Backyard Wildlife

Relevance of Topic:

There is no better way for students to learn than to do it! Taking students out into the schoolyard to observe the plants and animals that are there, is a wonderful beginning to future schoolyard adventures! Perhaps you and your students will decide to make some improvements to your schoolyard, or they may choose to make improvements to their own backyards, in order to attract more wildlife to the area. But be careful -- it’s addicting!

PA Environment & Ecology Standards Reference:

Grade 7 Grade 10

4.2.7 A2

4.3.7 B1 4.3.10 B1

4.6.7 A2, 5; C4 4.6.10 A4, 7, 10, 11, 13; B2; C3

4.7.7 A2; B4, 5, 6; C1, 2, 3, 4, 8 4.7.10 A1, 2, 3; B1, 2; C1, 2

4.8.7 C2; D2, 3 4.8.10 C1

Key Vocabulary:

caretaker, groundskeeper, cartographer, aerial view, ground truthing, legend, scale, stewardship, habitat, larva, pupa, chrysalis, abiotic, shelter, basking

Suggested Sequence for Use of Video & Teacher’s Guide Materials:

• show video clip which highlights ways of attracting a variety of wildlife to backyard habitats

• facilitate Food, Land & People (FLP) activity "Your Schoolground! Through New Eyes"

• show video clip on bats

• facilitate Discover Bats! activity "Studying Neighborhood Bats"

• show video clips of butterfly gardening (in backyards and parks)

• facilitate Wild Pennsylvania activity "Butterfly Habitat Rummy"

• facilitate Wild Pennsylvania activity "My Garden for a Butterfly"

For Discussion:

Why might it be important for some animals to have backyards developed to provide habitat for them? Are there times when certain wildlife species are attracted to our backyards, and we would rather they are not? What kinds of things can be done then?