Let's create continuous conversations about climate change education: Spreading the Sediment of Science!

Success of the Osprey: Formerly Endangered

Provided by: The Nature Conservancy

Lesson Plans Grades 3-5

Synopsis

In these three Nature Lab lessons, students will learn about the once-endangered species ospreys, what led to their place on the endangered species list, and how conservation efforts in New Jersey were successful in restoring their population.
Students will read articles and fact sheets to learn about ospreys and why they were endangered, draw osprey diagrams, observe the Osprey Nest Cam, build osprey nests, and demonstrate their understanding in a quiz.
This lesson has activities for grades 3-5, and also advanced activities for grade 6.

Related Teaching Resources

Subjects: Science

Authors: Nature Lab by The Nature Conservancy

Region: New Jersey

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

The quiz is conveniently available digitally or as a printable PDF.
The Kahoot! adds a layer of gamification that students will love!

Prerequisites

Question 4 in the advanced Osprey Quiz does not give feedback after submitting an answer, nor does it include this in the scoring.
Teachers should review the materials list in advance, as the activities require many materials that may not be immediately available in the classroom.
The links to other lesson plans are broken. Climate Heroes! The Power of Trees can be found here and You’re the Scientist! Citizen science, Frogs, and Cicadas can be found here.

Differentiation & Implementation

To support English language learners in vocabulary acquisition, teachers can use total physical response and teach students movements to go along with the words on the vocabulary list.
If teachers want to use this lesson during the fall or winter when the live-stream is not available for lesson 2, they can watch the highlight reel available on the webpage.
Weather and season permitting, students can birdwatch out on school grounds and look for other local birds.
After completing these lessons, students can find and research an endangered or formerly endangered species of their choice and create a fact sheet using the Osprey Fact Sheet from the lesson as a mentor text.
Students and teachers can discuss how climate change threatens even more species and research efforts to combat climate change.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

About the Partner Provider

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. The Nature Conservancy has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world.