Endangered Species

Here are links to some of the many Web sites that focus on endangered animals. (ECB also provides excellent video resources on endangered species for Wisconsin teachers.)

Elementary and Middle School | High School | Instructional Video Series for Wisconsin Teachers

Elementary and Middle School

Keeping the Wild Alive, from the National Wildlife Association, presents basic facts about 25 endangered species, plus video clips, a detailed explanation of why each species is endangered, and information on what students can do to help.

Critter Corner, from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, provides information on the state's wildlife, including endangered and threatened species.

The Endangered Species pages from the World Wildlife Fund U.S. provide information on pandas, gorillas, elephants, rhinos, tigers, polar bears, whales, and dolphins.

The Kids' Planet Web site from Defenders of Wildlife contains fact sheets about many animals, an in-depth interactive unit about wolves, and games and quizzes. The teachers' section includes multidisciplinary units about wolves, sea otters, and black bears.

Florida Everglades gives interdisciplinary, problem-based learning modules for grades 5-8 from NASA Classrooms for the Future's Exploring the Environment. Students are asked to make predictions about the future of the Florida Panther based on an Earth system science analysis of water restoration in the Everglades.

Threatened Species and Public Policy is a lesson plan for grades 6-8 from PBS's American Field Guide site, which features video clips of animals from across the country.

Raptors in the City: The Peregrine Falcon highlights the decline and rescue of the peregrine falcon from the brink of extinction. The site includes a video of a falcon eating and an audio file of a falcon cry that the high school students who created this site recorded themselves.

Bald Eagles provides information on eagle ecology, history, and folklore. The site was created by and for elementary and middle-school students.

Endangered Species of Hawaii highlights the state that hosts the largest number of endangered species. This site was created by fourth grade students from Hawaii.

High School

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Program Web site provides facts about all U.S. endangered species, with scientific and legal information that makes the site appropriate for older students. The Kids Corner provides some information tailored for younger students and includes a teachers' section with downloadable materials.

Endangered Resources from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) features a list of State Threatened and Endangered Species, with information and a photograph of each. It also includes fact sheets for many of Wisconsin's rare and other non-game animals, rare plants, and natural communities.

World Wildlife Fund's Virtual Wildlife offers information about endangered carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores and their habitats. Another section profiles some remarkable animals and the myths that surround them.

Endangered Species of the Next Millennium takes a comprehensive look at the problem of animal extinctions. This student-created site includes audio and video clips, quizzes, and an interactive story.

Mountain Gorillas has interdisciplinary, problem-based learning modules for grades 7-12 from NASA Classrooms for the Future's Exploring the Environment. Simulation activities ask students to evaluate social, economic, and environmental factors affecting gorilla survival and to make recommendations.

The Watchlist, from the National Audubon Society, identifies and gives information about threatened North American bird species, a list of birds by state, and activities for children.

The Whooping Crane Report, from the USGS Patuxet Wildlife Refuge, contains lots of information, photographs, and video clips. Whooping Crane Chick Reports follow the life of young chicks raised at the center and then released in the wild; other features include frequently asked questions and cool facts about whoopers.

Environment Canada's Species at Risk in Canada includes information and photographs for species on the Canadian endangered species list.

Sea Otters: California's Threatened Treasures is full of information about sea otters' habitat, life cycle, and why they are endangered. The site was created by high school students, and also includes a link to a live "otter cam."

Crane Cam from National Geographic magazine lets you see and hear Sandhill Cranes in action. The site features a Web cam from the Platte River where half a million cranes can be seen during their migration.

International Crane Foundation provides information about all types of cranes, and includes a teachers' page with activities and information about crane workshops.

Instructional Video Series for Wisconsin Teachers
Wisconsin teachers may tape these programs for classroom use. Click on each link to find information about the program, teacher guide and broadcast schedule from the ECB Instructional Database.

Sam the Sea Cow from Reading Rainbow (grades 1-4)

The Year of the Panda from Cover to Cover (grades 3-4)

Diversity: Life at Risk from NatureWorks (grades 4-6)

Trumpeter Swans and How They Live from Animals and How they Live (grades 5-8)

Real Science (grades 5-9

Endangered Species from Interactions: Real Math-Real Careers (grades 6-9)

The Text-only menu provides accessible and printer-friendly access to the Surf Report Archives.

Please contact us if you have questions or suggestions for the Surf Report!