Students record observations of evidence for the presence of wildlife in their study area.  They compare the diversity found in different areas and investigate the biotic and abiotic factors influencing the distribution of wildlife.

Grade Level: 5th - 8th
Time Needed: 2.5 hours

Downloadable PowerPoint Presentation, PowerPoint Script, 
and Teaching Unit Booklet  with Lesson Plans
To download, open the link and then use the "File/Save" pulldown menu from the toolbar on your browser.

Animal Signs - PowerPoint file
(Note: The "Animal Signs" PPt is a large file, 16.2 MB, and takes a while to load)
Animal Signs - Text/Script (PDF file)

Wildlife Ecology Module/Unit (PDF file, 3 MB)

LESSON 1 Links - THE FIELD STUDY CHALLENGE

Web sites for the teacher:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Ecosystem Conservation - http://ecosystems.fws.gov/
This Web site gives an overview of how the FWS takes an ecosystem approach to managing wildlife.

Ecological Society of America – Report on the Scientific Basis of Ecosystem Management - http://www.esa.org/pao/esaPositions/Papers/ReportOfSBEM.php
This lengthy report from a professional group for ecologists provides detailed background on using ecology as a tool to make decisions about managing resources.

Green Teacher Magazine – Planet Earth Pages: The Outdoor Classroom.  http://www.greenteacher.com/articles/50planet.html 
This website contains several ecology-related activities for various age groups.  Back issues of Green Teacher can be obtained through www.greenteacher.com, e-mail: greentea@web.net,  Phone: (416) 960-1244, Fax: (416) 925-3474, or by writing to Green Teacher at P.O. Box 1431, Lewiston, NY  14092

U.S. EPA – Mid-Atlantic Region Integrated Assessment – http://www.epa.gov/maia/index.html 
The Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment is a research, monitoring, and assessment initiative.  Its goal is to develop high-quality scientific information on the condition of the natural resources of the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., including the watersheds of the Delaware Bay.

The Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit – http://pacfwru.cas.psu.edu/
This organization is a cooperative of various state and federal wildlife organizations, including the Pa. Game Commission, Fish and Boat Commission, and Penn State University.  Part of their mission is to conduct research on wildlife species and publicize the findings. 

Web sites for the students:

Environmental Protection Agency Student Center - http://www.epa.gov/students/ 
This website provides information on a variety of environmental topics.

LESSON 2 Links - FIELD STUDY TECHNIQUES

Web sites for the teacher: