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ParkWise
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Nature
Nature
in Your National Parks
Alaska's national parks
and preserves are well known for their diverse wildlife populations
and inspiring landforms. These large and remote areas are living
laboratories where scientists examine the patterns and processes
of biological communities and physical processes. Our world is
a dynamic place and it is changing rapidly due to the activities
of humans. Our Alaska national parks and preserves give us the
unique opportunity to study wildlife and habitats that haven't
been significantly altered by activities associated with industrial
agriculture, industry, urbanization, and large scale resource
extraction. The rivers, forests, tundra and mountains are as close
to pristine as you will find anywhere. Here's a chance to share
some of what our researchers are learning about while studying
nature in your national parks.
- Nature
Units:
- Fly
Away! -
park biologist,
Carol McIntyre, has been tracking the golden eagles of Denali
after they leave the park and migrate to southern United States
and Mexico. Use satellite telemetry data to discover where they
go and why, and where they head to the next spring. Grades 3-8.
Fossils
in Time New!
- Discover the ancient
past through the fossil record. Learn how paleontologists
uncover new fossils and piece together the puzzle of the past.
Grades 5 - 9.
-
Glaciers of Kenai
Fjords New!
- The park's Exit
Glacier is an active, retreating remnant of a larger glacier
once extending to Resurrection Bay. This unit provides theoretical
and historic information and real data to support student exploration
into the phenomena of glaciers. The glaciers and icefields of
Kenai Fjords National Park provide an excellent laboratory to
test theories and ideas, and their study at Kenai Fjords National
Park involves a variety of sciences and their interactions.
Students will learn about the climatic influences on glacier
retreat and advance, the effect of glaciation on the geography
and ecology of a region, and the varied methods scientists use
to study glaciers. Grades 6-12.
- To
Hatch or Not to Hatch
- students use data from real eagle
nesting
sites to understand how the number of eagle eggs and the number
of eaglets that survive are functions of habitat and prey species.
Grades 3-8.
- Hoofin'
It! - Learn
about adaptations, populations and life cycles by studying the
Dall sheep of Noatak National Preserve. Understand the scientific
process by learning research techniques and performing several
investigations. Grades K -12
- Pathways
to Discovery
- Learn about the animals, plants and boreal forest ecosystem
of Wrangell - St. Elias National Park and Preserve. This unit
is available as a 5.1MB pdf file, only.
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EXPERIENCE
YOUR AMERICA™
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
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