Endangered Animals.

What is Endangered Animals?

Endangered species are those considered to be at risk of extinction, meaning that there are so few left of their kind that they could disappear from the planet altogether. Endangered species are threatened by factors such as habitat loss, hunting, disease and climate change, and usually, endangered species, have a declining population or a very limited range.

The current rate of extinction is thought to be far greater than the expected natural rate, with many species going extinct before they have even been discovered. Shockingly, current estimates suggest that a third of the world’s amphibians, a quarter of all mammals and one in eight birds are endangered.

Endangered species usually have a small or declining population size or a very limited range, meaning factors such as habitat loss, hunting, disease or climate change could cause them to disappear completely within our lifetimes.

Brainstorming Task!

Now, I want you to list 5-10 endangered animals that you know. After that, you can check your answers here: http://www.earthsendangered.com/list.asp

Now, let's do some activity!

1. Begin with the background information. This will help with your research for your persuasive presentation.

2. With a partner select 5 endangered animal from the list in the link. 

3. Partners will evenly divide the five topics listed and research information using the links below each animal.

The topics listed on your data sheet are: description and facts,habitat, threats, reasons for endangerment, and other critical information.

4. Working together partners will record information gathered on their data sheets. 

5. When all topics have been researched partners will prepare a presentation. In this presentation partners will give expert and persuasive information about their animal from the six topics researched. 

6. Both partners will participate in the presentation given to the class.

http://www.actwild.org.au/animals/

Evaluation

Students will complete a pre and post student survey as part of the evaluation of this project. The survey will focus on creativity, team cooperation, and scientific learning.

Student teams will be evaluated on three indicators:  content of research,  presentation, and teamwork.  The scoring guide below will be completed to evaluate each team. 
 

Conclusion

This WebQuest is designed to help students better understand the crisis of earth's ecosystem. Through research they will discover how human activities are threatening plant and wildlife at alarming rates. Perhaps with more attention given to our planet's crisis, we can all work together for a better tomorrow.

Teacher Information Page

Introduction

This lesson was developed as part of the Warrensburg, Missouri School District's WebQuest Academy project, a State funded Competitive Technology Grant and as part of the eMINTS project.

Students will select, research, and present information about endangered species.

 Learners

This WebQuest integrates curriculum areas in technology, science, and communication arts and to a lesser extent social studies. It is designed for fourth grade students but could be easily extended to additional grades.

Prior to beginning this WebQuest, class discussion of habitat, adaptations, climate, note-taking,and use of PowerPoint might be helpful.

Curriculum Standards

Communication Arts Standards Addressed

• Speaking and writing standard English
• Reading and evaluating nonfiction works and material
• Writing formally and informally
• Comprehending and evaluating the content and artistic aspects of oral and visual presentations
• Participating in formal and informal presentation and discussions of issues and ideas

Social Studies Standards Addressed

• Major elements of geographical study and analysis and their relationships to changes in society and environment
• Use of tools of social science inquiry

Science Standards Addressed

• Characteristics and interactions of living organisms
• Changes in ecosystems and interactions of organisms with their environments
• Impact of science, technology and human activity on resources and the environment

• 1.2 Conduct research to answer questions and evaluate information and ideas
• 1.4 Use technological tools and other resources to locate, select, and organize information
• 1.5 Comprehend and evaluate patterns and relationships in information, ideas, and structures
• 1.8 Organize data, information and ideas into useful forms for analysis or presentation
• 2.1 Plan and make written, oral and visual presentations for a variety of purposes and audiences
• 2.7 Use technological tools to exchange information and ideas
• 4.6 Identify tasks that require a coordinated effort and work with others to complete those tasks

Process

Please see students' process page.

This WebQuest is being piloted and this page is still underconstruction. Information will be added at a later date.

Resources Needed

• Specific software (PowerPoint, HyperStudio, or m-Power)
• Additional reference material in the classroom or school library might be helpful
• Additional sites useful to the teacherStudent research notebook
  • http://www.kidsplanet.org/
  • http://species.fws.gov
  • http://www.hyacinthmacaw.org/hyacinthmacaw.htm
  • http://endangered.fws.gov/i/a/saa4l.html
• Pre-post survey