This lists the logos of programs or partners of NG Education which have provided or contributed the content on this page.
In collaboration with
Students explore drivers of extinction, human and environmental, found within specific ecosystems of Earth’s major biomes by investigating habitat destruction caused by forces like climate change, parasites, greenhouse gases, and natural disasters. Teams seek solutions to mitigate habitat loss and prevent extinction, and incorporate key findings into their culminating conservation pamphlets.
DIRECTIONS
Engaging in the Fight Against Extinction Unit Driving Question: How can we, as planetary stewards, take an active role in saving species from extinction?
The Sixth Mass Extinction? Lesson Driving Question: How have humans impacted the Earth for better and for worse?
- Display the photograph at the start of the Hurricane Katrina Explained article which shows the combined human and environmental impacts on the environment.
- Guide students in an analysis of the photograph by asking:
- What is the first thing you notice in this photograph?
- What destructive elements of this environment have been caused by humans, and what destructive elements have been caused by nature?
- Should elements like the homes be considered destruction? Why or why not?
- How are these destructive elements impacting animals and people living in the area?
- Share with students the Drivers of Extinction lesson driving question: Why is it important to prevent species extinction?
- Solicit responses from students.
- Select and share key facts from this activity’s Background Information section being sure to address both human and environmental drivers of extinction to support student understanding of both types of drivers of extinction.
- Initiate question generation by asking: What else do we need to know in order to really understand why it is important to prevent species extinction?
- In their research teams, have students generate a Drivers of Extinction Know and Need to Know chart to help them respond to this question. Have teams share with the class the question from the list that they are most curious to answer in this lesson.
- Provide a quick overview of the difference between environmental and human factors and ask students to pay close attention to examples of each while watching the video.
- As a class, watch the Climate 101: Oceans video (2:38). After watching the video, have student teams discuss the following questions:
- What did you notice in the video that was an environmental factor influencing the ocean’s biome? (Possible answer: volcanic eruptions)
- What did you notice in the video that was an example of a human factor influencing the ocean’s biome? (Possible answers: greenhouse gas emissions causing the greenhouse effect because of more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.)
- Can environmental and human drivers overlap? Can a source be both a human and an environmental factor? If so, provide an example. (Possible answer: climate change is influenced heavily by human factors like greenhouse gas emissions, which fuel stronger and more frequent storms.)
- Have teams share out their responses. Chart responses on a board or chart paper for student reference.
- Distribute a copy of the Investigating an Endangered Species and its Biome handout to each student. Use student responses to demonstrate how students should record their information in Step 1 and Step 2 of the handout.
- Distribute copies of the relevant version (see below) of Biomes and Endangered Species Curated Resources to appropriate groups to prepare students to begin their research.
- Biomes and Endangered Species Curated Resources: Aquatic Biome
- Biomes and Endangered Species Curated Resources: Desert Biome
- Biomes and Endangered Species Curated Resources: Forest Biome
- Biomes and Endangered Species Curated Resources: Grassland Biome
- Biomes and Endangered Species Curated Resources: Tundra Biome
- In the next step, half of the research teams will be researching environmental drivers of extinction, and the other half will research human drivers of extinction specific to their biome and focal species.
- Suggest students begin with the first sources provided in the biome section and the species section of Biomes and Endangered Species Curated Resources and move onto additional resources if they need additional information or have extra time.
- Split research teams into two focus groups: human drivers of extinction and environmental drivers of extinction.
- Environmental drivers focus group: Using the appropriate resources, have students gather evidence of environmental drivers’ impact on their species and its biome and record their response in Step 1 of Investigating an Endangered Species and its Biome.
- Human drivers focus group: Using the appropriate resources, have students gather evidence of human impact on their species and its biome and record their response in Step 2 of Investigating an Endangered Species and its Biome. (While many environmental factors, such as increased storms and rising temperatures, are linked to human impact, students should still list these as environmental drivers.)
- In their research teams, have students choose a role for this portion of the activity. The roles are:
- Facilitator: Responsible for keeping the group on task and productivity flowing within the allotted time.
- Presenter and Fact Checker: Responsible for sharing the group’s information with the class and settling any fact disputes through additional research.
- Recorder: Responsible for writing the group’s ideas on group documentation.
- Bring focus groups back together to share their findings with their full research group so all students have recorded evidence of both human and environmental drivers of extinction.
- Remind students that their project will be suggesting an action that individuals can take to prevent the extinction of their group’s focal species. Have students look through their two lists to identify and highlight drivers of extinction that might be beneficial to include in their project pamphlets.
5. Guide students in debriefing the activity by adding to their Know and Need to Know chart based on their research.
- Have students return to their Drivers of Extinction Know and Need to Know charts started in Step 2 and add to it as necessary to represent their learning during the activity.
- As a class, discuss the most interesting and important things learned from their research today.
Informal Assessment
Investigating an Endangered Species and its Biome: Students will complete the environmental and human influences portion of their handout in this activity.
Students examine the real scientific questions that led to the discovery of keystone species and scientists’ better understanding of trophic cascades. Then, students follow the experimentation process of an ecologist researching biodiversity and how the eradication of one species can impact an entire ecosystem. Finally, students apply this knowledge to their selected biome research.
DIRECTIONS
Engaging In The Fight Against Extinction Unit Driving Question: How can we, as planetary stewards, take an active role in saving species from extinction?
Drivers of Extinction Lesson Driving Question: Why is it important to prevent species' extinction?
1. Prepare students for a take a stand activity about the importance of funding research for species that are on the brink of extinction.
- To begin, survey the class by asking: How many of you have ever seen a live sea star? and What do you know about sea stars?
- If not mentioned by a student, explain that a large portion of the sea star population has been mysteriously dying.
- Show the video Why Are So Many Starfish Dying? After watching, have students turn and talk to respond to the question: Why does it matter that sea stars are dying? Select a few students to share their partners’ ideas about the question.
- Tell students that a congressman from Olympia, Washington, wanted Congress to set aside $12 million to coordinate research among federal agencies and create a marine disease emergency fund that would accept public donations for efforts to address starfish wasting disease.
- Brainstorm with students how Congress currently spends money. (Possible answers: military, highways, Social Security, and schools.) Then ask: Should Congress take $12 million from the budget, or away from these other things, and prioritize sea star research?
- Identify one side of the room as the For side and the opposite side as Against. Have students move to the side of the room that represents their opinion.
- Once students are on their self-selected side, have them pair up with another student in the group to discuss their reasoning.
- Call on several students who are for and ask for their reasoning, and then do the same for students who are against.
2. Students watch a video on trophic cascades and keystone species.
- Distribute a copy of the Keystone Species and Trophic Cascades handout to each student. As a class, watch this video from Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others: Keystone Species and Trophic Cascades (19:28). Have students complete the handout while watching the video.
- After watching the video, have students revisit the original question: Should Congress take $12 million from the budget and prioritize sea star research?
- Again, have students choose the side of the room that represents their opinion, for or against, now that they’ve seen the video. Count the number of students on each side of the room.
- Call on several students who changed their minds to explain what information helped them change their thinking.
3. Students use what they learned to describe the impact of the loss of their species on other species and the biome.
- Have students read the Role of Keystone Species in an Ecosystem article at the appropriate reading level.
- Using this reading and their notes from Keystone Species and Trophic Cascades, ask students to determine the role of their species in the biome (such as predator, herbivore, keystone mutualist, umbrella species). Have research teams meet and discuss the role of their species and predict the potential impact of the loss of their species.
- Students record their ideas in Step 3 of their Investigating an Endangered Species and its Biome handout.
- Based on what they have learned, direct teams to respond to the lesson driving question: Why is it important to prevent species' extinction?
- Instruct teams to discuss the question and compile their responses on a piece of chart paper that is titled with the driving question.
- Have one person from each team share their responses with the class.
Informal Assessment
Investigating an Endangered Species and its Biome: Review the investigation document as students are working or by collecting at the end of class to ensure that students are gathering the type of information that will lead them to understand their species’ place in the food web, drivers causing the species’ demise, and the potential consequences of the species loss, as well as ideas for preventative measures.
Extending the Learning
Civics Extension: Look at information about the federal budget and what $12 million looks like relative to everything else. How much do we spend on the military? Health care? Education? Is $12 million "a lot"?
Students research organizations that are working to preserve species or the environment and the types of actions that these groups take. Then, students develop research-based action steps critical to protecting a certain species.
DIRECTIONS
Engaging In The Fight Against Extinction Unit Driving Question: How can we, as planetary stewards, take an active role in saving species from extinction?
Drivers of Extinction Lesson Driving Question: Why is it important to prevent species' extinction?
1. Ask students to brainstorm examples of ways that people take action to protect the environment.
- Project the key image or another image of people taking action to protect the environment. As a class, brainstorm ways that individuals take action to protect the environment.
- Have student teams discuss the following:
- Which of these actions might benefit your focal species?
- Would these actions on their own be enough to save your focal species and their biome?
2. Engage students in a guided reading of an article to build a strong case for conservation advocacy.
- Provide students with access to Half of All Land Must Be Kept in a Natural State to Protect Earth, and read it aloud.
- As you read, stop frequently and ask students to identify examples of how citizens and organizations work together to act as environmental advocates.
- Lead a discussion to address the following questions:
- Why does this article suggest that global leaders should care about protecting the land outside of their own countries?
- What kinds of things can happen over time if action is or is not taken toward climate stabilization?
- What are some local and global actions that the article suggests?
- What are the different roles that people can have in taking those actions?
- What are some of the challenges and opportunities involved in taking those actions?
3. Engage students in further investigation into organizations that act as environmental advocates.
- Provide teams with the Planetary Heroes handout so they may take a deeper dive into one of the organizations listed and identify action steps organizations are taking to protect Earth.
- Instruct each member within the research team to select and read about a different organization.
- Upon completion of their reading, each student creates a Planetary Hero trading card on a 3x5 index card or cardstock that identifies the organization, its logo, its mission, and two to three examples of how it advocates for the environment or specific species.
4. Have student research teams discuss their findings and develop research-based action steps critical to preventing extinction for their focal species.
- Prompt students to share their trading cards with their research teammates, highlighting the types of actions their selected organization takes to prevent extinction.
- Ask teams to review what they have learned so far in the unit about the risks facing their focal species. Have students identify the most critical risks and match those risks to specific actions that can be taken and record their thinking in Step 4 of Investigating an Endangered Species and its Biome.
- Prompt teams to collaborate to develop a group response to the unit’s driving question: How can we, as planetary stewards, take an active role in saving species from extinction?
- Invite teams to share their actions and identify actions they have in common with other groups.
- Return students’ attention to the whole-class generated Know and Need to Know chart from the Endangered Species and Their Biomes activity. Review the list with the class; strike questions that have been answered at this point and add information students have shared to the Know column.
Informal Assessment
Investigating an Endangered Species and its Biome: Monitor students’ responses to Step 4 for accuracy or to redirect research, if necessary.
Subjects & Disciplines
- Biology
- Conservation
-
Earth Science
- Climatology
- Geology
- Oceanography
- Geography
-
Social Studies
- Civics
- Economics
Objectives
Students will:
- Identify and evaluate the role of human and environmental drivers of extinction for their selected biome and species.
- Understand the cascading effects of a species' loss on other species.
- Analyze the impact of species loss in their selected biome.
- Evaluate potential human-based solutions to prevent the extinction of their focal species.
- Collaborate with group members to expand their understanding and make suggestions to prevent species extinction.
- Distinguish between environmental and human drivers of extinction and identify drivers of extinction for their focal biome and species.
- Identify various drivers of extinction and explain the driver’s effects on the focal biome and species.
Teaching Approach
- Project-based learning
Teaching Methods
- Brainstorming
- Discussions
- Multimedia instruction
- Reading
- Research
- Self-directed learning
- Writing
Skills Summary
This lesson targets the following skills:
-
21st Century Student Outcomes
- Information, Media, and Technology Skills
- Learning and Innovation Skills
- Life and Career Skills
- 21st Century Themes
-
Critical Thinking Skills
- Analyzing
- Applying
- Evaluating
- Remembering
- Understanding
- Geographic Skills
Connections to National Standards, Principles, and Practices
What You’ll Need
Required Technology
- Internet Access: Required
- Internet access: Required
- Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, 1 computer per learner, Monitor/screen, Printer, Projector, Speakers
Physical Space
- Classroom
Setup
- None
Grouping
- Heterogeneous grouping
- Large-group instruction
- Large-group learning
- Small-group learning
- Small-group work
Accessibility Notes
- None
Background Information
Human beings have been changing the Earth at an ever-increasing rate since the Industrial Revolution, partly due to an increase in population size, but there’s more to it than that. Advancements in agriculture have especially impacted biomes and habitats that many species call home. In fact, up to one million plant and animal species face extinction, many within decades, because of human activities. Without drastic action to conserve habitats, the rate of species extinction will undoubtedly increase. A trophic cascade is an indirect interaction in an ecosystem that happens when top predators limit their prey, which then has an effect at the next lower trophic level of the ecosystem. This often results in dramatic changes in an ecosystem’s structure and balance. For example, in a three-level food chain, an increase (or decrease) in carnivores causes a decrease (or increase) in herbivores and an increase (or decrease) in primary producers such as plants and phytoplankton.
Prior Knowledge
- None
Recommended Prior Lessons
Vocabulary
species at the top of the food chain, with no predators of its own. Also called an alpha predator or top predator.
ecological phenomenon in which a producer or primary consumer is removed from the environment.
series of events where the previous event causes the next event.
all weather conditions for a given location over a period of time.
management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect.
organism on the food chain that depends on autotrophs (producers) or other consumers for food, nutrition, and energy.
organism that breaks down dead organic material; also sometimes referred to as detritivores
any natural or human-induced factor that directly or indirectly sets a change to an ecosystem in motion.
no longer existing.
group of organisms linked in order of the food they eat, from producers to consumers, and from prey, predators, scavengers, and decomposers.
idea that the number of herbivores must be controlled by both the bottom up and the top down for producers, plant life, to survive.
an event occurring naturally that has large-scale effects on the environment and people, such as a volcano, earthquake, or hurricane.
animal that hunts other animals for food.
animal that is hunted and eaten by other animals.
organism on the food chain that can produce its own energy and nutrients. Also called an autotroph.
ecological phenomenon in which a top predator is removed from the environment.
ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of predators from an environment.
For Further Exploration
Articles & Profiles
- National Geographic: Is the Gray Wolf Still Endangered? Depends on Who You Ask.
- Yellowstone Park: Wolf Reintroduction Changes Ecosystem in Yellowstone
- National Geographic: Is the Gray Wolf Still Endangered? Depends on Who You Ask.
- Wildlands Network: Keystone Species and Trophic Cascades
- Newsela: West Coast Starfish Are Dying, But Why?
- Yellowstone Park: Wolf Reintroduction Changes Ecosystem in Yellowstone
Images
Instructional Content
Websites
Tips & Modifications
Modification
Step 3: Allow students to trade their cards with other groups to expand the number of actions that can be taken to prevent extinction.
Tip
Step 3: Prior to the activity, create a model of a trading card.
Tip
Step 3: Preview the organizations and support students in selecting organizations that are related to protecting the biome on which they are focused.
-
Engaging in the Fight Against Extinction
Students time travel through Earth’s mass extinctions unlocking the Anthropocene Epoch and the idea of human-driven extinction. By researching vulnerable species and their biomes, students discover potential consequences of the species’ extinction and propose steps to prevent it. Teams design conservation pamphlets promoting endangered species, and suggest action steps to protect the species and the planet.
-
Causes and Effects of Extinction
Students explore drivers of extinction, human and environmental, found within specific ecosystems of Earth’s major biomes by investigating habitat destruction caused by forces like climate change, parasites, greenhouse gases, and natural disasters. Teams seek solutions to mitigate habitat loss and prevent extinction, and incorporate key findings into their culminating conservation pamphlets.
-
The Sixth Mass Extinction?
Students collaboratively investigate our planet’s five mass extinctions and the possibility of a sixth mass extinction. Then, students explore the Anthropocene Epoch’s cultural and environmental complexities and impacts before selecting a biome and endangered species that exist within it to be the focus of their research throughout the rest of the unit. They predict how human activity has impacted these biomes and species. This lesson is part of the Engaging in the Fight Against Extinction unit.
-
Engaging in the Fight Against Extinction
Students time travel through Earth’s mass extinctions unlocking the Anthropocene Epoch and the idea of human-driven extinction. By researching vulnerable species and their biomes, students discover potential consequences of the species’ extinction and propose steps to prevent it. Teams design conservation pamphlets promoting endangered species, and suggest action steps to protect the species and the planet.
-
Causes and Effects of Extinction
Students explore drivers of extinction, human and environmental, found within specific ecosystems of Earth’s major biomes by investigating habitat destruction caused by forces like climate change, parasites, greenhouse gases, and natural disasters. Teams seek solutions to mitigate habitat loss and prevent extinction, and incorporate key findings into their culminating conservation pamphlets.
-
The Sixth Mass Extinction?
Students collaboratively investigate our planet’s five mass extinctions and the possibility of a sixth mass extinction. Then, students explore the Anthropocene Epoch’s cultural and environmental complexities and impacts before selecting a biome and endangered species that exist within it to be the focus of their research throughout the rest of the unit. They predict how human activity has impacted these biomes and species. This lesson is part of the Engaging in the Fight Against Extinction unit.