Date: May 27, 1997

Grade Level(s): 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Subject(s):

• Science/Animals
• Science/Technology

Objectives:

The student will be able to:

  1.  identify species that are designated as "endangered".
  2.  identify the physical and behavioral characteristics of selected species.
  3.  work in a group to suggest solutions to the problem.
  4.  create a multimedia project using Multimedia Workshop to showing
  how adaptations can help endangered species.

Resources/Materials:

Illustrations of animals that have been designated as endangered from magazines or other sources would be helpful for suggestions and motivation.

PC Computers on a network with Multimedia Workshop to create multimedia presentations.

Color scanner to scan pictures of endangered animals from magazines and books.

Internet connection for research on endangered animals.

Activities and Procedures:

  1.  Introduce the lesson by selecting an endangered animal and   identifying its physical and behavioral characteristics.  Discuss the factors   that the students feel have contributed to causing this animal to be designated  an "endangered".

  2.  Discuss with the class to attempt to adapt the selected animal in ways   that the students think will improve its chances for survival.

  3.  Allow the students to work individually or in groups to follow the   same procedure:

• a.  select an animal
• b.  research the animal using books, magazines, reference materials, and the Internet to learn about the animal
• c.  identify its characteristics
• d.  divide the research into the following categories:
   1.  physical features
   2.  behaviors
   3.  habitat
   4. reproduction
   5.  diet
   6.  factors causing endangerment
• e.  discuss with students techniques to adapt the animal
• f.  have students create and present an eight screen multimedia

   presentation about the animal they chose.  They should include a
   title screen, one screen per category, and a bibliography screen.
   Students may incorporate text, graphics, scanned images, and
   sound into their presentation.
• g.  students present their presentation to the class.

 Assessment: You could evaluate their presentations