Parkwise - Hoofin' It!: Overview

This unit explores the natural resource management of Dall's sheep in the national parks of northwest Alaska. Students will learn about Dall's sheep, where they live, how they have adapted to their environment, and how wildlife biologists study them to understand how to protect their populations within national parklands.

This unit is designed for grades K-12. Many of the activities included in the unit, and the earlier concepts are appropriate for younger grades, although the later part of the unit and the final activity are geared towards middle and high school. High school math and science teachers can focus on the last guiding question and the final activity.

Special thanks to the WILD Education Office (Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks and Ministry of Forests, Canada) from which much of this material was adapted.

Overview

Background

Unit Outline
Wildlife managers need to understand the natural and human-induced factors that determine the population size of a species, so that they can make informed decisions to protect them.

Final Activity
You are a researcher who has been studying the Dall sheep of Noatak National Preserve for several years. Managers in Wrangell - St. Elias National Park and Preserve need your help in understanding their sheep.

Final Activity Assessment

Instructional Resources

National Standards
science and geography standards