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Haleakalā National Park

Autobiographies of Extinct and Endangered Species
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade

This lesson is about why species become endangered or extinct. Students will do a case study of one extinct and one endangered species. The two biggest threats to a species survival are invasive species and habitat loss. Students will learn what an invasive species is and see visuals of habitat loss on Maui. Without intervention and management, these endangered species could disappear within the students’ lifetime.

Everglades National Park

“Survival: Risky Business” Wildlife 4-6 Grade
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

Students will receive an endangered or extinct mystery animal card taped to their backs. They must use critical thinking skills to ask the right questions and discover the identity of their mystery animal. They will discuss what it means to be extinct or endangered and ways they can help those animals that are threatened with extinction.

Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument

What's for Dinner?
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Lower Elementary: Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade

Students will observe the shape of living and extinct animals’ teeth to determine whether they are carnivores or herbivores.

Everglades National Park

“Going… Going… Gone!” Water: 4-6 Grade
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

The students will be able to: a) list two of the factors involved in the extinction of small populations, and b) differentiate between an individual organism, a species, and a population.

Everglades National Park

"Food Chain Mobile" Everglades ABCs: 2nd Grade
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Lower Elementary: Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade

Students will build a four part food chain and discuss and demonstrate what happens when one link is removed (an animal or plant becomes extinct).

Everglades National Park

"Going, Going, Gone" Don't Let It Loose: 5-8th Grade
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade

The students will be able to define the terms native, alien, endangered and extinct; explain the impact of exotic vegetation to natural communities; name at least three native and three exotic species found in South Florida.

Haleakalā National Park

Mosquito Population Control
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: High School: Ninth Grade through Twelfth Grade

Mosquitoes are vectors of avian malaria and avian pox that impact bird populations in Hawai'i. Native forest birds are susceptible to avian disease. These birds are found in Hawai'i and no where else in the world and face extinction.

Helping Each Other
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Lower Elementary: Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade

The survival of different species depends on two species helping each other. The complex relationships within one habitat can be hurt when one of the species is threatened or one of the species becomes extinct.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Geologic Timeline
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

Students will conduct research on extinct species annotating specified information. Students will then locate where on the geologic timeline each species fits. From there, students will create their own geologic timeline trail using their pictures.

Cowpens National Battlefield

Upper Piedmont Wildlife Habitat Prior to 1781
  • Type: Student Activities
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

To have students define what kind of habitat an animal would have needed to survive in the upper Piedmont of the Carolinas prior to the Battle of Cowpens. Students will describe elements that contributed to the animal’s extinction from the area

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

William's Wheel of Fortune Lesson Plan
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

This lesson plan engages the decisions made by William Bent, the manager of Bent's Fort's trading post during the fur trade era in the context of westward expansion. It examines contributing factors leading to the near extinction of bison herds decades later.

Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve

Life Time Line
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

Students will be able to visualize the times of important evolutionary events in relation to geological and cultural history. Students will be able to name some of the animals that became extinct at Craters of the Moon. Students will use their imaginations to forecast future events and designate them on a timeline.

Hawaiian Islands: Born of Fire
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

This lesson introduces students to hot spot theory and how it relates to plate tectonics. It also compares and contrasts composite and shield volcanoes and introduces students to the theory behind the formation of the Hawaiian Islands. Students will learn how to classify Hawaiian volcanoes according to their activity and location as active, dormant and extinct.

Badlands National Park

Bison by the Numbers
  • Type: Student Activities
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

The American bison was an important species to Native Americans on the Great Plains of North America. However, as settlers moved west during the nineteen century, the population numbers dramatically dropped from overhunting. In this exercise, students will learn graphing skills while learning about this species that almost went extinct.

Haleakalā National Park

Adaptations Unit Field Trip
  • Type: Field Trips
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

Many of Haleakalā’s forest birds have evolved and adapted over time with specific niches in their habitat. Explore how these adaptations are important to the health and stability of native habitats. Learn about the threats to these rare and endemic forest birds and what Haleakalā National Park is doing to protect them from extinction.

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

No Dinosaurs Here, Only Mammals!
  • Type: Distance Learning
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

Join an Education Ranger as they introduce students to several species of mammals that once roamed the Nebraska plains during the Miocene epoch some 26-15 Million Years ago. Learn about how climate change, geology and other environmental factors contributed to the evolution and extinction of these species. And some other fun facts as well!

Buffalo National River

Buffalo Caves and Karst
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

This lesson was designed to help students learn about karst landscapes and how erosion can form various land features (ex. caves).

Andersonville National Historic Site

Victory from Within: The American Prisoner of War Curriculum
  • Type: Other Education Materials
  • Grade Levels: Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade

Educating young people about the sacrifices made by American prisoners of war (POWs) is a shared goal of the Friends of Andersonville, the American Ex-Prisoners of War, the Korean War Ex-POW Association, Nam-POW, and the National Parks Service. The Curriculum is designed to accompany the traveling exhibit, but it can also be utilized with a visit to the National Prisoner of War Museum at Andersonville National Historic Site or as a standalone curriculum.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

So You Wanna Be a Paleontologist?
  • Type: Lesson Plan
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

Students will become familiarized with fossils that have been uncovered in Florissant Fossil Beds from the Eocene and Quaternary. They will select a certain extinct species and make a sketch on a Popsicle stick canvas. After shuffling their Popsicle stick fossil, they will then hide the sticks around a room and have someone else find and "excavate" the Popsicle stick fossil and attempt to put it back together. Best done with a partner to exchange fossils to find and put together.

George Washington Birthplace National Monument

When George Washington Was a Child
  • Type: Other Education Materials
  • Grade Levels: Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade

When George Washington Was a Child Materials will be mailed when reservation is made. Please call (804) 224-1732 ext. 227 for further questions or to inquire about making a reservation.