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Canada
IV: Here and Now
Part 2: The Great Canada Zoo: Animals At Risk and Their Habitats
Introduction:
The border between Canada and the United States crosses all sorts of terrain, from the forests and seashore of the west coast, across prairies. mountains, farmlands and wetlands, through four of the five Great Lakes, over rivers, lakes and streams, and finally the rocky shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Though the border may divide people and land politically, the ecosystems and organisms of border regions pay it little attention. Many of the animals and plants that are common in Canada are also found in the United States. But Canada is enormous and encompasses many ecosystems, and therefore organisms, that do not live south of the border. In addition, differing patterns of development and exploitation of the lands and waters between the two countries have affected species differently in one country than in the other.
Overview:
In this lesson, students will design animal exhibits for a zoo dedicated to species of animals that are deemed “at risk” in Canada. Students will learn not only about these individual animal species, but also about other species of plants and animals on which they depend, their climatic and geographic requirements for survival, and the impacts humans have had on them. They will have an opportunity to be creative, to think big, and to design virtual experiences of environments far from those with which they are familiar.
Objectives:
Students will research the animals of Canada, their habitats and requirements for survival
Students will learn what animals in Canada are endangered and why
Students will learn about the variety of habitats and ecozones in Canada
Students will design exhibits for a zoo that represents Canada's endangered wildlife
Students will learn about conservation efforts
Students will think critically about the positive and negative roles of zoos
Students will engage in map reading and mapmaking
Students will learn vocabulary of geography, biology and conservation
Grade Level:
Elementary through high school
Time Required:
2-3 class periods (more if possible), and time outside of class
Materials:
Computers with access to the Internet
Possibly art supplies
A color printer may be useful
 The Great Canada Zoo exhibit proposal form
Teachers may direct students to the Student Resources Pages where they can follow relevant links without having access to lesson plans.
Procedure:
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(This section will apply less to younger students.) As a class look at a map of Canada (hanging, projected, or printed out for each student).
The Atlas of Canada has several good choices, among which are:
- As they look at each map, ask students to look for signs indicating distinct areas that would have different conditions, habitats, types of animals and vegetation, and so forth. For example, they might notice differences in elevation and speculate about weather and vegetation at higher elevations, or they might think about the differences in precipitation between the coasts and the central prairies. Essentially, they are working toward seeing the “ecozones” of Canada.
- Tell the students that Canada can be divided into 6 ecozones. Put this list on the board and ask them to guess, using the maps above, where each of these regions might be.
The 6 Ecozones of Canada:
- Arctic and Taiga
- Atlantic Region
- Central Plains
- Mixedwood Plains
- Pacific and Western Mountains
- Boreal Shield
- Show the ecozone map from the Canadian Atlas Online. Ask students what characteristics of each zone make it distinct from the others. For younger students, or if time is too limited, the Canadian Geographic geodome activity explains the six ecozones in simple terms, with graphics.
Canadian Geographic also has a lesson on the six Candian ecozones for elementary school student.
- If a more detailed look at ecozones is warranted, tell the students that Canada is divided into 20 ecozones, 15 terrestrial and 5 aquatic. The following sites have maps and further information:
The Canadian Biodiversity Web site, at McGill University in Montréal, has a full explanation of ecozones, an excellent map and information about each ecozone. The rest of the site is also useful.
Environment Canada's map of terrestrial ecozones shows the entire country, and has links to information about each ecozone (there is also a link to an introduction to ecozones).
The Atlas of Canada has a map of the 15 terrestrial ecozones.
CanadaInfoLink provides a variety of maps and charts, plus other links, about the physical geography of Canada.
- Ask students to speculate about what sorts of animals would live in each area. Why would certains species do well in one place and not in another? What could cause a species to stop doing well in a region where it had previously thrived? What impacts might humans have on the conditions in an ecozone?
- Divide the students into pairs. Each pair will be in charge of preparing a proposal for a zoo exhibit featuring one of the species at risk in the list that follows. See the extensions section, below, for a more involved version of this assignment in which students focus on an entire region or ecozone.
- Hinterland Who's Who provides species fact sheets for dozens of plants, animals, insects and more (click on the "Species" link at the top of the page). Among them are a number of species at risk, ranging from small birds to the largest bears in the world. Each animal in the list is linked to its fact sheet.
The list:
- Bats
- Bicknell's Thrush
- Burrowing Owl
- Caribou
- Great Blue Heron
- Grizzly
- Harlequin Duck
- Leatherback Seaturtle
- Loggerhead Shrike
- Marbled Murrelet
- Marten
- Monarch
- North American Bison
- Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, and Northern Goshawk
- Peregrine Falcon
- Piping Plover
- Polar Bear
- Roseate Tern
- Swift Fox
- Whooping Crane
- Wolf
- Wolverine
Hinterland Who's Who also has a video library and a library of animal sound clips that students could use in presenting their proposals. The site also has a useful glossary that students should use to make sure they understand the terminology relevant to their animals (for example, words like taiga or tundra).
- Species can be assigned randomly, chosen by students, or chosen by the teacher. Try to make sure there is a good variety: animals from different regions of Canada of different types (mammals, fish, reptiles, birds, etc.). The Hinterland Who's Who list of species at risk is not comprehensive. At the teacher's discretion, students may be allowed to browse some of the sites below to find other threatened animals.
Environment Canada's Species at Risk (Especes en Peril) site
The Web site of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), part of the Canadian government, has a searchable database of endangered species and a good links page.
The Canadian Wildlife Service
Parks Canada has a Species at Risk page, with information, photos, and more.
The Canadian Biodiversity Web site has a section on the species of Canada
- Discuss the roles that zoos can play. Ask students what purposes zoos might serve. Answers may include conservation, breeding, education, entertainment, research and more. Ask how zoos can help with conservation of wild animals, other than housing a few members of a species. Answers might include breeding programs, rehabilitation of sick or injured animals, reintroduction or repopulation programs, education about threats to animals' survival, or research. You may or may not wish to discuss controversial topics, such as are often raised against zoos.
- Each pair of students must determine their animal's needs, such as sources of food and water, vegetation and physical habitat, climate (including seasonal variations), and so forth. They will design a zoo habitat for the animal, attempting to make it as natural as possible with the goal of helping the species rebound (in other words, this is not just meant as a display in which the individual animals can live). For the sake of this assignment, tell the students that there are no limitations in terms of space, logistics, etc. If they want a running river or a glacier in their exhibit, that is fine.
- They will use the exhibit proposal sheet as the basis for their proposal, but should also have supporting materials, such as posters, photos, maps, diagrams, etc. The rest of the class (and perhaps other classes) will be able to learn about the various species by looking at these displays. The final product, in whatever form, should address what causes have put the species at risk and what is being done to protect it. Any important vocabulary (words like taiga or tundra, for example) should be explained. Presentations are optional, depending on the time available.
Extensions:
Depending on the time constraints and resources, students could:
- Grade school students could make picture books intended for small children, with photos, basic information, perhaps even a story. There could be one book with many species in it, or separate books for each species.
- This lesson could be restricted to the ecology and species of only the province of Québec, or any other province.
- Geography and social studies classes might find it interesting to use the maps linked above along with statistical information for mapping exercises comparing, for example, population growth and at risk habitats. The maps above are also good for learning about mapmaking and reading maps.
- Instead of (or in addition to) a zoo, students could design exhibits for an aquarium.
- Depending on the students' skill level, they might be charged with proposing an exhibit that represents numerous species living in the same ecozone or region. They would have to choose what animals to include, as no exhibit could be comprehensive. They should make sure the species they choose (not all of which will be at risk) are a representative sample, not just all the large mammals or all the birds.
- A biology or science class could work with speech or English class, so that the students either deliver their proposals as presentations or written papers. This could stress the persuasive speech or essay, or focus on writing from research.
- Debate ethical issues surrounding zoos, such as the treatment of animals, animal research, and so forth.
- Research animals that are endangered in both Canada and the United States.
Resources:
(Links will open in new windows.)
Links for Teachers
The Canadian Museum of Nature's Teacher Zone
Schools For A Living Planet, a curriculum program from the Canadian World Wildlife Fund
ZooAction is a site for kids, and focuses on Canadian species at risk and what zoos in Canada are doing to help. It has several lesson plans for the full range of age groups.
Space for Species is a website designed for students that tracks migratory animals in Canada (eider, caribou, peregrine falcon, polar bear and leatherback sea turtle) using satellites. It was developed by the Canadian Space Agency, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing. It has material for teachers.
Hinterland Who's Who has a number of lesson plans and other materials for teachers.
Species At Risk and other Animal links
Hinterland Who's Who has a great deal of information about wildlife and habitat in Canada, including fact sheets for dozens of species—many of them at risk. It also spotlights important issues.
Environment Canada's Species at Risk (Especes en Peril) site has a wealth of information and links. (Part of the Canadian government.)
The Web site of the Committeeon the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), part of the Canadian government, has a searchable database of endangered species and a good links page.
The Canadian Wildlife Service
Parks Canada has a Species at Risk page, with information, photos, and more.
The Canadian Biodiversity Web site has a section on the species of Canada
Canada's Aquatic Environments covers aquatic plants, animals (fish, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals), habitats (lakes, oceans, rivers and wetlands) and more.
Space for Species is a website for students that tracks migratory animals in Canada (eider, caribou, peregrine falcon, polar bear and leatherback sea turtle) using satellites. It was developed by the Canadian Space Agency, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing.
The Québec Wildlife Museum has a number of photos of taxidermied animals.
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is a good resource for animals and issues in Canada. It has several pages about endangered species.
Wild Education, the educational arm of the Canadian Wildlife Federation
The Ecomuseum, from the Saint-Lawrence Valley Natural History Society
The Codex Canadiensis is a manuscript, from about 1700, with illustrations of (among other things) many animals and plants of Canada. It is exhibited online by Library and Archives Canada.
Environment Canada's Youth and the Environment page
Zoo Links
ZooAction is a site for kids, and focuses on Canadian species at risk and what zoos in Canada are doing to help.
The Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums North American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
Zoos Worldwide has links to zoos, aquariums and animal sanctuaries around the world, zoo cams, and more.
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums has virtual exhibits and many good links.
Biodome de Montréal
Parc Aquarium du Québec
The Calgary Zoo
Toronto Zoo
The Minnesota Zoo
Chicago Zoological Society and Brookfield Zoo
Shedd Aquarium (Chicago)
Canada, Canadian Geography, and other useful sites
The Nature Conservancy in Canada has a page on the Canadian boreal forest.
Canadian Geographic Magazine has maps, articles, photographs, links and more.
The Canadian Geographic Kids Atlas Online
Canadian Geographic's Canadian Atlas Online has a wealth of useful features, including maps, games, a kids atlas, a glossary and more.
The Atlas of Canada has all sorts of maps and information about Canadian geography.
The Canadian Museum of Nature
Canadian Wildlife Service / Service canadien de la faune Environnement Canada
The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
Canadian Weather
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