Tracking the Wild Ones

Teaching Theme of the Week

from Education World®

Use statistics about endangered species to learn more about the extent of this global concern.

Subjects: Science, Math

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8

Objectives
Students will:

• analyze graphs to answer specific questions, and
• look for trends in graphed results.

Keywords
Endangered species, animals, graphs

Materials Needed

• copy of Tracking the Wild Ones work sheet for each student
• statistics about threatened and endangered species (available online)
• Internet access (optional)

Procedure
Most students will eagerly agree that endangered species need help and attention, but they often do not have a true understanding of the depth of the problem. In this activity, children use their math skills to interpret data from reputable sources and size up the current status of the endangered species of our nation and the world.

Start this lesson with a brief discussion of endangered species. If you choose, visit The Wild Ones, a Web site with information about endangered species, the environment, and those who protect it. Ask your students to share what they know about the number of endangered species in our nation and the world. Explain that they are about to examine some current data to find out just how many endangered species have been identified. Remind them that these are the animals and plants that are known to be in trouble. Many others probably exist.

Distribute copies of the Tracking the Wild Ones work sheet. Instruct students to use charts and graphs found in the following locations to answer the questions; if Internet access is unavailable, students might use printed copies of the charts.

• Number of U.S. Listed Species Per Calendar Year (PDF, 140K)
• Summary of Listed Species

The pages above are accessible from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service page Species Information. (The second chart is up-to-date, so minor changes may occur in the answer key below.) When students have completed the handout, correct the answers as a group and talk about the large numbers of endangered species found in the United States. Were the students surprised to find that there are more listed species in this country than in the foreign countries? How might that be explained?

Assessment
The following answers reflect the endangered species data posted on the charts and graphs cited in this lesson as of April 4, 2003.

Answer Key:

1. The number of listed species grew every year.
2. 973
3. 514 more plants were listed
4. 1262, 517 animals and 745 plants
5. 115 fish species, 96 have recovery plans
6. arachnids, 12 species
7. lichens
8. 704 more U.S. species than foreign ones

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