Ridge to Reef
This project that we embarked on was a very unique one that had its hardships along with a lot of growth and fun.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
GOAL OF PROJECT: We were divided up into groups of 6. Each group was assigned 1 of 4 different endangered animals in our local area. As a group, we researched and became experts on that animal. We created a powerpoint presentation, activity and quiz to teach the content we learned. There is a school down in Mexico that we are partnered with through the connection of the San Diego Zoo. The lesson we created is for the school down there, so they can conserve those animals local to them.
WHAT WE DID: My group of 6 was assigned the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep, native to Baja California. We gathered information- basic facts on it, its evolution, what makes the Bighorn unique, its role in its ecosystem, human impact and how/why we should conserve it. Each group went through several rounds of critique, including presenting for the 4th grade class at the Elementary school we were partnered with for this project. We created an activity and quiz for the school in Mexico to do to better understand the animal, its habitat and how/why we should conserve it.
FINAL PRODUCT: Along with creating an activity, quiz and presentation for the school in Mexico, we also created a way to implement a conservation plan. My group decided to create a website about the Bighorn and how to conserve it.
Here is a link to the presentation we created. Here is a link to the activity we did. Here is a link to the quiz we made about what we taught. You can also find the presentation, the activity and the quiz at the bottom of the page.
I really enjoyed working with the 4th graders. They brought a lot of energy to this project. The 4th graders were also very smart. Our presentation to them went very well. The 4th graders were very into our presentation and seemed to really enjoy it and learn a lot. Presenting for them was very beneficial and helpful for all of us. They bought this different and new perspective to this project. I loved interacting with this age group and simply doing something different for a project.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Great question.
First, this is a LOCAL problem. The Peninsular Bighorn native habitat is Baja California- not to far south of San Diego. The Bighorn lives in the dry climate of the hills and mountains. There is unfortunately not a lot of water up there and we are currently in a drought. We, here in Southern California, have a negative impact on the Bighorn. We all need water and we are taking the Bighorn's only water sources- lakes, rivers, streams. We are using that for our own purposes. The Bighorn don't have any other options and there isn't any rain to refill these empty river and lake beds. Help the Bighorn by conserving water.
Second, if the Bighorn dies, it disrupts its WHOLE ecosystem. Imagine if you took a just one piece of an ecosystem out of its habitat. That would mess up the entire ecosystem. There is a huge food web and changing that would have a major domino effect. If the Bighorn goes extinct, there would be a surplus of the things they eat. There would also be a surplus of the Bighorn's predator- mountain lions and wild cats. Then those predators would have nothing to eat and go after other animals. See? Chain effect- everything affects everything.
WHAT DID A FEW HIGH SCHOOLERS DO TO HELP?
We ourselves became much more informed about this sever topic. We have a very strong understanding of the bighorn- how it fits into its habitat, threats it faces and how we can save it. What we did and will do is share it with the world. We created the lesson plan for the school in Mexico that they may become more aware and have an impact on these endangered species. We have also created a conservation website to raise awareness for the Bighorn sheep. Also, now that we know the threats Bighorns face we can work to help them. We can use less water and recycle it. We can push for illegalizing poaching the Bighorns for their horns. We can push for less construction near the Bighorn's habitat.
This world isn't just made for us. There are billions upon billions of species of plants and animals on this planet. We are simply one of them. Use your resources to benefit more than just you.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
GOAL OF PROJECT: We were divided up into groups of 6. Each group was assigned 1 of 4 different endangered animals in our local area. As a group, we researched and became experts on that animal. We created a powerpoint presentation, activity and quiz to teach the content we learned. There is a school down in Mexico that we are partnered with through the connection of the San Diego Zoo. The lesson we created is for the school down there, so they can conserve those animals local to them.
WHAT WE DID: My group of 6 was assigned the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep, native to Baja California. We gathered information- basic facts on it, its evolution, what makes the Bighorn unique, its role in its ecosystem, human impact and how/why we should conserve it. Each group went through several rounds of critique, including presenting for the 4th grade class at the Elementary school we were partnered with for this project. We created an activity and quiz for the school in Mexico to do to better understand the animal, its habitat and how/why we should conserve it.
FINAL PRODUCT: Along with creating an activity, quiz and presentation for the school in Mexico, we also created a way to implement a conservation plan. My group decided to create a website about the Bighorn and how to conserve it.
Here is a link to the presentation we created. Here is a link to the activity we did. Here is a link to the quiz we made about what we taught. You can also find the presentation, the activity and the quiz at the bottom of the page.
I really enjoyed working with the 4th graders. They brought a lot of energy to this project. The 4th graders were also very smart. Our presentation to them went very well. The 4th graders were very into our presentation and seemed to really enjoy it and learn a lot. Presenting for them was very beneficial and helpful for all of us. They bought this different and new perspective to this project. I loved interacting with this age group and simply doing something different for a project.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Great question.
First, this is a LOCAL problem. The Peninsular Bighorn native habitat is Baja California- not to far south of San Diego. The Bighorn lives in the dry climate of the hills and mountains. There is unfortunately not a lot of water up there and we are currently in a drought. We, here in Southern California, have a negative impact on the Bighorn. We all need water and we are taking the Bighorn's only water sources- lakes, rivers, streams. We are using that for our own purposes. The Bighorn don't have any other options and there isn't any rain to refill these empty river and lake beds. Help the Bighorn by conserving water.
Second, if the Bighorn dies, it disrupts its WHOLE ecosystem. Imagine if you took a just one piece of an ecosystem out of its habitat. That would mess up the entire ecosystem. There is a huge food web and changing that would have a major domino effect. If the Bighorn goes extinct, there would be a surplus of the things they eat. There would also be a surplus of the Bighorn's predator- mountain lions and wild cats. Then those predators would have nothing to eat and go after other animals. See? Chain effect- everything affects everything.
WHAT DID A FEW HIGH SCHOOLERS DO TO HELP?
We ourselves became much more informed about this sever topic. We have a very strong understanding of the bighorn- how it fits into its habitat, threats it faces and how we can save it. What we did and will do is share it with the world. We created the lesson plan for the school in Mexico that they may become more aware and have an impact on these endangered species. We have also created a conservation website to raise awareness for the Bighorn sheep. Also, now that we know the threats Bighorns face we can work to help them. We can use less water and recycle it. We can push for illegalizing poaching the Bighorns for their horns. We can push for less construction near the Bighorn's habitat.
This world isn't just made for us. There are billions upon billions of species of plants and animals on this planet. We are simply one of them. Use your resources to benefit more than just you.
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