Endangered Species: A Differentiated Unit

This is a unit built for 3-6th grader gifted students (could be used for regular education, as well) on Endangered Species. It works through the vocabulary, environmental issues, what students can do to help, and student initiated animal projects. Much of the unit is differentiated with the exception one lesson.

Lesson Plan Overview

Lesson 1: Preserving Biodiversity Mission

In this introductory activity, students will work to identify and locate endangered and critically endangered animals. They will work to research and map out on a blank map each animal’s “ecoregion”. During this time, students will begin learning what biodiversity is, the importance of biodiversity, and preserving endangered species.

Lesson 2: People and Endangered Species

This lesson provides students with an overview of some endangered species and of the ways that human activities contribute to species endangerment. When studying these topics, it is important to provide students with a sense of optimism and to help them figure out ways they can help protect species. Students will be asked to devise their own species protection plans.

Lesson 3: Who’s Afraid of the Reintroduced Wolf?

In this lesson, students investigate the impacts of the reintroduction of animal species to the animals’ natural habitats, the animals themselves and humans.

Lesson 4: Entry Points Approach

In this lesson, students are asked to complete one item from at least three different entry points, so there is a total of three (or more) completed pieces of work. They are to work alone for many of these, but some (i.e. debate) will need to have partners in order to complete that element.

Lesson 5: Final Project

During this lesson, students will be working either independently or in small groups to research an endangered animal. They would need to find out the current population, where they could be found, what is happening to cause their endangerment, and what is being done to reduce the loss of this creature. I would give them multiple options to show their learning and research on their endangered species.

Please let me know what you think and if there are any ways that it can be improved!

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