Students research an animal native to Alabama that they would like to attract to the school’s outdoor classroom and the habitat resources that animal needs to survive. Then, they will explore the outdoor classroom to determine whether or not the resources needed are available in the school’s wildlife habitat.
Click on the orange links to access free educational materials: | |
Lesson Plans | ALSDE Standards Taught | |
Activity Page #1: Wildlife Habitat Checklist for Animal in OC (or as Word Doc) | |
Activity Page #2: Wildlife Habitat Checklist for Fowler's Toad (or as Word Doc) with Answer Page #2 | |
Outdoor Activity Materials: activity pages, clipboards, pencils, and copies of field identification guides |
Step 1: Engage through Discussion
|
|
Engage the students and capture their interests with an Interactive Q&A (or as PDF) that allows you to click through the questions one at a time. You can gauge your students' understanding of the topic as they answer the questions. Print and use the Q&A Info Sheet (or as Word Doc) to anticipate the next question in the Interactive Q&A and to guide the conversation with the students. (Note: For the PowerPoint (PPT), click "Slide Show" & "From Beginning" to display the questions and answers separately.) | |
Use these tools to continue the discussion:
|
Step 2: Explore with Literature
|
|||
As you read this book, you can further explore the topic and discuss your students' experiences and knowledge around the topic: Backyard Habitats by Bobbie Kalman (ISBN: 978-0778729853) |
Step 3: Explain with an Educational Video | |
Use these educational videos to help explain the topic in more detail: | |
Why Garden for Wildlife? (1:35 min.) @ http://sciencenetlinks.com/videos/why-garden-wildlife/ |
Science Trek: Habitat (4:48 min.) @ https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/idptv11. sci.life.eco.d4khab/habitat/#.WvCBw4gvw2w |
Step 4: Elaborate with a Field Investigation in the Outdoor Classroom | |
Students apply what they have learned as they investigate the topic in your outdoor classroom and record their real-world observations on their activity page: | |
Version #1: Wildlife Habitat Checklist: General Animal |
Version #2: Wildlife Habitat Checklist: Fowler's Toad |
Activity Tips
|
|
Version #1 – Wildlife Habitat Checklist: General Animal Activity Page: PDF (as is) / Word Doc (editable) Procedure
Outdoor Discovery:
Indoor Discussion:
Optional Extension:
|
|
Version #2 – Wildlife Habitat Checklist: Fowler's Toad Activity Page: PDF (as is) / Word Doc (editable) Indoor Discussion:
Outdoor Discovery:
Indoor Discussion:
Optional Extension:
|
|
Wildlife Identification Resources:
|
|
Step 5: Evaluate with an Assessment Activity | ||
Review and assess the students’ observations and answers on their observation pages:
Evaluate the students' understanding of the topic with the following assessment tools:
|
||
Questions? Contact us at oc@alabamawildlife.org.