GRADE: ESAM: K-2

CONTENT STANDARD: Life Science

CONTENT TOPIC: Animals

CONCEPT: Needs of animals must be met for them to survive.

CONTENT OBJECTIVE: E7.00 To recognize that certain animals are in danger of extinction

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES: The learner will:

7.01 define the term "endangered."
7.02 identify some of the reasons why certain animals are in danger of extinction.
7.03 describe ways people can help animals survive.

I. Endangered
A. Meaning - in danger of becoming extinct or dying out
B. Animal examples
1. Endangered - whales, turtles, tigers, buffalo, leopards, elephants, bald eagles, condors
2. Extinct - dodo birds, dinosaurs, passenger pigeons
II. Why are the animals endangered or extinct?
A. Whales - killed for whale oil, meat, bone
B. Turtles - shells and food
C. Tigers - sport, skins (leopards also)
D. Elephants - ivory tusks
E. Buffalo - hides, sport
F. Bald eagle habitat destruction, use of DDT
G. Dodo bird - habitat destruction
H. Condor - habitat destruction
I. Others - feathers and fur
III. Ways people can help endangered animals
A. Wildlife refuge
B. Laws
1. Hunting
2. Fishing
C. Zoos' breeding programs
D. Respect their rights, too
E. Careful use of insecticides and other poisons

TN COMPONENT OF SCIENCE: Unifying Concepts of Science

TN GOAL:

To enable students to acquire scientific knowledge by applying concepts, theories, principles and laws from life/environmental, physical, and earth/space science.

2.4 INTERACTIONS - At all levels of living and non-living systems, matter and energy act and react to determine the nature of our environment.

2.4b Interactions of matter and energy shape our world.

BENCHMARK: Changes that occur in an environment may affect both living or non-living things.

TIME REQUIRED:

One hour or perhaps two 45-minute sessions

Pictures of endangered animals, tortoise shell, ivory, fur coat advertisements; slates and chalk for each student, poster board, mimeograph sheets (Review - closure)

Has anyone here ever seen a real live dodo bird? (response) How about a dinosaur? (response) That's right, no one has. They NO LONGER EXIST. They are extinct. There aren't anymore anywhere. Do you think it is possible that other animals might die out and never be seen again? (Yes) Many animals are "endangered". Today we are going to find out exactly what endangered means and what animals are endangered, and some reasons why. Is there something we can do to help? (response)

"Endangered" means in danger of dying out completely. Does anyone know of an endangered animal? (response) Have you read about any lately? (Whales, turtles, tigers, leopards, buffalo, elephants, bald eagles, condors, etc.) Some animals, like the dodo birds, dinosaurs, and passenger pigeons are gone forever. (Hold up a poster or picture of each animal as you discuss it.) Why do you think the whale is endangered? (response) It was killed for whale oil, meat and bone. Turtles have been killed for their shells, food, and some folks like turtle eggs. What do you call something made from the shell? (Tortoise shell Try to have an example to show.) Tigers and leopards have been killed for their skins and for sport. What are their skins used for? (Show fur coat advertisement.) Raise your hand if you have ever seen a buffalo. (Elicit that we have some buffalo at the Land Between the Lakes.) Explain that buffalo once existed in herds of thousands, but became endangered by hunting for food, hides and sport. What does an elephant have that he is killed for? (Tusks) Show examples of ivory if possible.) Some animals are endangered because we have destroyed their habitat or used insecticides that made their eggshells too thin for the babies to live. Can you think of animals we kill out of fear? (Snakes, spiders) Could they become endangered? (Yes)

Can we help animals that are already endangered? (Yes) What can we do? (Elicit:

1. Setting up wildlife refuges with Reelfoot Lake and Land Between the Lakes being good examples,

2. Making and enforcing hunting, fishing and trapping laws that limit or prohibit killing animals and that set less harmful harvesting, discuss local regulations,

3. Zoo breeding programs where the young live in a protected environment,

4. Leave animals alone,

5. Use insecticides and other poisons carefully.)

On slates with chalk, write in your own words what endangered means. (Have slates held up, one row at a time, for a quick check. Read aloud any particularly good ones.) Write names of two endangered animals. (Check the held-up slates quickly, asking individuals to tell orally what makes the animal endangered.) Write one extinct animal. (Check) List two ways people can help endangered animals. (Check)

(Make a chart and list five animals in each category.

1. Useful animals that people raise.

2. Wild animals that people hunt.

3. Endangered animals.)

(Make a poster to let people know about one endangered animal.)

Review. (Teacher needs to make mimeograph copies.) Find the missing letters for each term. Write a sentence using each term.
1. _n_an_e_ed
2. e _t_nc_.

Write the letter of the term that goes with the animal. (Not all terms will be used.)

1. sheep 2. whale 3. cattle 4. elephant 5. pig

a. ivory__ b. fur__ c. bacon__ d. wool__ e. down__ f. beef__ g. blubber__

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