| Unit Four: Resilience |
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Activity Tasks |
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Students will:
- define resilient.
- listen to Dr. E.O. Wilson discuss biodiversity.
- research the causes of extinction.
- explore endangered species act.
- research an endangered species.
- read an excerpt on extinction.
- learn how resilience has affected Dr. Jane’s life.
- reflect and journal on how they respond to challenges.
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Dr. Jane’s Lesson |
Dr. Jane has experienced several hardships
in her life that were out of her control. During those times,
Dr. Jane sought comfort in a variety of ways, including seeking
peace and hope in nature and nature’s resilience. Students
can explore the methods Dr. Jane used to maintain her resilience.
They can realize that everyone has hardships at some time in
their lives and that everyone has his or her own personal way
of seeking comfort during those times.
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Duration |
- Part 1 - 1 ½ hours
- Part 2 - 20 minutes
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Materials |
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Connecting to the Content |
Most people have some general knowledge
of extinctions and endangered species. Still, many individuals
do not realize the extent to which extinctions are affecting
the earth and how many species are endangered within their
own state. Students gain an appreciation for the severity
of the situation, both globally and locally. This provides
students with the information they need to create an endangered
species recovery plan in the next section.
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Before You Begin |
Before you begin, go to the Roots
& Shoots website to register your class for Roots
& Shoots membership and to learn about the benefits of
being a member.
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Procedure |
Part 1: Learn About Nature's
Resilience
- Direct the class to Merriam-Webster’s
Online Dictionary to find the definition of resilient.
Have students note the synonym “elastic.” Do
they think this accurately describes the earth? Do they
think this accurately describes themselves?
- Have students listen to Dr. E.O. Wilson discuss biodiversity
on the planet.
- Ask the class to read about the Sixth Extinction and the causes of extinctions.
The Sixth Extinction and Causes of Extinctions
- Have students read a summary of the Sixth Extinction.
- Direct the class to access HIPPO to learn more about the many
different factors contributing to the loss of biodiversity
and extinctions.
- Have students find examples of HIPPO in their community
by selecting the following links:
- Have students research the Endangered
Species Act.
Learn about the Endangered Species Act
- Have students read an overview
of the Endangered Species Act and its purpose.
- Ask the class to access a
slideshow to learn more about endangered species and
the Endangered Species Act.
- Direct students to find out what species are threatened
and endangered in their state.
- Have students select
a species to research.
- Ask the class to research background information about
their species using the worksheet
provided.
- Have students read an excerpt titled, “Sifting through
the Embers,” from the book, Last Chance to See
by Douglas Adams.
Part 2: Reflect on Human Resilience
- Direct students to Dr.
Jane’s scrapbook to learn about resilience in
her life.
- Have the class reflect and journal
about how they respond to challenges that are our of their
control.
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Assessment |
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Have students:
- explain the meaning of resilient and if, after
completing the section, they think the earth and its inhabitants
are resilient.
- share what the Sixth Extinction is.
- communicate the information they learned about their
state through HIPPO.
- demonstrate their knowledge of the Endangered Species
Act and the species that are threatened and endangered in
their state.
- share the background information they researched
about their chosen endangered species.
- share how they respond to challenges that are out
of their control.
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Extensions |
- Students may want to research the HIPPO of other states
rather than just their own states. Students can then note
how their home state compares with other states.
- Students may want to research an endangered species that is not from their state.
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Terms |
- Edward O. Wilson – A biologist
known most for his research and writing in sociobiology
and evolutionary psychology.
- Endangered Species Act – Passed
in 1973, provided for the protection of threatened and endangered
species and conservation of the ecosystems on which the
species depend; accomplished through federal action and
by encouraging the establishment of state programs.
- Evolutionary Psychology – A field
that explores the links between genetic and cultural evolution
that helps explain what makes us who we are.
- Invasive Species – A species that
is non-native to the ecosystem and whose introduction causes
or is likely to cause economic, environmental, or human
harm.
- Resilient – Capable of withstanding
shock without permanent deformation or rupture; tending
to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.
- Sixth Extinction – Gradual extinction
of earth’s environment, including rain forest, coral
reefs, ocean and fresh water life, and multiple animal species.
Of the six major extinctions, it is the only one that is
caused mostly by humans.
- Sociobiology – Study of nature’s
role in determining human behavior.
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