This resource effectively illustrates the ways in which animals are important to the health and future of the planet. Four lessons demonstrate how human activities, including those related to climate change can result in habitat fragmentation and threaten the viability of entire ecosystems. The resource includes a teacher's guide, background information, student activity pages, videos and extension ideas for individual, group and community action.

Activity One: What’s your View? (1 x 60 minutes)

Teachers set up a 'four corners' activity in which students read a variety of statements concerning animal welfare and decide if they agree or disagree. The class then discusses as a group the importance of animals in sustaining healthy ecosystems and the value of their relationships with humans.

Activity Two: Video (1 x 60 minutes)

Students watch a video called “Why Animals Matter” and complete a short quiz to check their understanding of key concepts raised in the video. A discussion follows on what can be done to make the world a better place for animals. Suggestions for extension activities are included.

Activity Three: Eco-investigation (3 x 60 minutes)

Students go outside to study local biodiversity. Working in groups, they select a 2m square sample site near the school yard and determine the variety of plant, fungi and animal life found. The inventory includes the abiotic characteristics of soil, rocks, water sources as well as any evidence of human disturbance. Students are also asked to take notice of the resources that species need to survive (food, water, cover and space) and how humans have impacted these resources.

Activity Four: Understanding Habitat (3 X 60 minutes)

After a discussion on the inter-dependency of the four core elements of a habitat, the class is invited to brainstorm ideas as to the causes and effects of habitat fragmentation and the importance of wildlife corridors. Students then review a newspaper article describing how habitat fragmentation due to road construction in parts of India has impacted elephant populations. Four groups of students take on the role of stakeholders in a wildlife corridor project for the benefit of these elephants. Groups must develop a persuasive statement to reflect their point of view. Peer evaluation and class discussion follow.

An extension activity suggests students research the habitat requirements of a wild animal, how these needs can be threatened by human disturbance and what solutions should be considered.

The Museum of Natural Sciences at the U of S in Saskatoon showcases the history of Earth and the evolution of life on it through exhibits and displays that include dinosaur skeleton replicas, fossils, live animals and plants, rocks, and minerals.

Free field trips are offered over seven weeks in partnership with the USask science departments, museums and galleries, Science Outreach, and community groups. Join us for hands-on activities and tours at the Museum of Natural Sciences, in teaching laboratories, and at other campus cultural facilities.

A unit for students in grade 6 that explores the causes and consequences of residential schools in Canada.

"Our intention is not only to teach the history, but also to engage our learners in the critical thinking process
so it is no longer just the sharing of information, the critically thinking about what led us to this point in time, and intentionally planning for where we want to go in the future as we walk along the path to Reconciliation.

Reconciliation is both an individual journey as well as a collective journey. Our hope is that this resource will support our students in learning the history present within our community, create intercultural understanding of our complex communities, and help build the unknown future ahead."

The lesson plans in this resource are organized into three lines or units of inquiry. The lines of inquiry
are designed to develop students’ understanding and ability to respond to an overarching question and
challenge:

Overarching inquiry question: What might meaningful reconciliation look like?

Overarching challenge: Create a powerful representation to show what meaningful reconciliation means.

If taught individually, the lessons help students understand various aspects of residential schools and
reconciliation in Canada. As components of a unit of study, these lessons invite critical inquiry into a wider
range of topics and issues relating to reconciliation in Canada.

Each lesson includes detailed instructional strategies and required support materials. These include briefing
sheets, activity sheets, images, and source documents.

e-Learning For Kids is a great site with some wonderful interactive learning games that are engaging and fun.

Click - Kids Start Here to get students directed to the activities.

You can use the icons/tabs across the top of the page to filter the activities by subject and grade!

This site is for K-6.