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Chapter 1

Endangered Species

Internet Resources

These links were chosen for their educational value and do not necessarily reflect the view of the author, or the United States Information Agency.

Classroom Activities and Lessons

Pre-fabricated lesson plans and activities intended for classroom use; can be adapted for different age groups and language proficiency levels:

• http://www.thewildones.org/Curric/curricLib.html#class
  Animal Neighbors: A Study of Biodiversity
  Data-collection project to make learners aware of the biodiversity of their own environment. It can be done in any number of ways depending on the age and sophistication of the students.
• http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/990205friday.html
  Answering the Call of the Wild
  Lesson plan in which learners investigate the reintroduction of species into their natural habitats and research a species that is near extinction. Learners then create an informational poster and write a paper that explains the importance of preserving the endangered species.
• http://www.seaworld.org/endangered_species/esactivity.html
  Got the Whole World in My Hands
  Activity to review factors that threaten the survival of endangered species.
• http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/nature/calendar.html
  Nature Calendar
  Activity using reference materials to locate information by making a nature calendar.
• http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/981006tuesday.html
  Tilman's Ecosystem Survival Kit
  Lesson plan to explore the relationship between species and how they survive and coexist in their specific environments. Students read and discuss pertinent facts in a New York Times article and then conduct their own research project on a specific ecosystem.
• http://www.mightymedia.com/edunet/orgs/result.cfm?CID=3&CurriculumID=15
  The Web of Life
  Activity to increase awareness of the interdependency of life forms.

Materials with Explicit Suggestions for Classroom Use

• http://www.bagheera.com/inthewild/classroom.htm
  Bagheera's In the Wild: General Activities for Students
  A selection of 40 activities that apply generally to threatened, endangered, and extinct species. Many involve the use of case studies. Some require students to do independent research. A large bibliography provides references to get students started on research.
• http://www.countryschool.com/engnatur.htm
  English Naturally
  A guide for teaching English through projects in the natural environment. Includes a list of suggested projects and a set ofguidelines for developing and carrying them out.
  
  

Exploitable Content

Content to create theme-related lessons:

• http://eelink.net/EndSpp.old.bak/factsheet.html
  Fact sheets and News Releases on Threatened and Endangered Species
  This site provides a variety of readings about more than 140 endangered plant and animal species around the world.
• http://www.amnh.org/Exhibition/Expedition/Endangered/index.html
  Endangered Animals
  Illustrated case histories of endangered animal species around the world.
• http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/endangered/index.html
  American Museum of Natural History - Expedition: Endangered!
  Online exhibition featuring dioramas, case histories, and other readings about endangered animal species and their habitats.
• http://www.nwf.org/nwf/endangered/kids/g7kidsdo.html
  Eight Things Kids Can Do to Help Protect Endangered Species and Their Habitats
  Eight ideas for getting younger learners actively involved in protecting endangered species and their habitats.
• http://www.defenders.org/eslc.html
  Endangered Species Learning Center
  Photos and fact sheets of endangered animal species around the world.
• http://www.epa.gov/region07/kids/endspe1.htm
  Endangered Species Matching Game
  A name and picture matching game.
• http://www.vpservices.com/vps/nwf/games/tour/end.htm
  Endangered Species Quiz
  A short multiple choice quiz on basic information about endangered plants and animal species.
• http://www.nwf.org/games/index.html
  National Wildlife Federation Games Page
  Quizzes, riddles, matching puzzles and other games focusing on animal species. Of particular interest to younger learners.
• http://www.rice.edu/armadillo/Schools/Hisdzoo/frames.html
  Endangered Species Zoo Activities
  Activity sheets on habitat types, continents, and how animals become endangered from different types of habitat destruction. The activities can be done at any zoo location.
• http://www.wcmc.org.uk/species/data/species_sheets/
  Species Under Threat
  Detailed descriptions of 140 threatened or endangered mammal, bird and marine species--from African elephants to yellow-eyed penguins.

Official Documents

To provide background information and create materials:

• http://www.wcmc.org.uk/CITES/english/text.htm
  Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
  Full text of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (known as CITES), an international agreement banning commercial international trade in an agreed list of endangered species.
• http://www.sw-center.org/swcbd/activist/esatext.html
  Endangered Species Act
  Full text of the current version of the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

  
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