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| journal page pdf |
Beaver Ecology |  |
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| journal page pdf |
Beaver Ecology | |
The Wolf Ridge Beaver Ecology class provides many extension possiblilites for the classroom. Tie-ins can be made to a variety of topics including animal adaptations, ecosystems, niches, habitats, and more. Visit this page periodically as we will add new activities and links suggested by Wolf Ridge visiting school teachers, and eventually our own interactive on-line activities.
1. Create an animal that is perfectly adapted to living in a chosen habitat. Build a model or create a poster.
Graduation Standard: 4-5th Sciences I.1 Living and Non-Living Systems. Dec. 1b: Understand characteristics of organisms: animals 3a: Understand cycles and patterns in living organisms. Proc. 1: Measure and classify objects, organisms and materials on the basis of their properties and relationships. 3: Create a model to illustrate a concept, law, theory or principle.
2. Prepare a position paper on the pros and cons of trapping. Use interviews, internet and written media to support your opinion.
Graduation Standards:6-8th Inquiry M.2 Accessing Information Proc. 1-6 Access information and use a variety of sources to answer a question or support a postion.
3. Analyze and define the problems created by beavers for a farmers or home owners cropland. Formulate a hypotheses, and conduct an experiment to answer and solve the problem
Graduation Standards:H.S. Inquiry 5.1 Scientific Methods Proc. 1-5: Apply steps of scientific methods, logical reasoning and creative thinking to answer questions and solve problems. Add 1: Experiment must contribute to general body of knowledge. Add 2: Students must use most current technology available.
4. Read Wolf Ridge Naturalist Notes "The Winter of Our Discontent," the story of how the deep freeze on Raven Lake in the winter of 2003 affected the beaver lodge there.
1. Draw a floor plan of a beaver lodge. Include dimensions and build a to scale model.
Graduation Standards:4-5th Mathematics I.1
Shape, Space Movement
Dec. 1: Understand appropriate whole and partial units (including metric) to measure length, time, weight, volume, temperature, angle and area
Proc. 4: Represent a three dimensional space in two-dimensional view.
5abc: Given measurement projects:identify, select tools, accuracy
6: Estimate measurements by using appropriate units and comparisons to known objects or quantities.
Add. 2: Performance package must include metric measurement
3: Performance package must include both two and three dimensional shapes.
2. Research and create a menu for a beaver restaurant. Include written descriptions, pictures and prices.
Graduation Standards:6-8th Inquiry M.1 Direct Observation
Proc. 1abc: Gather information from direct observations; frame, collect, record and display.
Add. 2: Teacher may help define and limit research questions.
3. Research, develop and create a presentation on a historical figure from the Fur Trade Era. Present in character to two different age groups.
Graduation Standards:H.S. Arts 3.1 & 6.1 Arts Performance
Dec. 1: Understand the elements, techniques and processes of an artform
Proc. 1 a-g Perform or present works in theater
Add. 2: Students are expected to complete at least two seperate performances. Each should be distinctly different in order to show range of work.
Under construction.
Class Description:
In this animal ecology class, students begin by participating in a beaver dress-up activity that illustrates the physical adaptations of the beaver. The majority of class time is spent on a hike along Sawmill Creek, which offers an excellent opportunity to observe the effects of beaver activity on the environment. Students may encounter dams, lodges, cut trees, canals, drags or caches. A skit of fur trade era characters offers insight into human and beaver interaction in the past. Discussion will help students understand the beaver's role today.
Total time: 3 hours (2 1/2 hours outdoors)
Audience: 6-20 students, 4th grade through adult
Activity level: strenuous
Travel: 1 1/2 mile
Total uphill travel: 320 feet
Outcomes:
Upon completion of the Beavers class students will be able to:
- Define physical and behavioral adaptations.
- Identify physical and behavioral adaptations that allow beavers to survive in their environment.
- Recognize and interpret beavers signs such as dams, lodges, canals, food caches, etc.
- Trace the history of the fur trade era and describe how beavers and humans interact in modern times.
- Evaluate how the beaver influences the ecology of both forest and aquatic ecosystems.
Minnesota Graduation Standards:
The Beavers class will provide students with guided practice, in an authentic setting, to support the following Graduations Standards. We have chosen one to three major focus standards per grade level. Due to the holistic nature of environmental education, several other standards, not listed here, are addressed as well.
H.S. Sciences 2.1: Biological Concepts (Know 3,4. Do 2a.)
H.S. Managing Resources 5.1: Natural/Managed Systems (Know 1. Do 1a-c.)
Middle (6-8th) Sciences M1: Living Systems (Know 2a,b, 3. Do 2.)
Middle (6-8th) People and Cultures M3: History and Citizenship (Know 1. Do 1.
Intermediate (4-5th) Sciences I1: Living and Non-living Systems (Know 1b, 4. Do 1, 2b.)
Intermediate (4-5th) People and Cultures I1: Historical Events (Know 2,3.)
Wolf Ridge Curriculum Concepts: