Using NewsHour Extra Worksheets

Overview: NewsHour Extra worksheets can help students follow along and identify key points in NewsHour science broadcast pieces.

Warm Up: Introduce the topic of the broadcast piece and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Hand out the worksheet and have students answer the questions as they watch the NewsHour segment.

Need a DVD of the science segment?: Write to science@newshour.org.

Story: Common Grassland Birds Disappearing in Midwest , 7/31/07
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/environment/july-dec07/birds_07-31.html

Worksheet Questions: (click here for printout)

1. How many years of bird population data did the National Audubon Society analyze? Who collected the data?

The society analyzed 40 years of bird population data, collected by volunteer "citizen scientists."

2. What is the biggest reason for steep declines in the bird population, according to Chicago Audubon Director Stephen Packard?

The biggest reason was loss of the birds' habitat, particularly prairie.

3. How much of Illinois used to be covered by prairie? What percent is covered now?

More than half of Illinois used to be covered by prairie, now less than 1 percent is.

4. After volunteers restored a Chicago-area prairie, by what percent did Bobolink and Meadowlark populations increase?

The populations increased by about 450 percent.

5. What is one kind of grass that volunteers are using to reseed and recreate prairie?

Volunteers are using porcupine grass and prairie dropseed grass.

For more NewsHour Science Reports, go to www.pbs.org/newshour/science.

For more science lesson plans and worksheets, go to www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/science.