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This activity is part of the Detours and Distractions: How Humans Impact Migration Patterns unit.
 
l. Activate students’ developing knowledge about human impacts on migration and create a Know & Need to Know chart to engage groups in setting research goals.

  • Distribute the Human Impacts Map Layer: Know & Need to Know Chart to each student.
  • Ask students to discuss the questions in their project groups and record their thoughts on their chart:
      • What do we already know about how our animal’s migration pattern is impacted by humans?
      • What do we already know about solutions to these impacts?
      • What do we need to know about how our animal’s migration pattern is impacted by humans in order to create a human impact map layer?
      • What do we need to know about solutions to these impacts? Or, what do we need to know to create solutions to these impacts?

2. Prepare groups for their project work.
  • Explain that for the remainder of this activity, each group will research, gather, and organize information to create a final map layer showing how their focal animal’s migration is impacted by humans and explaining, illustrating, or describing at least one possible solution to this impact. This map layer should also include a key.
  • Remind students about the definition of stakeholders: a person with an interest or concern in something or one who is involved in or affected by a course of action.
  • Explain to students that as they are learning about human impacts on their animal's migrations and recommending solutions, they will list at least four stakeholders and explain what their stake is in the impact, solution, or animal migration.
  • Distribute the Human Impacts Map Layer Rubric and orient students so that they are familiar with the expectations before they begin their work.
 
3. Prepare groups to research and create the final migration map layer, the Human Impacts Map. (This step should take up the majority of the activity.)
  • Prompt students to gather all completed map layers and handouts from previous activities.
  • Help students choose and print the same map layer as their base map using MapMaker 1-Page Maps.
  • Set parameters for students on where they can do additional research. See the Background & Vocabulary tab for helpful sources.
  • Support and structure student research as needed based on how the previous project work sessions have gone.
  • While students are working, circulate to provide assistance and remind them of the required components.
      • Prompt for a key: What do all of the symbols and colors on your map mean?
      • Prompt for an understanding of the human impact on their animal’s migration pattern: How is your animal’s migration impacted by humans? How are you illustrating that on your map layer? Are these effects being seen now? How might these effects continue to get worse if no solution is provided?
      • Prompt for a list of stakeholders and descriptions of their stake: Who is responsible for this human impact? Who would be involved or affected by a solution? How would they be affected?
      • Prompt for an explanation of at least one solution to the human impact on the animal’s migration pattern: What are some ways that your focal animal’s migration pattern can be helped? Are these solutions already in place, or ones that you are coming up with? Is there evidence that these solutions are successful? How would you measure their success? How feasible are these solutions? Are there real-life examples of this happening and helping? How long do you think it might take for this proposed solution to help?
  • Collect group maps at the end of the activity to assess students' work and provide formative feedback. 
 

Rubric

The Human Impacts Map Layer Rubric can be used to assess each group’s Human Impacts Map Layer. All group maps should show how humans impact the animal, should have a key, and should describe at least one solution to the impact. To be successful, groups should also list and describe at least four stakeholders who have a stake in the human impacts or the solution. 

Extending the Learning

Solutions to human impacts on the environment influence multiple stakeholders. Hold a debate about a solution to a human impact and have different students or student groups act as different stakeholders. Different stakeholders can be local landowners, scientists, conservationists, native communities, business owners, and local communities.

Subjects & Disciplines

  • Biology
  • Conservation
  • Geography

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • Identify and describe at least four stakeholders that are involved with the human impact or solution.

Teaching Approach

  • Project-based learning

Teaching Methods

  • Discussions
  • Research
  • Self-directed learning

Skills Summary

This activity targets the following skills:

Connections to National Standards, Principles, and Practices

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.7:  Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2:  Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.7:  Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.8:  Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.

Next Generation Science Standards

What You’ll Need

Materials You Provide

  • Markers
  • Paper
  • Writing utensils
  • Scissors

Required Technology

  • Internet Access: Required
  • Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, 1 computer per pair, Printer

Physical Space

  • Classroom

Grouping

  • Small-group work

Background Information

Mapping animal migration is an important way to understand more about the animals, their movement pattern, and their global relationship. Additionally, creating and reading maps are important skills, and help students to simplify complex patterns and gain new perspectives. Spatial representations are important tools students can use to aid in memory and learning. Utilizing different maps (e.g., state, country, and world maps) not only help students learn geographical information, but help them to understand geographic perspective and scale.

 

Prior Knowledge

  • None

Recommended Prior Activities

Vocabulary

animal migration
Noun

process where a community of animals leaves a habitat for part of the year or part of their lives, and moves to habitats that are more hospitable.
detour
Noun

unplanned or temporary path.
distract
Verb

to divert or draw attention away from something.
effect
Noun

result or impact produced by an action.
evidence
Noun

data that can be measured, observed, examined, and analyzed to support a conclusion.
feasible
Adjective

possible.
focal
Adjective

central and important.
impact
Verb

to influence or have an effect on something.
key
Noun

an explanation of symbols and abbreviations used on a map, also known as a legend.
map
Noun

symbolic representation of selected characteristics of a place, usually drawn on a flat surface.
map layer
Noun

part of a map representing specific features of a place.
measure
Verb

to determine the numeric value of something, often in comparison with something else, such as a determined standard value.
migration pattern
Noun

predictable movements, in time and space, of a group of animals or people.
scale
Noun

distinctive relative size, extent, or degree.
solution
Noun

an answer to a problem.
stakeholder
Noun

person or organization that has an interest or investment in a place, situation, or company.

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  • Credits

    Media Credits

    The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

    Writer

    Kirinne Slaughter, M.S.

    Editor

    Gina Borgia, National Geographic Society

    Educator Reviewer

    Brian Bartel, Science Teacher, Technology Coach, Appleton Area School District

    Expert Reviewer

    Deirdre Doherty, PhD, Conservation Ecologist

    Director

    Tyson Brown, National Geographic Society

    Program Specialist

    Margot Willis, National Geographic Society

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