Age: Grade(s) 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects: Language Arts, Science, Social Studies
Duration: three 30- to 45-minute class periods, with research time
Group Size: any
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Objectives
Students will:
- identify some human activities that can improve, disrupt, or destroy habitat for birds and other wildlife;
- learn that natural forces, such as drought or severe cold spells, can also affect wildlife;
- identify some of these influences in their community; and
- suggest ideas to improve disturbed habitat or prevent problems for birds.
Method
Students will identify changes that have taken place in their community in the recent past. Based on their findings, they will suggest how the changes may have affected local birds and how to improve conditions for them through specific habitat projects or changes in land use policies. Older students could develop a map-based plan of recommended action.
Materials
writing and research material
Background
Every living thing needs a decent home to survive. Imagine what would happen if your home were demolished and you had nowhere to go! It's the same for birds and all wildlife. Every time their homes are disrupted or destroyed, wildlife species are forced to move elsewhere or get squeezed out of existence. When we use pesticides, we poison plants and insects that birds eat or the water they drink. When we fill in ditches, build dams, or drain swamps, we make life difficult for birds and other creatures. Some municipalities are proactive in protecting wildlife habitat through land use restrictions, but even so, accidents can happen. How often have we heard in the news about a large area that was changed before anyone realized that an environmental impact assessment should have been done first?
Procedure
- Discuss with students the habitat elements that all living creatures, including birds, need to survive.
- Have students brainstorm a list of human and natural activities that can interfere with healthy habitats and cause problems for birds. Human activities include housing developments; new roads; use of pesticides on parks, playing fields or farm crops; and dams or dredging. Natural happenings include severe winters, droughts, or floods.
- Have students research what human activities have occurred in your community in the past six months or year. They may ask municipal officials for a list of development projects that took place within the research time frame. Students do not need to research every project; they can zero in on just one or two. Find out what was there before the project began (such as a park, farm, field, wildflowers, trees, or a pond). What birds lived there then?
- If possible, have students visit one or more developments. Have them look for ways the development may have disrupted conditions for bird habitats and ways that it may have helped to improve conditions.
- Once students have gathered enough data on the development(s) they are studying, ask them to create a list of recommendations that could improve conditions for birds at the site. For example, could garbage and litter be cleaned up, or trees, vines, and shrubs be planted for birds?
Extensions
Have students research what bylaws exist in your area to help reduce habitat disturbance. Are they strict enough or could they be improved?
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