GRADE LEVEL: 9-12

TIME ALLOTMENT: Two or three 45-minute class periods

OVERVIEW: Using segments from the PBS series Nature episode, Invasion of the Giant Pythons, students will explore pythons and their impact on other species. In the Introductory Activity, students will learn about python digestion and unscramble photos illustrating a python’s digestion of prey. In the Learning Activity, students will learn how pythons have migrated to new environments and the dangers they pose to other species.  Students will learn how invasive species, such as pythons, can threaten native species. In the Culminating Activity, students will learn about the Key Largo woodrat and ways scientists are trying to protect the species from pythons. Students will then explore a native species in their own region and create a presentation about the species, how it is being threatened, and efforts to protect it.

SUBJECT MATTER: Science

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Students will be able to:

• Explain where pythons live and how they have moved from one environment to another.
• List python prey and discuss the process by which pythons capture and digest food.
• Describe dangers pythons pose to native species.
• Discuss efforts to rescue the Key Largo woodrat and the reasons why scientists are launching these efforts.
• Discuss one endangered or threatened local species and efforts being taken to help that species.

STANDARDS:

National Science Education Standards

Grades 9-12:

Content Standard C: Life Science
Fundamental concepts and principles that underlie this standard include:

• The Interdependence of Organisms
  • Organisms both cooperate and compete in ecosystems. The interrelationships and interdependencies of these organisms may generate ecosystems that are stable for hundreds or thousands of years.
  • Living organisms have the capacity to produce populations of infinite size, but environments and resources are finite. This fundamental tension has profound effects on the interactions between organisms.
  • Human beings live within the world’s ecosystems. Increasingly, humans modify ecosystems as a result of population growth, technology, and consumption. Human destruction of habitats through direct harvesting, pollution, atmospheric changes, and other factors is threatening current global stability, and if not addressed, ecosystems will be irreversibly affected.

MEDIA COMPONENTS

Invasion of the Giant Pythons, selected segments

Clip 1: Dinner Time

An overview of how a python captures and digests its prey.

Clip 2: It’s Raining Pythons

A close look at how pythons have entered new environments

Clip 3: Beware: Pythons

A description of the dangers that pythons pose to other species.

Clip 4: Saving the Rats

A look at efforts to protect the Key Largo woodrat from pythons.

Access the streaming and downloadable video segments for this lesson at the Video Segments Page.

Websites

Invasion of the Giant Pythons/ Photos:

These pages on the Nature website illustrate the process by which a python digests its prey. These images can be used in the Introductory Activity.

• Python digesting an alligator

• Python digesting a rat

US Fish and Wildlife Endangered Species Program

This website includes a variety of information about endangered species. The “Species Search” page, used in the Culminating Activity, features a US map where visitors can locate endangered plant and animal species throughout the country.

Optional (for research in Culminating Activity):

• The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan

This website includes a variety of information about the Everglades, including facts about plants and animals:

• California Department of Fish and Game/ Invasive Species Program

This website contains information about invasive species in California and efforts being taken to reduce their negative effects on native species and environments.

• South Florida Natural Resources Center/ Everglades National Park: Natural Resources Management/ Burmese Pythons

This fact sheet provides detailed information about Burmese pythons and efforts underway to monitor and control the python population.

MATERIALS

For the class:

• Computers with internet access
• Computer, projection screen and speakers (for class viewing of online/downloaded video segments)
• One copy of the “Python Digestion Game” answer key (download here)

For each pair of students

• 1 copy of the “Python Digestion Game” (download here)

PREP FOR TEACHERS

Prior to teaching this lesson, you will need to:

Preview all of the video segments and websites used in the lesson.

Download the video clips used in the lesson to your classroom computer(s) or prepare to watch them using your classroom’s Internet connection.

Bookmark any websites that you plan to use in the lesson on each computer in your classroom. Using a social bookmarking tool such as del.icio.us or diigo (or an online bookmarking utility such as portaportal) will allow you to organize all the links in a central location.

Print out one copy of the “Python Digestion Game” for each pair of students. If desired, cut the cards along the dotted lines prior to the class and paper clip each set of 6 cards together. If you do not pre-cut the cards, provide students with scissors to cut out the cards themselves.

Print out one copy of the “Python Digestion Game” answer key.

NEXT: Proceed to Lesson Activities

GRADE LEVEL

Grades 2-4

TIME ALLOTMENT

Two 45-minute class periods

OVERVIEW

This lesson introduces students to some fascinating members of the reptile kingdom, focusing on lizards and snakes. Students first view segments from the NATURE episode “The Dragon Chronicles,” where they will learn about several kinds of cobras, a python, and two lizards – the water monitor and the Draco, the “flying dragon.” Students will complete a chart comparing and contrasting lizards and snakes, learning about key features shared by all reptiles as they do this. They will then focus on defense mechanisms, using information from the video and web resources to compile a list of various strategies that snakes and lizards have developed as adaptations for protection from predators.  Lastly, they will complete a writing and drawing assessment summarizing their knowledge of one of the snakes or lizards featured in the video segments.

SUBJECT MATTER

Living Environment/Biology

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to:

• Name the key distinguishing characteristics of reptiles;
• List several types of snakes and lizards, describing unique features of each;
• Describe defense strategies used by different snakes and lizards;
• Interpret information about reptiles presented in video segments;
• Use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast features of snakes and lizards;
• Write a summary sheet describing features of one species of snake or lizard.

STANDARDS

National Science Education Standards:

Standards available online at: http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=4962&page=127

Life Science

Content Standard C

As a result of activities in grades K-4, all students should develop understanding of:

The Characteristics of Organisms

• Organisms have basic needs. For example, animals need air, water, and food; plants require air, water, nutrients, and light. Organisms can survive only in environments in which their needs can be met. The world has many different environments, and distinct environments support the life of different types of organisms.
• Each plant or animal has different structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction. For example, humans have distinct body structures for walking, holding, seeing, and talking.
• The behavior of individual organisms is influenced by internal cues (such as hunger) and by external cues (such as a change in the environment). Humans and other organisms have senses that help them detect internal and external cues.

MEDIA COMPONENTS

NATURE: The Dragon Chronicles, selected segments

Clip 1: “Cobras and Pythons”

Three different snakes demonstrate their defense strategies.

Clip 2: “Water Monitor”

Water monitors in Sri Lanka are very intelligent and coexist with humans easily.

Clip 3: “Draco”

Draco is a flying lizard in India’s rainforest.

Access the streaming and downloadable video segments for this lesson at the Video Segments Page.

Web sites:

Reptiles: Defense on Yahoo Kids

This page has pictures of different reptiles demonstrating the ways they defend themselves. (NOTE – if you do not have computers for student use in your classroom, print the information here for your students).

Centralpets.com – Central Lizard Page

Directory of lizards commonly kept in captivity, including Draco (Flying Dragon) and Water Monitor.

Snakes – with Kidsbiology.com

Short descriptions and photos of snakes, including King Cobra, Spitting Cobra, and Reticulated Python.

MATERIALS

For the teacher:

• Righteous Reptiles Video Organizer Answer Key (PDF) (RTF)

For each pair of students:

• Snake/Lizard Comparison Chart (PDF) (RTF)

For each student:

• Righteous Reptiles Video Organizer (PDF) (RTF)
• Righteous Reptiles Summary Sheet (PDF) (RTF)

PREP FOR TEACHERS

Prior to teaching this lesson, you will need to:

Preview all of the video segments and Web sites used in the lesson.

Download the video clips used in the lesson to your classroom computer, or prepare to watch them using your classroom’s Internet connection.

Bookmark the Web sites used in the lesson on each computer in your classroom. Using a social bookmarking tool such as del.icio.us or diigo (or an online bookmarking utility such as portaportal) will allow you to organize all the links in a central location.

Print and copy the student organizers mentioned in the “Materials” section.

PROCEED TO ACTIVITIES

Excerpts from the NATURE episode, “Dragon Chronicles”

Downloadable QuickTime versions of the video segments:
(Note: To download a video, right click on the video title and click “Save Link As…’ or “Save Target As…”. On a Mac, press the CTRL key and simultaneously click the mouse, then save the link.)

Clip 1: Cobras and Pythons

Clip 2: Water Monitor

Clip 3: Draco