Beaver Ecology

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:

• All living things possess physical and behavioral adaptations which help them to survive in their environment.
• All living and non-living components of an environment interact with one another to form an ecosystem.
• The natural environment has many obvious and subtle impacts upon human history and culture.

Classroom Connections*

Journal Page Download
Pre-visit Activities
Post-visit Activities
Links to Beaver Information and Activities

*requires Wolf Ridge password