|
Guiding
Questions
|
Critical
Content (Students will know...)
|
National
Standards Met
|
Skill
Objectives (Students will be able to...)
|
Suggested Activity
Lesson Plans
|
| What
do Golden Eagles eat and where do they fit in the food chain
of Denali National Park and Preserve? |
...the
golden eagle's role as a predator in the Denali ecosystem
and the type of prey they eat. |
Science
|
...
research basic information about plants and animals
...translate
from research information to a visual description of connections.
|
Activity
1:
Exploring the Denali Food Web
Students
create a food web for Denali National Park and Preserve.
|
|
What
are the most important factors affecting the number of chicks
a pair of golden eagles in Denali National Park and Preserve
will have?
|
...the
importance of food (prey species) for the reproduction of
golden eagles. |
Science
|
...make
inferences of the effects of changes in the environment on
species. |
Activity
2:
Connections
Students
try identify how changes in the ecosystem affect species
populations.
|
| How
can scientists measure the reproduction of golden eagles?
|
...research
techniques used by wildlife biologists
...ways
to measure and calculate reproduction rates and productivity.
|
Science
Math
|
...discuss
different metrics
...calculate
rates as percentages
...calculate
means
...graph
data values collected annually.
|
Activity
3:
Describing Productivity
Students
use real data from research in Denali to understand and
calculate productivity.
|
|
How
do scientists study the relationship between the abundance
of prey and reproduction in predators?
How
are predator and prey population numbers linked?
|
...how
to analyze field data to correlate prey abundance and eagle
reproduction
...Predator
population numbers cycle with those of their prey.
|
Science
Math
|
...compare
graphed data
...develop
inferences based on graphed data.
...simulate
predator and prey population cycles.
|
Activity
4:
Productivity and Prey
Students
graph real prey species and eagle reproduction data to see
how prey abundance affects the reproduction in eagles.
Activity
5:
The Eagle Eats the Hare Game
Students
simulate predator and prey population cycles using a simple
pencil and paper game.
|
| How
might the fact that Denali is a national park affect the reproductive
productivity of the golden eagles that nest there? |
...the
importance of national parks for protecting habitat and food
sources (prey) needed by golden eagles and other animals. |
Science
|
...organize
and present ideas to the class
...identify
relevant factual material
...develop
understandings of natural systems from research data
|
Activity
6:
Protected Lands
Students
make presentations the importance of protecting habitat
for golden eagles.
|
| What
would you recommend park managers do to protect golden eagles? |
...how
to think critically about protecting a species, and the role
of the National Park Service in preservation. |
Science
|
|
Final
Activity |
