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Students explore the root causes of extinction and the complexity of conservation efforts through a class-wide focal species, the Sumatran rhino. Students use videos, maps, and hands-on activities to learn about the challenges faced by the Sumatran rhino and the relationships it has with other species in its ecosystem. Then, small groups receive a target species assignment and become experts in the life history of those other species. Students then design one possible conservation strategy to protect their target species and prepare a grant proposal and funding pitch to try to gain support for their idea. After the unit, students can use their newfound knowledge to share their expertise with the community and support ongoing conservation efforts to protect endangered and threatened species locally or globally.
Use this unit at a glance to explore a brief outline of the materials included in this unit.
Unit Driving Question: How can we prevent a species from going extinct while also meeting the needs of humans and other local species
Students brainstorm what they know and need to learn about endangered species, in order to best answer the driving question for the unit. Students then engage with a variety of sources about the Sumatran rhino to learn about conservation concepts, including causes of extinction, food webs, and ecosystem services. This lesson is part of the Extinction Stinks! unit.
Students receive their target species and perform background research. Students learn about working with local populations to protect endangered species and read several conservation success stories. Students engage with two conservation storytellers and apply the power of storytelling to their target species. They then compare two grant proposals to prepare for writing their own proposals. This lesson is part of the Extinction Stinks! unit.
Students create a grant proposal for their chosen solution to submit to potential funders. In addition to a written proposal, students discuss best practices for delivering a presentation and create a brief pitch to share their ideas with a live audience. They then share their ideas in a final presentation and evaluate their learning in the unit. This lesson is part of the Extinction Stinks! unit.
confinement or imprisonment.
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.
set of standards or rules.
non-material benefits that humans obtain from ecosystems, e.g., sense of home, mental and physical health, tourism, spiritual experience, etc.
organism that breaks down dead organic material; also sometimes referred to as detritivores
fictional or nonfictional narrative told through the use of media such as photos, maps, video, and audio recordings.
difference or variety of units of inheritance (genes) in a species.
pregnancy, or the period from conception until birth.
money given to a person or group of people to carry out a specific project or program.
process of applying to a person, business, or other organization for money or other funding.
environment where an organism lives throughout the year or for shorter periods of time.
separation from other people, habitats, or communities.
present an idea or information in such a way as to gain support from one’s audience, usually in the form of a short speech or presentation, which is referred to by the same word (pitch, noun).
organism on the food chain that can produce its own energy and nutrients. Also called an autotroph.
material benefits humans obtain from ecosystems, e.g., food, water, lumber, fiber, etc.
ways in which ecosystems regulate fluctuating factors in the environment, such as disease, climate, water cycles, nutrient cycles, etc.
group of similar organisms that can reproduce with each other.
native, geographic area in which an organism can be found. Range also refers to the geographic distribution of a particular species.
benefits provided by ecosystems that are indirectly supportive of other types of ecosystem services, e.g., providing habitat, nutrient cycling, maintaining genetic diversity, etc.
organism that may soon become endangered.
point in a process that must be met to start a new stage in the process.
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Learn at Home: Grades 6-12
Fostering curiosity and a passion for lifelong learning, this curated collection of activities can be adapted for students in grades 6-12 in a remote learning environment. Explore the planet through interactives and short lessons or take a deeper dive into a subject area with a complete unit.
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Big Cats
Lions, tigers, and other big cats occupy a special place in the human imagination as beautiful, graceful, and dangerous. But these top predators have more to fear from humans than humans do from them. Many of these once-prolific species are endangered from poaching, territory loss, and climate change. Learn about these vital creatures through the resources in this collection.
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Drivers of Extinction
Students explore drivers of extinction across Earth’s major biomes, including human-to environment interactions that threaten biodiversity, and seek solutions to mitigate habitat loss and prevent extinction. As a result, they develop research-based action steps critical to protecting a certain species and incorporate key findings into their culminating conservation pamphlets. This lesson is part of the Engaging in the Fight Against Extinction unit.
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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.
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Conservation
Conservation is the act of protecting Earth’s natural resources for current and future generations.
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Learn at Home: Grades 6-12
Fostering curiosity and a passion for lifelong learning, this curated collection of activities can be adapted for students in grades 6-12 in a remote learning environment. Explore the planet through interactives and short lessons or take a deeper dive into a subject area with a complete unit.
-
Big Cats
Lions, tigers, and other big cats occupy a special place in the human imagination as beautiful, graceful, and dangerous. But these top predators have more to fear from humans than humans do from them. Many of these once-prolific species are endangered from poaching, territory loss, and climate change. Learn about these vital creatures through the resources in this collection.
-
Drivers of Extinction
Students explore drivers of extinction across Earth’s major biomes, including human-to environment interactions that threaten biodiversity, and seek solutions to mitigate habitat loss and prevent extinction. As a result, they develop research-based action steps critical to protecting a certain species and incorporate key findings into their culminating conservation pamphlets. 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.
-
Conservation
Conservation is the act of protecting Earth’s natural resources for current and future generations.