Introduction

This lesson was developed as part of the science and language arts curriculum for Illinois School District #146. 

The lesson asks students to choose  an endangered specie and research its habitat and characteristics. In pairs, students will complete an activity sheet (goes with their research), a written proposal, and a presentation.

Learners

This lesson is anchored in seventh grade language arts and science. 

Students will need to have background knowledge of food webs, and general environmental science concepts. They will also need basic knowledge of writing and oral presentation.

Curriculum Standards

Language Arts Standards

1.C.3c Compare, contrast and evaluate ideas and information from various sources and genres. 
1.C.3d Summarize and make generalizations from content and relate them to the purpose of the material.
 3.C.3b Using available technology, produce compositions and multimedia works for specified audiences. 
4.A.3c Restate and carry out multistep oral instructions.
4.B.3a Deliver planned oral presentations, using language and vocabulary appropriate to the purpose, message and audience; provide details and supporting information that clarify main ideas; and use visual aids and
contemporary technology as support.
4.B.3b Design and produce reports and multimedia compositions that represent group projects.
4.B.3c Develop strategies to manage or overcome communication anxiety and apprehension (e.g., sentence outlining, note cards).
5.A.3a Identify appropriate resources to solve problems or answer questions through research.
5.A.3b Design a project related to contemporary issues (e.g., real world, math, career development, community service) using multiple sources.
5.B.3a Choose and analyze information sources for individual, academic and functional purposes.
5.C.3a Plan, compose, edit and revise documents that synthesize new meaning gleaned from multiple sources.
5.C.3b Prepare and orally present original work (e.g., poems, monologues,reports, plays, stories) supported by research.
5.C.3c Take notes, conduct interviews, organize and report information in oral, visual and electronic formats.

Science Standards
1.A.3f Interpret and represent results of analysis to produce  findings. 
11.A.3g Report and display the process and results of a scientific investigation.
11.B.3e Evaluate the test results based on established criteria, note sources of error and recommend improvements. 
11.B.3f Using available technology, report the relative success of the design based on the test results and criteria.
12.B.3b Compare and assess features of organisms for their adaptive, competitive and survival potential (e.g., appendages, reproductive rates, camouflage, defensive structures).
 
 

The Process 

1. You will be assigned a partner to work with.
2. Go to http://www.endangeredspecie.com/specieprofile.htm
and choose an endangered specie to research.
3. Answer the following questions (hint: divide    them up between the two of you) on the activity sheet provided.

• What is an endangered species?
• What specie did you choose?
• In what area of the world does your specie live? Describe its habitat in detail.
• What things does your specie need to survive.
• What does it eat? How does it fit into the food web (what level is it)?
• What factors are causing this specie to be considered endangered?
• What can be done to help this specie survive? This is the question you will be basing your proposal on, so be specific and realistic!

Resources Needed

• Access to a computer lab and the internet.
• Prentice Hall Environmental Science Book (optional)
• Access to the following web sites:

General information web sites: 
http://endangeredspecie.com
http://eelink.net/EndSpp/
http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/species.cfm
http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/Endangered/index.html

Statistics of endangered species in United States:
http://endangered.fws.gov/

List of threat types:
http://www.redlist.org/info/Threat_types.html

Reasons why species are at risk:

• http://www.cbc4kids.cbc.ca/general/the-lab/endangered/default.html

• Your behavior in the computer lab and the activity sheet will be graded by your science teacher. Your grade will be based on completed answers and knowledge of chosen specie. This will be a shared grade between you and your partner. 
• Your written proposal and presentation will be graded by your language arts teacher. You will receive a complete rubric from your teacher explaining what you will be graded on. 

The Conclusion 
Congratulations on a job well done! You and your partner have proven to be experts in your field and  are more knowledgeable about endangered species and how to help them. Now it is your job to put this new found knowledge to good use and prevent specie extinction.