1. Inquiry QuestionMany species are endangered and going extinct. There are over 6,000 endangered species in the world, and they need our help. In 1973, President Nixon passed the Endangered Species Act, which provided the conservation of species that were endangered or threatened throughout all or a significant portion of their range, and the conservation of the ecosystems on which they depend. 

Click the image of the butterfly to watch a video about endangered species and what humans can do to help preserve these species.

As you watch… Think about why the species might be

endangered. Think about what humans can do to help!

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How can humans help prevent endangered animals from going extinct?

Helping Endangered Species

Image Source: NBC Learn

2. Information Sources

You will use the information sources linked here to complete the Student Activity on Slide 3.

Click the image to watch a video about how endangered species might be extinct soon.

Click these links to gain background knowledge about endangered species.

Pick an endangered species to study. Choose links from each box to explore the species.

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Image Source: NBC Learn

PandaPebble Go

Animal FactsWorld Book

FrogPebble GoDefendersWorld Book

FishPebble GoDucksters

World Book

ManateePebble GoDefendersWorld Book

DolphinPebble Go

Animal FactsWorld Book

ElephantPebble Go

Animal FactsWorld Book

Before you start your research, log in to

BrainPop.

In Pebble Go, you need to “search” the animal.

Saving Endangered Species

On The Edge Kids Discover

World Book Kids Switch Zoo Map Red List

3. Student Activity

Use the information sources on Slide 2 to collect information on an endangered species.

Record your findings on the graphic organizer.

As you research, think about the different things humans can do or stop doing to help these endangered species.

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Image Source: USDA

Click the image to enlarge!

4. Assessment Activity

Create a Public Service announcement that will inform the community of why there are endangered species and what we can do to preserve these species.

You may create a…

Use this scoring tool to assess your work.

• Poster• PowerPoint• ABCya

Animation• Pixie

• Comic• Voki• Storybird• Google

Story

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Click the image to enlarge!

Image Source: USDA

5. Enrichment Activities

Do you want to spread the word?Try these other activities: Create a newspaper article about the

endangered species of their choice. Include the following:

Explain why the species is in trouble Describe it’s habitat, food sources, and predators Write ideas of how people can help

Think of 20 key words related to their endangered species, including adjectives, nouns, and verbs. Use these words on Tagxedo Word Cloud Generator, and make a word cloud all about their animal.

Write a proposal to your principal to make a morning announcement about endangered species!

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Image Source: Kids World Citizen

6. Teacher Support MaterialsStandards Alignment Common Core State Standards Reading: 1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.Writing: 7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.RI 3.5 Use text features and search tools (e.g. keywords, sidebars, and hyperlinks) to locate information relevant to a given topic efficiently.W3.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. W.3.7 Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.W.3.8. Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner 1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g. textual, visual, media, digital) in order to make inferences and gather meaning.2.1.3 Use strategies to draw conclusions from information and apply knowledge to curricular areas, real-world situations, and further investigations.

ISTE Standards for Students3. Research and Information Fluency: Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and

use information.4. 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.

P21 SkillsInformation Literacy: Access information efficiently (time) and effectively (sources); Use

information accurately and creatively for the issue or problem at hand.ICT Literacy: Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate

information.

Grade 3 Content Area: English Language ArtsUnit 3.1 A Delicate Balance – The Relationship between Humans and Nature

Objective: Students will gather information from print and digital sources and take brief notes to demonstrate understanding of the informational texts.

Time Frame: 3 – 5 Days

Differentiation strategies for this lesson: Direct students to use tools and learning supports

included in our BCPS-licensed databases, such as audio read-aloud and labeled reading levels/Lexiles. See Digital Content Snapshots & Support resources on the ODL Resource Wiki as needed.

Silver Star = I can do on my own/Gold Star = Challenge me

Notes to the teacher:Collaborate with your school library media specialist to implement this lesson.Here are the graphic organizer and scoring tool for copies.Here are some other lesson resources:

National Geographic Education - Endangered Animals of the Americas What can be done to protect endangered or threatened animals?

Scholastic – Teacher Resources Endangered Species Coalition – Teacher Resource

Center

Last updated: July 2015 Created by: Rebecca Hartman, Library MediaBCPS Slam Dunk Research Model, Copyright 2015, Baltimore County Public Schools, MD, all rights reserved. This lesson may be used for educational, non-profit school use

only. All other uses, transmissions, and duplications are prohibited unless permission is granted expressly. This lesson is based on Dr. Jamie McKenzie’s Slam Dunk Digital Lesson

model.

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