LEARN NC

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

Crane Cam: Conservation and community

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g35/cranecam1.html

A lesson plan for Grades 4–5 Science

Provider: National Geographic

About this resource

Appropriate grades
4–5
Subjects
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

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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 Platte River Valley crane sanctuary has changed over time. Activities in this lesson engage students in collaborative group work, online research, development of presentation skills, and production of an artistic poster.

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 efforts and communities.

Xpeditions provides links to helpful web resources and related activities, directions for completing the lesson, and suggestions for assessment and extension activities.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Science (2005)

Grade 4

  • Goal 1: The learner will make observations and conduct investigations to build an understanding of animal behavior and adaptation.
    • Objective 1.01: Observe and describe how all living and nonliving things affect the life of a particular animal including:
      • Other animals.
      • Plants.
      • Weather.
      • Climate.
    • Objective 1.02: Observe and record how animals of the same kind differ in some of their characteristics and discuss possible advantages and disadvantages of this variation.
    • Objective 1.04: Explain and discuss how humans and other animals can adapt their behavior to live in changing habitats.
    • Objective 1.05: Recognize that humans can understand themselves better by learning about other animals.

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 1.02: Identify and analyze the functions of organisms within the population of the ecosystem:
      • Producers.
      • Consumers.
      • Decomposers.
    • 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.