Animal Signs

Class Description:

In this animal ecology class, students will look for a variety of evidence left behind by animals and find out what we can learn about them from that evidence. During spring, summer and fall, they may also practice the research techniques of radio telemetry.

Total time: 3 hours (two 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 Animal Signs class students will be able to:

Apply observation skills in finding and identifying animal signs.

Examine animal signs and infer the animal's behavior.

List animals living in the Wolf Ridge area.

Operate radio telemetry equipment and locate a radio collar.

Recognize humans as animals and note the abundance of human signs in our world.

Describe actions they can take to maintain and enhance animal populations.

Minnesota Graduation Standards

The Animal Senses 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.

under construction

Wolf Ridge Curriculum Concepts

• under construction
  • Upon completion of the Animal Signs class students will be able to:
  • Apply observation skills in finding and identifying animal signs.
  • Examine animal signs and infer the animal's behavior.
  • List animals living in the Wolf Ridge area.
  • Operate radio telemetry equipment and locate a radio collar.
  • Recognize humans as animals and note the abundance of human signs in our world.
  • Describe actions they can take to maintain and enhance animal populations.

Classroom Connections*

• Journal page download
• Pre-visit activities
• Post-visit activities
• Links to Animal Senses information and activities on the web

*requires Wolf Ridge password