Endangered Species
 
 
 
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lessons 
What is an 
Endangered Species?		 Give students background information (definitions for key terms).  As a group establish a working definition for the term.  Check prior knowledge- see if students know any endangered species.
Location Map of the United States - Students are given the opportunity to see that there are endangered species in each of the 50 states.  2 activities from the endangered species link are selected to help deepen their understanding of endangered species. 
Illinois Ecosystems/Illinois Prairie 
SG-17 CAS-E CFS-1		 Introduce students to Illinois ecosystems and the Illinois Prairie from the link established on the teacher resource page.
Introduce Illinois endangered species - the prairie chicken -Show a picture of the prairie chicken    -Ask students what they would like to learn about the prairie chicken.  Record responses on a chart to review at a later date.
The Prairie Chicken 
SG-1 CAS-A CFS-2, 7 
 		 Read - The American Prairie Chicken by Mary Adrian.  This book contains factual information about the prairie chicken.  Have students record in their journals what they've learned from each day's reading.
 
 
 
 
Prairie Chicken Activities
Writing Prompts 
SG-3 CAS-B CFS-1; SG-3 CAS-C CFS-2 
SG-13 CAS-B CFS-1 
SG-1 CAS-D CFS-1 
SG-4 CAS-C CFS-1, 2		 1) We have been studying the prairie chicken.  Write a paper describing:  how the prairie chicken looks, where it lives, and what it eats and present it to the class.   2)  "What does the prairie chicken see when he's looking at you?" (use picture located at prairie.html)  3)  "What can I do as a citizen of the United States to help preserve the remaining prairie chickens?" 
Art 
SG-1 CAS-D CFS-3		 Students can make:  collages, drawings, sculptures, and models of prairie chickens and their habitats.
 
 
 
 
Culminating Activities
1)  Students can send their reports on the prairie chicken to the Endangered Species On-going School World Project site so that it can be posted.
2)  Students can research an endangered species, of their choice, on the web and write a report on it to present to the class. 
 

The state goals can be viewed in depth at  CPS Standards & Frameworks
 
 
 
 
 
 

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