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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Crane Cam: Conservation and economics

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g68/cranecam1.html

A lesson plan for Grade 5 Science

Provider: National Geographic

About this resource

Appropriate grades
5
Subjects
English language arts (writing), science (environmental science), thinking skills (higher order thinking, information literacy, research skills, visual literacy), education technology (integrating technology), teaching methods (cooperative learning, discussions, online learning)
Provider
National Geographic

Legal

Creative Commons License

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In this Xpeditions lesson, students use resources on the National Geographic magazine feature Crane Cam to learn about how the land area in and around the sanctuary has changed over time. Activities in this lesson engage students in development of media literacy skills, online research, collaborative group work, and creation of persuasive arguments with partners.

Students will:

  • learn about the Crane Cam and Rowe Sanctuary projects in the Platte River Valley of Nebraska;
  • research crane migratory patterns, conservation efforts involving the sandhill crane, and the intended and unintended consequences of these efforts; and
  • discuss the relationship between conservation and economics.

Xpeditions provides detailed instructions for completing the lesson, assessment and extension activities, and links to helpful web resources.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Science (2005)

Grade 5

  • Goal 1: The learner will conduct investigations to build an understanding of the interdependence of plants and animals.
    • Objective 1.01: Describe and compare several common ecosystems (communities of organisms and their interaction with the environment).
    • Objective 1.03: Explain why an ecosystem can support a variety of organisms.
    • Objective 1.04: Discuss and determine the role of light, temperature, and soil composition in an ecosystem's capacity to support life.
    • Objective 1.05: Determine the interaction of organisms within an ecosystem.
    • Objective 1.06: Explain and evaluate some ways that humans affect ecosystems.
      • Habitat reduction due to development.
      • Pollutants.
      • Increased nutrients.
    • Objective 1.07: Determine how materials are recycled in nature.