Field Investigation: Wildlife Habitat Checklist

Students research an animal native to Alabama that they would like to attract to the school’s outdoor classroom and the habitat resources that animal needs to survive.  Then, they will explore the outdoor classroom to determine whether or not the resources needed are available in the school’s wildlife habitat. 

 
Click on the orange links to access free educational materials:  
Lesson Plans  |   ALSDE Standards Taught
 
Activity Page #1: Wildlife Habitat Checklist for Animal in OC (or as Word Doc)  
 
Activity Page #2: Wildlife Habitat Checklist for Fowler's Toad (or as Word Doc) with Answer Page #2
 
Outdoor Activity Materials:  activity pages, clipboards, pencils, and copies of field identification guides


















 
Step 1: Engage through Discussion
     
Engage the students and capture their interests with an Interactive Q&A (or as PDF) that allows you to click through the questions one at a time.  You can gauge your students' understanding of the topic as they answer the questions. Print and use the Q&A Info Sheet (or as Word Doc) to anticipate the next question in the Interactive Q&A and to guide the conversation with the students.  (Note:  For the PowerPoint (PPT), click "Slide Show" & "From Beginning" to display the questions and answers separately.)
 
Use these tools to continue the discussion:
 

 
Step 2: Explore with Literature
   
As you read this book, you can further explore the topic and discuss your students' experiences and knowledge around the topic:
 
Backyard Habitats by Bobbie Kalman (ISBN: 978-0778729853) 

 
 
 
Step 3: Explain with an Educational Video
   
Use these educational videos to help explain the topic in more detail:
Why Garden for Wildlife? 
(1:35 min.) @ http://sciencenetlinks.com/videos/why-garden-wildlife/		 Science Trek: Habitat 
(4:48 min.) @  https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/idptv11.
sci.life.eco.d4khab/habitat/#.WvCBw4gvw2w
   



















 
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Step 4: Elaborate with a Field Investigation in the Outdoor Classroom
 
Students apply what they have learned as they investigate the topic in your outdoor classroom and record their real-world observations on their activity page: 
 
Version #1:
Wildlife Habitat Checklist: General Animal		 Version #2:
Wildlife Habitat Checklist: Fowler's Toad
 
Activity Tips
  • Review the Outdoor Classroom Rules with students before going outside. 
  • Split students into five groups and assign each group a specific class of animal that they can research: (1) mammal, (2) bird, (3) reptile, (4) amphibian, or (5) invertebrate.  Each student can choose an animal in the class of animal s/he was assigned on the Wonders of Wildlife webpage.  This will help your students learn about the habitat needs of a wide variety of native Alabama wildlife and their habitat needs.
 
Version #1 - Wildlife Habitat Checklist: General Animal
Activity Page: PDF (as is)  /  Word Doc (editable)

Procedure
Indoor Discussion:
  1. Have the students use the AWF's Wonders of Wildlife webpages to research the slimy salamander, Northern cardinal, pillbug, Eastern gray squirrel, or black racer.
  2. The students should list which animal they have chosen and answer the questions about the animal and its habitat needs on the activity page.
Outdoor Discovery:
  1. Next, have the students explore your outdoor classroom to evaluate its habitat and determine whether or not it is suitable for the animal. If the outdoor classroom contains a habitat requirement, they should place a checkmark next to that habitat requirement.  If they do not find a specific habitat requirement for their animal, they should not place a checkmark next to that requirement.
Indoor Discussion:
  1. Afterward, they return to the classroom to discuss whether or not the outdoor classroom is suitable for the animal.
  2. Discuss the relationship between habitat requirements and an organism's survival.
  3. Discuss how an organism relies on its habitat and how it has an impact on its habitat.
Optional Extension:  
Version #2 - Wildlife Habitat Checklist: Fowler's Toad
Activity Page: PDF (as is)  /  Word Doc (editable)

Indoor Discussion:
  1. Have the students use the AWF's Wonders of Wildlife page for the Fowler's Toad Webpage to research the Habitat Needs of the Fower's Toad.
  2. The students should answer the questions about it and its habitat needs on the activity page.
Outdoor Discovery:
  1. Next, have the students explore your outdoor classroom to evaluate the habitat and determine whether or not it is suitable for the Fowler's Toad. If the outdoor classroom contains a habitat requirement, they should place a checkmark next to that habitat requirement.  If they do not find a specific habitat requirement for the Fowler's Toad, they should not place a checkmark next to that requirement.
Indoor Discussion:
  1. Afterward, they return to the classroom to discuss whether or not the outdoor classroom is suitable for the Fowler's Toad.
  2. Discuss the relationship between habitat requirements and an organism's survival.
  3. Discuss how an organism relies on its habitat and how it has an impact on its habitat.
Optional Extension:  
Wildlife Identification Resources:
   
 
Step 5: Evaluate with an Assessment Activity
   
Review and assess the students’ observations and answers on their observation pages:
Evaluate the students' understanding of the topic with the following assessment tools:
  • Class Presentations:  Ask the students to take turns giving a 3-minute talk or presentation about the animal they chose, a description of this animal and why they want to see it in the outdoor classroom, what its habitat needs are, and whether or not your schoolyard habitat could provide the habitat resources that it needs to survive.
  • Independent Habitat Assessment:  Assign a specific animal from AWF's Wonders of Wildlife webpage and have the students fill out Activity Page #1 as an assessment for that animal.  
 
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Questions? Contact us at oc@alabamawildlife.org. .