Australian Animals and their Vulnerability Lesson Plan

australian animals and their vulnerability

lesson plan

	Student Activities	Content Knowledge	Assessment Activities	Resources	SACSA Links
					Key Competencies	Essential Learnings
	Warrawong produces a range of materials to support their educational programs including a Student Activity Workbook. Information contained within ‘The mammals of Warrawong Sanctuary” was made in to cards for student based activities. . These have not been reproduced within this outline Children begin to prepare for their trip to Warrawong early in the unit.
Lesson	Student Activities	Content Knowledge	Assessment Activities	Resources	SACSA Links
					Key Competencies	Essential Learnings
1	Before views. Children write down a)What animals they think they might see at Warrawong b)What habitats these animals might need c)Why they think Warrawong is a special place for animals Complete 1st half of Attachment A Click here for Attachment A.	Examine prior learning. Introduce concept of vulnerability. Protection Techniques - colour - camouflage - size - speed - defence mechanisms - sharp teeth - strong claws - animal community sizes		Earth Sanctuaries Prospectus 2000. This contains an information sheet on all animals at Warrawong.	1, 4	Communication
Lesson	Student Activities	Content Knowledge	Assessment Activities	Resources	SACSA Links
					Key Competencies	Essential Learnings
2	Explore. Show children animal picture cards, pictures from Clip Art or fluffy toys (eg platypus, bilbies, wombats).	Consolidate understanding of key words. Status Common Vulnerable Endangered Extinct Habitat Preditors & Prey Australian Native Animal Introduced Animal	Classification of Australian animals Into Native/Non-native Preditors/Prey * Class Discussion * Group Sorting	Thematic Clip Art from Classroom Helpers. pp. 24, 25 26, 27, 28 and 32. Click here for Attachment C. Fluffy toys of Australian animals can be purchased at Warrawong.		Communication
Lesson	Student Activities	Content Knowledge	Assessment Activities	Resources	SACSA Links
					Key Competencies	Essential Learnings
3	Children’s questions. Children devise questions re these animals What do they eat? What other animals could it live with? What animals could prey on it? What keeps these animals safe at Warrawong? Why is this animal vulnerable? What would happen if ......?		Teacher assesses that students ask appropriate questions and record these.	Textas Paper	1.	Communication
Lesson	Student Activities	Content Knowledge	Assessment Activities	Resources	SACSA Links
					Key Competencies	Essential Learnings
4	Explain and elaborate. - Continuation of Lesson 2. In this case with a Year 3&4 class and having some children who had been there whilst others had not, we were able to have a class discussion on the experiences of those who had been to Warrawong. Sorting animals into groups – What animals belonged to Warrawong. Which did not. Which were predators. Record these.	Animal species kept at Warrawong. e.g. * Bilbies * Potoroos * Bettongs * Koalas * Kangaroos * Wallabies * Quolls * Platypus * Euros * Ring Tailed Possums	Students record one of the sorting activities.	A CD is supplied by Warrawong entitled Investing in Wildlife. * Gould League of SA ph. 8277 2851 * Gould League of SA Bookshop	1, 4.	Communication
Lesson	Student Activities	Content Knowledge	Assessment Activities	Resources	SACSA Links
					Key Competencies	Essential Learnings
5	Elaborate. Showing animal cards for the starting point of various activities – What does this animal remind you of? Match the picture with its label. Pick an animal and draw its habitat. Use the computer to access information on these animals.	Understanding the needs of various Australian animals. * Specific foods * Food and water in general * Safety * Territory * Some are small and fluffy with poor protective mechanisms	Teacher assesses the appropriate habitat for an animal. Recording: What I already knew. What I thought I knew. What I found out.	Through the Internet Various programs on Australian Animals can be accessed. Yahoo search engine was used. Various books on Australian Mammals should be available in your library.	1, 7.	Communicating
Lesson	Student Activities	Content Knowledge	Assessment Activities	Resources	SACSA Links
					Key Competencies	Essential Learnings
6	Investigate. Visit Warrawong and through the experience of the official walks and mingling with the animals record your discoveries. How did your predictions match up with your actual experience? Complete Attachment A Sheet. Click here for Attachment A.	Experience Australian animals in their habitat. Look at the notion of Food Chains. Click here for Attachment B.	Student observations and recordings in Camp Booklet. Comparison of expectations and actual experience. Complete Attachment A Sheet.	Camp Booklet supplied by Warrawong Education Staff.	1	Futures Communication
Lesson	Student Activities	Content Knowledge	Assessment Activities	Resources	SACSA Links
					Key Competencies	Essential Learnings
7	Evaluate/Reflections Class Discussions Would these animals be better placed in a zoo rather than at Warrawong? Was your visit worthwhile and why? Do you think Warrawong is a worthwhile place and why? What would happen if it closes? Children provide answers to - What would have happened to these animals if Warrawong didn't exist? - What do you think will be the future of these and other vulnerable Australian animals? - What could be done to create a positive future for vulnerable animals? Links to other curriculum areas. Language: Vocabulary extension Write a diary “A day in the life of a ………..” Mathematics: Prepare a graph for the number of the number of animals seen in each species. Technology: Make a home for your animal. Design a poster to help save an animal.		Teacher assessment of understanding of the unique habitat created by the specially designed fence and resultant protection of these animals. Design an argument for a particular point of view you might hold. Design a poster to convey your feelings. Draw a birds-eye-view map of your own conservation park. Use plasticine to make a model of one of the animals in a safe environment			Communication Futures