 Through
a joint partnership, the Council for Environmental Education
(CEE) and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) produced
Science and Civics: Sustaining Wildlife Curriculum Guide
for Grades 9-12. Reaching out to the nation's teens as
up-and-coming stewards, the Guide involves students in grades
9-12 in environmental action projects that will benefit their
local wildlife community. The Guide is designed as an instructional
resource for educators who want to introduce students to hands-on
activities that encourage problem-solving and decision-making
skills about the environment they share with wildlife.
With
the activities provided in Science
and Civics: Sustaining Wildlife Curriculum
Guide for Grades 9-12, students will
see the results of their actions and gain confidence in the
fact that their actions make a difference. Working methodically
to achieve a positive result, students will develop a sense
of control and success.
Science
and Civics: Sustaining Wildlife Curriculum
Guide for Grades 9-12 contains activities and ideas tied
to wildlife education that are excellent for implementation
as service-learning projects. Some possible activities are
highlighted below:
Ecology
Begins at Home
Wildlife populations exist all around us. Most people are
aware that
some species native to their area
have decreased in numbers or
disappeared as the human community developed. In this
activity,
students describe how their local
community affects wildlife by
asking
students to think about their own neighborhoods and how
their own actions help or harm the wildlife that live there.
Through teamwork, students will then begin
to answer questions such as: What might be the consequence
of no action? Is there
a place in the community (a garden a park, a natural area) that wildlife species
would find attractive? What would happen if the town government passed
a regulation that required
homeowners to stop mowing their
lawns? As an extension to the
exercise, students are given the
option of researching local regulations
and zoning laws, or inventory plant
and animal species in the school
yard or own back yard in search
of diversity.
Who Cares?
One stumbling block for many student projects is lack of community
support. Students are often
not aware that individuals and organizations in their community
may be interested in providing expertise or material aid. This
exercise helps students identify constituent groups in the community
and how they interact in order to maximize resource effectiveness.
Wild
Bill's Fate
In
this activity students study the legislative process while
investigating wildlife
issues. As students prepare to interview legislators, state
agencies, and other interest
groups, they need to prepare lists of questions
to be researched. Students will pay particular attention
to amendments and will
be asked to think about whether an amendment improves
or hampers the intent of their bill. Students may also contact
individuals such as the
person who introduced the bill, a representative of
local business interests, and people "on the street" who
may not know about the
proposed legislation. Student teams then gather the information
on their bill, and report to the class periodically on the
status of the bill, the
bill's progress, and the issues affecting it.
Is
There Hardpan Underfoot?
Although water runoff is important in maintaining aquatic ecosystems, too much runoff can have detrimental effects. In this exercise, students measure and calculate an area of the school grounds or community property, calculate the and weight of water falling on the area, determine local annual rainfall and runoff, and determine the effect of impervious surfaces on wildlife and ecosystems.
Planning to Act
Based on research findings compiled in the "Caring to Act" activity, student teams will develop detailed action proposals, discuss their options, and ultimately develop a final student action project. A clear
action plan will be composed, including a list of tasks needed to accomplish their goal, a set of resources, and an assessment strategy for their project.
For more information about Science and Civics: Sustaining Wildlife, click on the link below:
Science and Civics
|
