Conservation in Action: an Educator’S Guide to Species at Risk in BC Grades 8 – 12
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CONSERVATION IN ACTION: An Educator’s Guide to Species at Risk in BC Grades 8 – 12 CONSERVATION IN ACTION: An Educator’s Guide to Species at Risk in BC for Grades 8 - 12 February 2015 Written and edited by DG Blair, Blair Whitehead & Associates and Kelly Nordin Published by Wilderness Committee WILDERNESS COMMITTEE CONSERVATION IN ACTION: An Educator’s Guide to Species at Risk in BC for Grades 8 - 12 Written by: DG Blair, Blair Whitehead & Associates and Kelly Nordin Project coordinator: Isabelle Groc Editors: Gwen Barlee, Isabelle Groc, Mike Pearson and Alexis Stoymenoff Illustrations: Perry Sky Jack Design and layout: Perry Sky Jack and Sue Fox Cover Photos Sockeye salmon: Dale Sanders American badger: Isabelle Groc Monarch butterfly: Robert McCaw Grizzly bear cub: John E. Marriott Spotted owl: Isabelle Groc Garry oak ecosystem: Michael Wheatley All other contributions photos, drawings and illustrations inside are gratefully credited within the book. Copyright © Wilderness Committee 2015 All rights reserved. Written copy and worksheets may be reproduced without permission if credit is given. Published by the Wilderness Committee Printed in Canada on Lynx paper text and cover, which is part of the Earth Climate family. Lynx is FSC certified as well as SFI certified sourcing and Rainforest Alliance certified. This publication is printed on acid-free paper using vegetable-based inks. Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication ISBN 1-895123-054 1. Species-at-risk, British Columbia 2. Conservation 3. Environmental Education Grades 8 -12 I. Western Canada Wilderness Committee Includes reference The publisher gratefully acknowledges the support of the Vancouver Foundation. The Wilderness Committee is Canada’s largest membership-based, citizen-funded wilderness preservation organization. WILDERNESS COMMITTEE 46 East 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5T 1J4 1-800-661-9453 (toll-free in Canada and US) (604) 683-8220 (in Metro Vancouver) WildernessCommittee.org Contents Acknowledgments .......................................................................................... 4 Preface ............................................................................................................. 5 Module One: Introduction to Species at Risk in BC • Primer for Teachers: Introduction to Species at Risk in BC .......................................7 • Student Fact Sheet: British Columbia’s Species at Risk ..........................................15 • Activity 1: What Do You Know About SAR? Introduction to Species at Risk .........19 • Activity 2: What Species are at Risk in Your Community? .......................................27 • Activity 3: Species at Risk in the News .....................................................................37 • Glossary .......................................................................................................................43 AcKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to acknowledge all of Carnahan (Land CARE Coordinator, Habitat the people who so generously gave their Acquisition Trust), Andrea Gielens (wildlife expertise and time to ensure the value of biologist), Henry DeJong (Park Design this resource for educators. Technician, City of Burnaby), Shannon Special thanks to: Cowan (biologist), Carrie Oloriz (biologist) and Carrina Maslovat (biologist). The teachers who dove in and fully piloted the activities, providing extremely The conservation biologists and experts valuable insights and approaches – Jamie who provided feedback during the planning Stewart (Science Department Head, and development of the curriculum – Burnaby South Secondary School, Burnaby), Mike Pearson (Pearson Ecological), Susan Chris McDonald (Science teacher, Stelly’s Pinkus (biologist), Kieran Dowling (former Secondary School, Saanichton) and Owen Education Program Manager, Sierra Club Davies (Social Studies teacher, Stelly’s BC), Pamela Zevit (Program Coordinator, Secondary School, Saanichton). South Coast Conservation Program), Mark Neufeld (Social Studies teacher, The teachers who reviewed the activities Claremont Secondary School), David and provided feedback – Amy Cousins Zandvliet (Associate professor and Director, (Social Studies teacher, Gulf Islands Institute for Environmental Learning, Simon Secondary School, Salt Spring Island), Fraser University), Richard Kool (Associate Jennifer Neff (Social Studies teacher, professor, Environmental Education and Burnaby South Secondary School, Burnaby), Communication Program, School of Avril Broekhuizen (Biology/Science teacher, Environment and Sustainability, Royal Roads Chilliwack Secondary School, Chilliwack) and University) and Kerrie Mortin (Manager, Joel Harwood (Athletic Director/Outdoor Education Programs, Habitat Conservation Leadership teacher, Howe Sound Secondary Trust Foundation). School, Squamish). Grade 9 and 10 students in Jennifer Keith McPherson, Community Field Cacaci’s art class at South Kamloops Experience Program Coordinator at the Secondary School who produced artwork Faculty of Education, University of British featuring BC’s species at risk. Columbia. University of British Columbia education students Scott Liang and Daniel Chang, who supported the piloting of the activities and provided valuable input and feedback. University of Victoria biology education student Emrys Prussin, who wrote an initial draft of the Primer for Teachers: Introduction to Species at Risk in BC. Field experts who shared their knowledge with high school students during Gwen Barlee speaks at a student art exhibition to the pilots and preliminary field trips – Todd raise awareness about species at risk. (Michael Wheatley) 4 PREFACE British Columbia is renowned for its their communities. The resource emphasizes spectacular wilderness and wildlife. Pocket collaborations among teachers from different deserts, old-growth forests, grasslands, Garry subject areas including science, social studies, oak meadows, sparkling lakes and wild rivers English, art and other disciplines. form the ecological fabric of our province. Today, many children have become These wild places are also home to many experts at playing video games and wild creatures. Vancouver Island marmots, navigating the web, but they may have spotted owls, grizzly bears, phantom orchids never looked into a pond or listened to and tiger salamanders are just a sampling frog calls in the wild. Studies are finding of the amazing wildlife found here. They that the separation between children and are also just a handful of the hundreds of nature is linked to increases in attention- species that are now at risk in BC. deficit disorder, child obesity and other health The Wilderness Committee has been problems. working hard for many years to raise awareness about BC’s species at risk, and to This resource does not attempt to be a inspire the public to take action. Since 1980, complete guidebook on species at risk in BC. we have helped protect millions of hectares Rather, we envision it as a way for teachers to of wilderness including the Khutzeymateen work together across a variety of disciplines Grizzly Bear Sanctuary and Carmanah Walbran and introduce endangered species-related Provincial Park. We have also set legal issues using real-world activities and problem- precedents to safeguard endangered wildlife, solving tools. It will also help teachers provide including legal judgments requiring the multimedia resources and facilitate community protection of endangered killer whale habitat. connections for local schools. Through field trips and hands-on exposure to local In partnership with teachers, wildlife community groups, conservation biologists biologists and curriculum specialists, and naturalists, we hope this program will we have developed CONSERVATION IN inspire students to gain a deeper knowledge ACTION: An Educator’s Guide to Species of species at risk in their communities. at Risk in BC for Grades 8 - 12, an inquiry- based curriculum resource that can be CONSERVATION IN ACTION gives integrated into a variety of classes for BC students the opportunity to address a secondary schools. This resource gives “real-world” issue in their own backyard. students the opportunity to learn about The guiding principle of this program is to species at risk in their local environment, develop educated citizens who are inspired understand the threats those species face to learn about the topic from different and identify what they can do to help. It perspectives, help make decisions and work encourages students to become scientists in toward lasting solutions. the field as well as educated citizens. Gwen Barlee Understanding and solving issues related Policy Director, to BC’s species at risk cannot be done Wilderness Committee within a single discipline. Different issues require different approaches. As a result, this program promotes collaborative activities that facilitate outdoor learning experiences where students and teachers can work within 5 Primer FOR Teachers 6 “I Am A Killer Whale” by Maddy, Grade 10, South Kamloops SecondarySchool SouthKamloops Grade10, “I AmAKillerWhale”byMaddy, CONSERVATION IN ACTION: An Educator’s Guide to Species at Risk in BC for Grades 8 - 12 Primer for Teachers: Introduction to Species at Risk in BC In our home province, British Columbia, an habitats – areas upon which species depend astounding array of plants and animals lives – are lost or damaged, and populations are in an equally amazing range of ecosystems not able to continue to grow and thrive. The – from pocket deserts to old-growth forests,