Thanks for exploring these lesson
plans, which have designed to accompany "The Living Edens: Etosha" Web site.
The lesson plans provided at this Web site are designed to complement the video
presentation and extend its content. Etosha National Park is a rugged area located in Namibia, a country in southwestern Africa. In this desolate environment, the struggle for survival is
heightened by a yearly weather cycle: a short rainy season followed by months of scorching
heat and arid conditions. Amazingly, the area supports herds of majestic wildlife, which live
and compete for the meager supplies of food and water.
The Living Edens: Etosha brings a rich visual picture of the interactions of organisms to
the screen. Students will better visualize the predator-prey relationship, the need for
animals to have camouflage, and how adaptations allow the survival of individuals. The
lessons will enhance these concepts and help students understand the struggle of many
populations throughout the world.
I suggest that you start the activities with the examination of the weather patterns.
Follow this with the jackal game, where students discover the patterns relating to animal
population and food supply. The lessons on the speed of the cheetah and the use of
camouflage can be used in either order to help students understand characteristics that
help animals to survive. The education activity will help students examine why a
population needs to educate its young. Lastly, a fun activity culminates the series of
lessons as students make pop-up books to display the knowledge they have gained.
These lessons are open to interpretation and modification for use in your
classroom. Suggestions for improvement are always welcome. Please email your suggestions
to PBS Online.
Robert Frostick
Science Teacher
John Adams Junior High School
Charleston, West Virginia
About the Classroom Resources Author
The lesson plans were developed by Robert Frostick, a science teacher at
John Adams Junior High School in Charleston, West Virginia.
During his last 19 years of teaching, Mr. Frostick has received a Christa McAuliffe Fellowship
in 1993; the Technology & Learning Teacher of the Year, U.S. Northeast Region, 1997;
Presidential Conservation Education Awards, 1982 & 1983: a Presidential Award for
Excellence in Science Teaching, state level, 1992; Geological Society of America Award for
Excellence in Earth Science Teaching, 1993; and was the Jay Cee's Outstanding Young
Educator in W.V. in 1994.
Mr. Frostick received a National Science Foundation scholarship in 1981 to study the
western U.S. parklands. He has returned numerous times to research and photograph the
parks. In 1996, he received an Earthwatch scholarship to travel to the Amazon basin to
study insects. He turned this experience into an award-winning Internet site aimed at
children. In the summer of 1998, Frostick will return to the Amazon to gather more materials. He is affiliated
with the National Speleological Society and has explored, photographed and mapped caves in
the U.S. and Mexico.
