Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School fifth grade teacher Emily Lohse’s classes participated in a fun interdisciplinary project involving researching and writing an essay about an endangered animal of their choice.
Ms. Lohse annually assigns a similar project, which brings together English language arts and science. “Students can choose from a long list of animals who are either critically endangered, endangered or considered vulnerable to being endangered,” she said. “Over many class periods, students become experts on their chosen animal, researching and collecting information about its characteristics and adaptations, its role in the ecosystem, reasons the animal is endangered, and lastly, what measures are being taken to protect it.”
The initiative allowed students to gain valuable research and writing experience, learning to paraphrase and cite information, as well as writing attention-grabbing “hooks” and interesting topic sentences.
“The endangered animal research project is typically a class favorite every year,” Ms. Lohse said. Students were enthusiastic and produced many outstanding projects.
“I really liked all the research and hard work we did,” fifth grader Harmony Cantave said. “It was fun learning new facts and traits about the animals we chose.”
Many of the youngsters chose animals they weren’t previously familiar with, while others picked creatures they have long been interested in and went on to use the project to become experts.
Throughout the process, students could be heard sharing facts with each other. Jayme Pedersen excitedly shared with classmates that a polar bear’s skin is actually black underneath its fur. Janita Files was shocked to learn there were fewer than 100 Amur leopards left in the wild. Wilmer Benitz shared that there were only 67 Javan rhinos remaining in the world.
“As students started to see the impact humans have on animals and ecosystems, they became more passionate about finding solutions,” Ms. Lohse said.
“The way people treat animals is wrong,” fifth grader Bella Duke said. “People kill them for home decor and it’s outrageous.”
Fifth grader Mackenzie McKay was inspired to do more to help. “She told us that during the time of the project, her cat grew sick and needed veterinary attention,” Ms. Lohse said. “She realized that she wanted to help other animals who were in trouble or endangered, so she started a Go Fund Me account, called Save the Animals and raised more than $600 to donate to the World Wildlife Fund. She used the money to do symbolic adoptions on behalf of herself and all of her classmates.”
In a symbolic adoption, the World Wildlife Fund uses donated money to protect wild animals and their habitats. “In return, each student in the class received a stuffed version of the animal they wrote about,” Ms. Lohse said. “When the animals arrived, the classroom looked like a zoo, full of stuffed turtles, tigers, foxes, leopards, ferrets and so many more.”
Ms. McKay wasn’t the only one who was inspired to help. Classmate Layla Odom and her parents symbolically adopted an African Elephant after she learned they were vulnerable to endangerment. Campbell Proctor and her family symbolically adopted a capybara.
“As their teacher, it was so rewarding to see the students take their learning outside of the classroom and want to make a difference out in the world,” Ms. Lohse said.
Ms. McKay provided advice for other students who are moved to help. “Just because you’re a kid doesn’t mean you can't make a difference,” the fifth grader said. “No matter how small you are or what your cause is your voice needs to be heard.”
