Programs coming soon...
Programs 6th - 12th grade
Description: These programs aim to inform, inspire and empower students to speak for wildlife and their ecosystems. Programs explore predators and their role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, predator conservation here and around the world and young peoples’ role in conservation and environmental education. These programs inform students about local wildlife so they can make informed decisions, identify problems they care about, and act locally.
Age Range: 6th through 12th grade and up
Time: Programs are 45 minutes long unless requested to be extended. Program can be extended to 60 minutes in length.
Cost: $0-$115
Where: At your school, community center, or library in Transylvania, Henderson, and Buncombe counties in Western North Carolina.
NC Correlations: Yes, see specific program listings
Materials: We bring photos, life-size silhouettes, and bio-facts (skulls, tracks and scat replicas, fur samples, etc.) to each program for students to touch and manipulate. Also, each program involves a hands-on activity to get students up and moving. We provide teachers with fact sheets about the animals discussed in the program along with ideas for follow-up lessons intended for deeper learning and understanding of the content.
Predator Perceptions
This program is designed to introduce students to local NC predator species and their role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Students will learn about local predator’s diet, hunting behavior, and ecosystem impact. Students will participate in a debate about the benefits of predators in their community and examine their perceptions about local predators.
North Carolina Science Essential Standards:
§ 6.L.2.1
§ 8.L.3.1, 8.L.3.2, 8.L.3.3
§ Bio 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, Bio 2.2.1, 2.2.2
Growing Up
Black Bear
This program covers the basic needs and adaptations of North Carolina’s black bears. Students will take part in an activity where students assume the role of black bears trying to survive and pass on their genes in North Carolina. Students will discover how human activities can sometimes get in the way of an animal’s procreation opportunities.
North Carolina Science Essential Standards:
§ 7.L.2.3
§ 8.L.3.1
§ Bio 2.1.2, 2.1.4
Students will examine mammal skulls and teeth to learn what the animal ate, which senses it relied on for hunting or finding food, and whether it was the predator or the prey. Through scientific investigation, students can learn what that animal was like when it was alive and its status in the food chain.
North Carolina Science Essential Standards:
§ 6.L.2.1
§ 8.L.3.1, 8.L.3.2
§ Bio 2.1.1
Animal Skull & Diet Investigation
How to Save a Species
This program will look at the conservation efforts to save the wild Cheetah in Africa as a case study to explore different methods scientists are utilizing to research and educate about endangered species. Students will compare conservation efforts happening in the U.S. and around the world to save endangered species and examine limitations, successes, and failures of different conservation methods and learn what it takes to save a species.
North Carolina Science Essential Standards:
§ 8.L.3.1, 8. L.3.2
§ Bio 2.2.1, 2.2.2