Erase It! Endangered Animals

From pandas to penguins, as many as 6,000 plant and animal species become extinct each year. How can you help to erase the problem of these endangered creatures?

• 1.

  Why do animals become endangered? Changes in the environment, poachers, chemicals and toxic materials, human overpopulation, and demands for certain species and just some of the reasons animals become endangered or extinct.

• 2.

  Research how you can help to erase the problem of endangered animals. Brainstorm what you and your classmates can do locally. What changes need to happen in the world? While the ideas are flowing, draw a picture with Crayola® Erasable Colored Pencils showing what you learned on white paper.

• 3.

  You might show part of the rainforest being chopped down, taking away habitats for many animals. How about drawing houses being built on farmland or in a forest, causing animals to lose their homes and nesting sites? Include a way to stop this destruction to save precious animals, insects, and birds.

• 4.

  Use the eraser on your drawing tools to add meaning to your picture. You can erase words from large areas of color. Or you can add dimension, shading, and texture by removing some color. After erasing, add another color in that spot to form stripes, dots, or textured feathers or fur.

• 5.

  With your classmates, hang your posters where lots of people will see your message! Libraries, Extension Services, and other groups often welcome student displays.

Benefits

• Students learn why many animals, insects, and birds are becoming extinct. They understand the importance of the food chain and how disturbing one area of it can cause havoc with wildlife.
• Students discover how they can make a difference in protecting endangered species by respecting animal habitats and teaching others to do the same.
• Students draw a scene depicting ways to erase the worldwide problem of endangered animals.

Adaptations

• Younger children and those with disabilities will find it helpful to see lots of photographs of and read stories about endangered or extinct animals. When possible, visit local areas where animal habitats are endangered.
• Research the efforts being made to protect endangered animals such as the African elephant and the humpback whale. Learn the names of environmental groups that help solve these problems and find out what they do. Perhaps your class could raise money to se
• Find out which animals, birds, and insects are in danger of becoming or are extinct. Draw pictures of several. Link pictures with yarn to a world map to see where species are vanishing.
• Invite knowledgeable people from local environmental agencies to speak. Perhaps building of new homes threatens wetlands where a specific type of turtle or bird has its habitat. Find out what can be done by individuals to prevent this loss.
• Assessment: Ask students to draw five animals that are endangered (excluding dinosaurs). Next to each picture write a few sentences on why the creature could be lost and what could be done to save it.