Can DNA fingerprinting prevent the extinction of elephants? Young scientists learn about DNA fingerprinting before applying their knowledge to case studies of elephant poaching. The first case requires them to match the DNA from a tusk...

An engaging unit on wildfires includes three sections, including a background section with eight lessons and five activities, a field experience section with 13 lessons and five activities, and a conclusion section featuring an analysis...

How do human habitats compare to animal habitats? Individuals begin their nature discovery by drawing their own habitats that extend beyond their houses. Pupils ensure their drawings include the four habitat elements of food, water,...

Am I going to catch it? Individuals time how long it takes them to walk, jog, and run a given distance and calculate their speed. They then research two animals and find their speeds. Using a chart, pupils compare the speeds of the...

Where would this animal like to live? Pupils choose an animal and write an ad to advertise that animal's habitat or home. For a little fun, learners create the newspaper ads to provide enough detail for classmates to guess what animal...

Learn about nature and health all in one set of lessons. Individuals use a scavenger hunt to record observations during a nature hike. They then complete activities to categorize their observations and rate the health of the habitat for...

What exactly are those glowing eyes in the night? Learners run an experiment to attract local wildlife and then document the number of visitors by identifying their tracks. They then analyze the data to draw conclusions about the types...

After years of war and unrest, how quickly will nature recover? Started as a project to track lion populations, WildCam Gorongosa now tracks many species. Through hidden camera evidence, scientists know species are returning to the area....

The Maltese Cross Cabin, a frontier residence of Theodore Roosevelt, is a time capsule that commemorates Roosevelt's time in the Dakota territory. An explanatory video and response guide takes students on a virtual tour of the wooden...

Should cuteness be the top priority in wildlife conservation efforts? Science scholars ponder the process of determining how best to spend conservation dollars in an insightful video. The narrator discusses the strategy of conserving...

To sell or not to sell — that is the dilemma many Kenyan ranchers face. Young scholars research the economic decision these ranchers must consider. As agribusiness moves in, there are real threats to wildlife habitat, that learners take...

In 1980, in the tropical rainforests of Panama, scientists discovered 1,200 species of beetles living in and around just 19 trees, with most of the species new to science—that's biodiversity! In the activity, learners work in teams to...

When we think of endangered species, we often think of far away places and exotic animals, but one of the most endangered species on the planet right now lives in the Florida Keys. The lesson plan explains how geological change...

Is wildlife affected the same way by different electricity generation methods? Teams work together to research four electricity generation sources and their impacts on wildlife. The teams create a summary report and share their findings. 

This unit is so cool, you won't be able to "kelp" yourself! Intended for all grades, this science and activity guide for teachers offers a unique opportunity to understand kelp's role as a valuable ecological resource. Teachers and...

Take a walk on the wild side with a project about animal habitats. After kids observe a chosen animal in its home, they describe the animal's food and water sources, shelter, and how it raises its young. They then write a short fictional...

There was a situation in the Kaibab desert of Arizona during which the deer population exploded. Wildlife biologists examine historical data using a graphing calculator in order to learn about population growth, limiting factors, and...

Although a group presentation is not novel assignment, this one provides supporting resources: a newsletter introducing the project and a grading rubric. Each group is assigned a different biotic community in Arizona to research and...

Students apply knowledge of soil, environmental impacts, economics, multiple human demands, and use given data for a proposed scenario in making land use decisions. They debate land use issues and/or scenarios and discuss a case study.

Many factors that lead to conserving wildlife are covered on these slides.  The meanings and definitions are clear, and the specific topics covered are relevant and complete. This slideshow would be very useful to include in a science,...

Introduce the topic of sustainable development. Using Africa as an example, high schoolers will read about these types of projects and how they are protecting their wildlife in reserves. They analyze the role of globalization in these...

A resource provides a checklist of nine actions for pupils to take to do their part in supporting biodiversity. The list suggests more obvious actions such as supporting wildlife to less obvious ideas like learning about different...

Wildlife biologists take on one of six different roles in order to discuss the management of mountain lions in Arizona. A detailed handout is provided for each participant and a chart for stakeholders to take notes during the community...