is this animal used as a commodity?
- What actions have been taken towards the conservation of
this species?
4. WRAP-UP/ HOMEWORK: The student is to
write a news or feature article that explains the importance
of preserving this species and the consequences of a species
becoming extinct.
Their article should answer the 5 W's: Who, What, When, Where,
Why (and sometimes How). Tell them about the inverted pyramid.
This means that articles should be written with the most important
information first and the least important last. Students should
also review the SNN Writing Guide on writing an article. Articles may be
read aloud. Also, as
a class, students can design several posters about endangered
species - photos, titles and small paragraph about the species.
Posters can be displayed in the classroom.
EVALUATION/ASSESSMENT:
Students will be evaluated based on written journal response,
participation in classroom discussions, research poster about
an animal nearing extinction, and feature/profile report about
causes of endangerment and actions toward conservation.
EXTENSION ACTIVITY
Study plants and insects that are becoming endangered.
Why are they becoming endangered? What impact do these plants
and insects have on the environment and on the various ecosystems
in which they thrive? What impact might the extinction of these
living organisms have on their ecosystems?
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