Setting up the Activity in your Classroom:
There are three expeditions within the Endangered Ecosystems
online activity. As you plan your lessons, you may wish to print
out any reading assignment pages and staple them into a book for
individual students. Depending on time available, the grade level,
and maturity level of each class, activities can be facilitated
as independent work, collaborative group work, or whole class
instruction.
If a computer is available for each student, students can work
on their own. Hand out the URLs or write them on the board so
students will have a guide through the activity.
If you are working in a lab, set up the computers to be on the
desired Web site as students walk into class. If there are fewer
computers than students, group the students by reading level.
Assign each student a role: a "driver" who navigates
the web, a timer who keeps the group on task, and a note taker.
If there are more than three students per computer, you can add
roles like a team leader, a team reporter, etc.
If you are working in a learning station in your classroom, break
out your class into different groups. Have rotating groups working
on the computer(s), reading printed field sites and field reports,
holding smaller group discussions, researching and writing about
ocean life.
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Stimulate Background Knowledge with these
related links:
Web Links
National Geographic Xpeditions: Preserving Biodiversity
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/08/biodiversity.html
National Geographic gets students to map the location of endangered
species. Lesson plans for all grades included from K–2 Elementary
Ecosystems to grades 9–12 Can Captive Breeding Save Species.
Ecokids
http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/index.cfm
Students can find information on a variety of topics including
wildlife, energy, and the environment both with interactive content
and games.
PBS: Journey to Planet Earth
http://www.pbs.org/journeytoplanetearth/
Based on the TV series, this site offers a wealth of written material
as well as video clips. Topics include river life, urban growth,
agriculture, and ecosystems. More educational resources available.
The Bell Museum of Natural History: Build-A-Prairie
http://www.bellmuseum.org/mnideals/prairie/build/index.html
Use this interactive, step-by-step experience for students to
think about all the components that make a healthy ecosystem.
Users must pick the vegetation and animal life that creates a
healthy prairie.
World Wildlife Fund: Endangered Wildlife
http://www.worldwildlife.org/endangered/index.cfm
Learn about pandas, gorillas, whales, elephants and more with
in-depth articles and interactive activities as well as call to
action for kids.
AOL@School search
http://www.aolatschool.com/teachers/index.adp
Search for more ocean life teacher resources and student activities
by grade at AOL@School.
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Graphic Organizer Narrative:
Reading Comprehension: KWL : Grades 4–6
This Reading Comprehension:
KWL (PDF) helps students the organize information they gather
on endangered ecosystems The lesson culminates with a presentation
of their researched material in an oral presentation.
Source:
The Big Book of Reproducible Graphic Organizers by Jennifer Jacobson
and Dottie Raymer; Illustrated by Amy Redmond See Assessment and Evaluation.
Organizer Patterns: Venn Diagram: Grades 6–8
This organizing
Venn Diagram (PDF) helps students compare and contrast the
different endangered ecosystems. The lesson culminates with a
presentation of their researched material in a written report.
Source: Graphic Organizers by Karen Bromley, Linda Irwin-De Vitis,
and Marcia Modlo.
See Assessment and Evaluation.
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