I have a little rhyme that pops into my head when I think about science lesson plans related to extinction and endangered animals: ?

The dodo used to run about ?

And take the sun and air.

The sun yet warms his native ground…

The dodo is not there!

The voice that used to squawk and squeak ?

Is now forever dumb.

Yet you may see his bones and beak

All in the mu-se-um.

(The Dodo by Hilaire Belloc) ?

Now, you’ve probably informed your students that we are losing many endangered species a day – most science lesson plans have this as one of the main teaching points.?But some bright people have ensured that even if a species does undergo extinction, “the voice that used to squawk and squeak” will not remain “forever dumb” and that more than the “bones and beak” will be visible.?This delightful site is called the?ARKive.? It aims to be a sort of virtual Noah’s Ark that will preserve footage, facts and photos of currently endangered animals for future generations to enjoy. ?

The ARKive is an absolute goldmine for quirky facts and fascinating animals (and plants and fungi) and can be used for science lesson plans of all types, not just when teaching about extinction and conservation.?Lessons on classification, adaptation and habitats can all include a visit to the ARKIve’s website – or its younger version, Planet ARKive, which teachers in Grade 2 to Grade 6 will find helpful.?If you’ve mastered the art of using small video clips as part of your science lesson plans, you will have plenty to choose from. ?

Now, this ARKive is still under construction, and is still hunting for footage of some plants, animals and fungi.?If you teach in an area where one of the rare and endangered animals/plants/fungi still lives, you might be able to create a few science lesson plans or even a unit that culminates in a field trip to find and film the life form in question – you never know; you may strike it lucky and get some very valuable footage.?And even if you don’t, your class will have had one of the most memorable science lessons they will ever have. ?

The ARKive is very teacher-friendly as well as pupil-friendly and has a few science lesson plans ready made on the site – well worth checking out!?But don’t forget to use this valuable and fascinating site even if you aren’t a science teacher and science lesson plans aren’t really useful for you. ?

English:?Some of the endangered animals have really quirky names??How about showing your class some footage of the animal without showing the name of the animal and then getting your students to create a name for it?? ?

Math:?The ARKive has some startling facts and figures related to extinction that can be used in a maths class.?For example, if one species becomes extinct every twenty minutes, how many species is that per day??Per week??This will be a very sobering lesson… ?

The ARKive is just one of many valuable and fascinating websites that have multiple uses in the classroom.?Don’t let the words “technology integration” scare you. Standard methods for using media in your elementary lessons are still the benchmark for an effective lesson. Technology should be seen as just another tool in your lesson-not the lesson.

By: Kimberly Stohlman

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