Saskatchewan Species at Risk

The Saskatchewan Species at Risk presentation is designed to inform the students about the problems facing living organisms in our province today. At the end of the presentation, the students can participate in a small conservation project to help an endangered species.

Content:

  • learn Species at Risk categories
  1. Extinct - a wildlife species that no longer exists.
  2. Extirpated - a wildlife species no longer existing in the wild in Canada but occurring elsewhere.
  3. Endangered - a wildlife species facing imminent extinction or extirpation.
  4. Threatened - a wildlife species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed.
  5. Species of Concern - A wildlife species that may become a threatened or an endangered species because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats.
  • learn why  species are at risk (four main way humans are causing extinction: habitat loss and degradation, pollution, over harvesting, and introduction of non-native species)
  • learn why we need to protect species (medicine, food, materials, ecosystem health)
  • learn what can be done to help:
  1. Backyard Projects (Put up birdfeeders, birdhouses, birdbaths or build a bat house.Plant native species of wildflowers to attract birds and butterflies to your garden.)
  2. Habitat Projects
  3. Organize a tree planting day at your school.
  4. Participate in river cleanups.
  5. Adopt an area of your school's playground and then develop a plan to improve it.
  6. Monitoring wildlife
  7. Adopt an area of your school's playground and then develop a plan to improve it.
  8. Participate in wildlife monitoring programs such as FrogWatch, WormWatch, PlantWatch or The Birdhouse Network
  • assist with making seed bombs for planting milkweed, which the monarch butterfly depends on. Please see attachments below on seed bombing, milkweed, and monarchs

Set up:

  • have several old newspapers available (no fliers)
  • one (1) large table
  • data projector/screen

Related Documents:

The World Counts
Saskatchewan Endangered Species
Species at Risk Slide Presentation 
New Species at Risk Commentary
Seed Bombs
Milkweeds and Monarchs

 

Online Resources:

Monarch Butterfly Video

Curriculum Connections  

Outcomes

Indicators

Grade 4

Science

HC4.1 Investigate the interdependence of plants and animals, including humans, within habitats and communities.
a,c,d,f,k
  Science
HC4.2 Analyze the structures and behaviours of plants and animals that enable them to exist in various habitats.
b,c,h
  Science
HC4.3 Assess the effects of natural and human activities on habitats and communities, and propose actions to maintain or restore habitats.
b,c,d,e,g,j
Grade 6 Science
DL6.4 Examine and describe structures and behaviours that help: 
 
  • individual living organisms survive in their environments in the short term
  • species of living organisms adapt to their environments in the long term.
a,c,d,f,g