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What Denali Animal Am I? Instructional Objectives
Background Information
Activity
Evaluation
Web Resources
Topic: Identifying the animal species of Denali.
Instructional
Objectives: Students will:
1. Identify the
different mammal species of Denali National Park from
"infocards" they create in class.
2. Identify species
from "infocards" through a classroom
activity similar to Jeopardy.
3. Research the
list of animals provided by this lesson and create
infocards with the information to share with fellow
students.
Background Information:
Students will
create "infocards" (5 x 7 index cards)
from research in animal books (example: field guides
and other animal sources). I have selected the
animals: Moose, Grizzly Bear, Fox, Ground Squirrel,
Golden Eagle, and Caribou however this list can be
easily expanded. The background information provided
is sample information that may be used by the
teacher. Additional information may be placed on the
card following student research. (Source for Facts on Animals:
Burton, John A, Mammals, American Nature
Guides, SMITHMARK Publishers Inc.New York, New
York.1991 and Burton, Philip, Birds of Prey, American
Nature Guides, Gallery Books, New York, NY , 1991.)
| Background
Info For Some Animals In Denali National Park |
| Grizzly
Bear: Ursus Arctos (Scientific Name) Infocard Information:
- Found in Denali National Park
- Habitat: open country often in mountainous
regions
- Extinct in much of its former range
- Abundant in part of NW Canada and Alaska
- Appearance: Large mammal, usually brownish or
yellowish brown
- Size: Six to Seven Feet, 323 to 849 pounds
- Food: Omnivorous
- Usually have 2 in litter in alternate years
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Moose:
Alces alces (Scientific Name) Infocard Information:
- Found in Denali National Park
- Habitat: Forests and willow thickets
- Apperance: Large mammal, largest deer in the
world, dark, long legged, with a humped
appearance and large muzzle, has antlers
- Size: 6.5 - 9 feet, up to 1,210 pounds
- Food: Mostly browse and aquatic vegetation,
willows, aspen and birch
- Not threatened
- One to three calves born in the spring
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Caribou:
Rangifer tarundus (Scientific Name) Infocard Information:
- Found in Denali National Park
- Habitat: tundra, boreal forests, taiga and
mountain coniferous forests
- Appearance: A large deer, variable in color,
but usually with shaggy brownish fur, paler on
neck, with the underparts and rump whitish, has
antlers
- Size: 4.25 - 6.75 feet, up to 594 pounds
- Food: Variable, lichens, twigs (willows and
birches) sedges and fungi
- One calf usually some times two are born
|
Ground
Squirrel: Spemophilus parryii
(Scientific Name) Infocard Information:
- Found in Denali National Park
- Habitat: Open shortgrass
- Appearance: Similar to prairie dogs, brownish
- Size: 9.75-14 inches, 13 -16 ounces
- Food: Mostly grassroots, and other vegetation
- Usually one litter a year of 2-11 young
|
| Golden
Eagle: Aquila chrysaetos (Scientific
Name) Infocard
Information:
- Found in Denali National Park
- Habitat: Untidy Nest, rocky crag, sometimes
trees and chooses most inhospitable mountainous
areas in Northern Hemisphere to live
- Appearance: Dark Brown with some gold
- Size: 30-35 inches long, wing length, 22.5-28
inches, weight 7-12 pounds
Untidy Nest, rocky crag, sometimes trees
- Predatory bird
|
Fox:
Vulpes Fulva (Scientific Name) Infocard Information:
- Found in Denali National Park
- Habitat: Woodlands, forest, farmland, scrubby
hillsides to arctic tundra
- Appearance: Dog like mammal, reddish brown with
white underparts, feet and ears are blackish
- Size: 2.75-3.5 feet, weight: 3-7 kg
- Food: Small mammals, birds, fruit, and insects
- One litter per year, 5-7 young
- Not a threatened species
|
Wolf:
Canis Lupus (Scientific Name) Infocard Information:
- Found in Denali
- Found in forests and tundra
- Appearance: Color is variable, white to black
and yellowish or reddish brown Size: 1.3-1.8
meters, weight 26-59 kg
- Food: Moose and caribou
- Litter is usually 6-7
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Activity: What Denali Animal Am
I?
Time Needed
For Activity: One 45 minute period to have
students research animals of Denali and to
participate in Jeopardy type activity.
Target Grade Level: Middle school
(Extensions for Elementary and Secondary schools found below.)
Materials Needed: Students will work
in groups of four.
- Pencil/Paper
- 5 x 7 Index Cards
- Field Guides of Animals of North America
- Student science journals
Procedure: Divide
students into teams of 3-4.
1. Have student
teams research the different animals assigned
secretly by teacher.
2. Have students write identifying facts from
animal field guides on index cards (infocards).
3. Students will then read one fact about the
Denali animal to class. Other groups will try to
guess which animal it is. Establish a system of
points if another team guesses on one clue, two
clues etc. Keep a point record and team with most
points wins the challenge. If no team is able to
guess which Denali animal it is with the first
fact, then continue to present facts on the
Denali animal until a team is able to identify
the animal.
4. Use the point system for teams and have a
prize for the winning team of students.
Evaluation/ Alternative Assessment
Have students make of list of the animals discussed
and some relevant facts about the animals of Denali
in student science journals. You may want to make
animal picture posters by using animal magazine
cutouts and display them.
Elementary Extension:
Find animals
stories relevant to those animals found in Denali
National Park and read the stories to the
students. You may also have students draw
pictures of the Denali animals.
Read story to students, "Grizzly Cub".
McIntyre, Rick, Grizzly Cub, Five Years In The
Life Of A Bear, Alaska Northwest Books,
Anchorage, Alaska, 1990.
Secondary
Extension:
Have students
research the mammals, birds, fish and amphibians
of the Denali National Park. Students may compare
and contrast the habitats of the different
animals found in the park.
Web Resources on Denali Animals:
http://www.northstar.k12.ak.us/schools/joy/denali/denali_main/main.html
http://www.nps.gov/dena/pphtml/animals.html
http://denali.areaparks.com/parkinfo.html?pid=2386
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