Web Resource for Science - Endangered Spieces

Hey Everyone!

This website is probably not the most interactive website out there because it is just being revamped, but it is something that I am passionate about as I worked at the centre for 5 years so I thought I would share it with you and how I would use it in my classroom. It is the website for the Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Centre in Moose Jaw. I would use this website in a Grade Three Science class during the Endangered Species unit. The activity would meet the following objectives from the Evergreen Curriculum:

2. Appreciate that animals can become endangered.
   2.1 Develop an operational definition of the term "endangered species."
   2.2 List some endangered and extinct animals.
   2.3 Examine some protective adaptations of animals.
   2.4 Investigate reasons why animals become endangered or extinct.
   2.5 Identify ways of protecting animals.

On this website there is a webcam that is placed in different areas depending on the time of year. In the spring time the webcam is placed inside the underground burrow of a mated pair of burrowing owls. This allows people to watch the eggs being laid, incubated, and hatched. You can also see the mother and father taking care of the young burrowing owls. So what I would with my class is to hook up this website to the data projector and follow the burrowing owl each day. They can see the progress and process of how owls raise their young. I would have the students come up with questions we can send to the centre and have them answered by a professional who works there. After watching the eggs hatch and the young being taken care of, I would then take the students on a field trip to the Burrowing Owl Centre so the students can see first hand the owls they are watching everyday. They will also take part in a student program offered at the centre. The students will then gain even more information on endangered species and what they can do to help.

By using this website the students would enhance their learning by gaining an interest in an Endangered Species. They would be hooked on following what the owls are doing each day. This would fit in with the endangered species unit found in the Grade Three Science curriculum. This will enhance learning because the students will be able to see the species in real time. It will be more relevant to the students. Actually taking a trip to the centre would also enhance learning because the students will see and touch a burrowing owl first hand. It will then become very relevant to them. I am sure that by doing this a few students will be affected and develop a passion for helping endangered species or animals in general. Since these are the people who will soon be making decisions that affect our world, it is important to help teach them to decide for themselves what is important and worth fighting for.

I hope this activity, website, and resource helps you at some point during your teaching careers!