This lesson was submitted by

Linda Mados, Library Media Specialist, Upper Greenwood Lake School

Endangered Animal

Library                                                                 Elementary Grades

Lesson Summary:

Students will select an endangered animal to investigate: to learn about the characteristics of the species, why it is endangered, and what can be done to save it from extinction.

Objectives:

Materials:

Reference books

Encarta Multimedia Encyclopedia

Internet locations:

          www.nwf.org

          www.wwf.org

          www.amnh.com

          http://eelink.net/EndSpp/endangeredspecies

Procedures:

1.      Discuss exactly what it means to be an "endangered animal."

2.     Offer the class a listing of some endangered animals.

3.     Have each student select one.

4.     Hand out the worksheet "Fact Sheet" (for primary grades) or "Endangered" (for intermediate grades).

5.     Have half the class research using reference books and the other half use Encarta.

6.     Have students use one Internet location to research for their report.

7.     Have the students list their sources.

Fact Sheet

Directions: Write a fact sheet about an endangered species. Include the following information:

 

Species’ name and characteristics

 

 

 

 

Why is it endangered?

 

 

 

 

 What is being done to help save it?

 

 

 

 

 

What can you do to help?

 

 

 

 

Illustration of species

 

 

 

 

 

Endangered

Directions: Select an endangered animal to investigate. Using a variety of non-fiction resources, report the following information about the species.

 

Name of species

Scientific name

Species description

 

 

 

Where found

 

 

 

 

Reason endangered

 

 

 

 

 

Answer the following questions.

1.      What will be the consequences of the disappearance of this species?

2.     How will these consequences affect you?

3.     What alternative to extinction of the species is available?

4.     What contributions does the animal make ecologically? Economically? Medicinally? Aesthetically?