Have You Seen My Thylacine?

Subject: Biology ~Animal Conservation

Grade Level: 6th

Learning Objective: Students will participate in an online scavenger hunt in order to answer questions about endangered species, the causes of their endangerment, and to design a conservation plan in order to protect the species.

California Next Generation Science Standard:

MS.Human Impacts (MS-ESS3-3) Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.

Common Core State Standard Connection:

ELA/Literacy (WHST.6-8.7) Conduct short research projects to answer a questions (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.

Technology Standard: 

(NETS.S.4C) Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making: Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

Please use the following websites as a resource in answering your 

Endangered Species Scavenger Hunt questions:

1. http://theconversation.com/why-did-the-tasmanian-tiger-go-extinct-11324
2. http://discover.iucnredlist.org/
3. http://www.worldwildlife.org/
4. http://www.arkive.org/?v=v2&utm_expid=5144489-2.yA8_u9a0TwiUlMDsDz9dIQ.1
5. http://www.bronxzoo.com/help-wildlife/practice-conservation/save-gorillas.aspx
6. http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2013/dec/15/sumatran-deforestation-threatens-orangutan-population-video
7. http://www.orangutan.org.au/home-page-announcements/international-orangutan-day-a-day-to-support-one-of-our-closest-relatives
8. http://africafreak.com/blog/top-10-most-endangered-animal-species-in-africa

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

 1. How would YOU balance the pressing needs of a human population with the implementation of your endangered species conservation program? (Choose one of the endangered species you researched during the Scavenger Hunt)

 2. There are fewer than 300 Addax in the wild. What conservation strategies would you implement to keep this species from extinction?

 3. What critically endangered primate can we help save by recycling our old cell phones, and what is the connection? 

 4. Why did the Thylacine (a carnivorous marsupial) go extinct?

 5. What is the main reason that Polar Bears are listed as vulnerable to extinction, and what can we do to change this situation?

 6. Palm oil is found in many common items, such as cookies and peanut butter. Which hominid is being threatened with extinction because of its connection to palm oil plantations, and why?

 7. What is the name of the most endangered African canid? Please also list its scientific name, conservation status, threats to survival, and home range.

 8. List the following three penguins (using their common name) from most endangered to the least threatened. Megadyptes antipodes, Pygoscelis adeli, Spheniscus demersus.

 9. On which continent do each of these critically endangered primates live? Blonde Capuchin, Blue-eyed Black Lemur, Siau Island Tarsier.

 10. The Kakapo is is a giant flightless parrot that happens to be nocturnal. Where specifically does this critically endangered bird live?

Where Did All the Kakapo Go?