Distance Learning

Denali Q&A

Grade Level:
Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
Subject:
Science,Social Studies
State Standards:
Varies depending upon subject and grade level

A Brief Introduction to Denali National Park and Preserve with Q&A Session

Denali Park Rangers have a wealth of knowledge about Denali National Park and Preserve, living in Alaska, and more. Begin to tickle curious minds with a short (8–10 minute) presentation followed by an informal question and answer session that is available to groups of all ages. Topics can cover the subsistence lifestyles of Denali's first caretakers, flora, fauna, glaciers, geology, biology, and cultural history of Denali, careers in the National Park Service, and more. Students are encouraged to think about and write down their questions in advance.

Program Length and Grade Range

This 30-minute program is designed for students in grades K–12.

How to Participate

Denali's Distance Learning programs are a fun and interactive way for our education rangers to visit your classroom for free!

Our Distance Learning presentations are available from November 1 through March 31 annually (with breaks around some major holidays). Registration begins on October 15th annually. Spaces are limited and registration is handled on a first-come, first-served basis. 

You will find the link to our Distance Learning Registration Form on Denali's Distance Learning homepage.
 

Denali Q&A—Teacher's Guide

Program Overview

A simple overview of Denali National Park and Preserve introduces students to the scale of the Park, the mission of the National Park Service, and the Indigenous Peoples who have called Denali home for 13,000 years. In this program, students have the chance to ask rangers from Denali National Park about whatever curricular content the class is working on that relates to Denali National Park and Preserve. In this learner-led program, students have most of the program to ask questions and interact with the ranger.

This program is flexible by design. If your class is studying specific topics such as the gold rush, adaptations of wildlife, habitats (specifically the tundra and taiga), or the history of the National Park Service, etc. please let us know in advance. We can tailor the program and add sections to reflect those subject matters and/or topics.

The bulk of the program can be an in-depth dive into a specific subject/topic, or it can remain as an informal question and answer time. Standards are purposefully absent for this program; this allows for flexibility regarding what subject matter is covered.

Program Objectives

Students will:

  1. Understand that Denali is large and able to protect intact ecosystems.
  2. Understand the relationship between Athabascan people and Denali.
  3. Be able to explain specific subject matter (determined by teacher) more in-depth using Alaska-themed topics.
  4. Feel inspired to protect and preserve the places that matter to them.

Before the Distance Learning Program (15–30 minutes)

  • Student reading: Students are asked to complete a few short readings about Denali National Park and Preserve’s background. Decide whether you want them to read this as homework, in class individually, or together as a class. The readings are optional depending on the subject matter the teacher is covering.
  • Make sure you have a Zoom link at least a week ahead of time.
  • Check your computer setup: This is a good time to make sure that your computer setup and Zoom connection are functioning optimally. Check with a Denali Education Staff member if you have any questions or would like to perform a pre-conference connection.
  • Submit class questions: Have students collectively identify their top questions they want to ask the education staff. Please submit these questions to the Education Team at least one week in advance of the Zoom session.
  • For older students: What is your state famous for? Are there things that people from other places might think about your state that might not be true? What ideas do you have about Alaska?

During the Distance Learning Program (30 minutes)

  • Student volunteers: Students will interact with a ranger during the program. Keep this in mind and be ready to identify the selected students.
  • Orient your students: Before connecting via Zoom, show students the set-up and go over any standards of behavior students should follow during the session. Remind them that the education staff may not be able to see everyone in the classroom, so they should look to you as an intermediary when they want to make a comment or ask a question.
  • Connect with Denali: At the designated time, use Zoom to connect with the education staff. The program is designed to last 30 minutes, depending on student input and questions.
  • Let the communication begin! The teacher is responsible for classroom management during the program. This includes calling on students throughout the program and helping to ensure that their answers and comments are understood by all. The teacher is also responsible for facilitating questions at the end of the program.
  • Immediately after the program, take some time for students to discuss and provide feedback about their experience. If the class has further questions for the education staff, the teacher can contact us with 2–5 questions and receive a reply back within 2 weeks.

After the Distance Learning Program (30–60 minutes)

  • Email us your questions, feedback, or an evaluation form. We love hearing ways that we can continue to improve our programs!
  • For younger students: Draw a Venn diagram of Denali and the community where you live. Decorate your Venn diagram with drawings of things that you learned about in Denali, and things that are special to you where you live.
  • For all ages: discuss or write about any of the following essential questions in relation to Denali or the land where you live:
    • What choices did our elders make that affect the way we live today? How do our choices and actions today impact how people will live in the future?
    • How can we protect places we care about?
  • For all ages: What are the five most important things about where you live that you would want to share with someone from another part of the country or world? You can think about history, things to do, wildlife, etc. Create a National Park: Choose one of these areas near your home that is worthy of protecting. Design a map of your own National Park and write a speech advocating why it should be protected. Students might consider including things like infrastructure, wildlife, native peoples, funding, and future plans/maintenance.
  • For older students: Revisit the question asked by the ranger during the program as a facilitated discussion: Do you know who were the people who used to live on the land where you are right now? Find out what Native Land you live on. What decisions did they make that determined what the area around you looks like, who lives there now, and what wild spaces and animals are there?
  • For older students: write your representatives explaining why a place near you should be protected.
  • For older students: compare your pre-conceived notions of Alaska with what you learned during the program. How could you use this to explain to other people about stereotypes, first impressions, and whether or not it is important to hear other points of view? Are there other places/peoples you have preconceived notions about? Do some research and talk to people from that region. What did you learn that surprised/impressed you after doing research? Is it okay to rely on limited research?

Last updated: December 29, 2022