Endangered Animal Species Poster Project/Mini-unit
Introduction
Goals
1. To identify the reasons why animals are being endangered.
2. To describe some of the ways that endangered animals are being protected.
3. To design a poster to raise awareness about specific endangered animal species.
Background Information:
No one knows exactly how many species live on Earth today. So far, more than 1.7 million
species have been identified. The number of different species in an area is called its
biodiversity. It is difficult to estimate the total biodiversity on Earth because many areas of the
planet have not been thoroughly studied. These include our tropical rain forests and the deep
oceans. Protecting this diversity is a major environmental issue today. One way to protect
Earth’s biodiversity is to ensure that the number of species becoming extinct is in check.
Extinction is a natural process, but in the last few centuries, the number of species becoming
extinct has increased dramatically. Threatened and endangered species are found on every
continent and in every ocean. Ensuring that these species survive is one way to protect Earth’s
biodiversity, or the variety of life on Earth.
Task
You will help promote greater awareness about the growing threat to endangered species, the
environment, and to human beings around the world. You will be given the name of an
endangered animal so that you can create a colorful, interesting, and informative poster that
will draw attention to environmental issues and your animal’s threat of extinction.
Before you can create the posters, you will need to develop a better understanding of the
threat to endangered species, particularly the problems, causes, potential solutions, and
potentially disastrous effects to the world and humanity if this species were to die off and leave
the world forever.
You will be assigned an endangered animal to research. You will also fill out an Endangered
Species Profile sheet on the animal and use it to complete your poster. These profiles will
include basic information about the animal, important facts and statistics about its status, and
the latest news about conservation efforts to save this dying species. When all posters are
finished, they will be displayed in the first floor hallway.
1
Procedure
Use the Internet and the GCMS library book collection to find specific information about your
animals. You will complete an Endangered Species Profile sheet.
Each poster should contain the following information. You are also free to include any other
interesting information that is relevant to your animal.
1. The common and scientific name of the animal
2. A map of its range (Where does it live? This could be a map of its country/counties or an
area within a country.)
3. A drawing of the animal with details showing its habitat (ex. rainforest, temperate forest,
desert, etc.)
4. Reason(s) why it is endangered.
6. Conservation measures, which are underway to protect the animal.
Reminder: As you begin to design your poster, try to convince others to donate to the cause
or help your animal in some way. You should treat the poster like a persuasive essay. Your
goal is to get people interested and to get them involved.
An endangered species is one whose numbers are so small that it is at risk of extinction.
A species is “endangered” or “threatened” when it is suffers: damage to its habitat; disease
or predation of the species; and hazards to the continued life of the species.
Assessment
Your poster will be graded using a teacher-prepared rubric.
Materials
Sheets of white 11 x 17 paper, colored pencils, crayons, markers
Note:
1. You will have class time in the library to complete your research and fill in the
Endangered Species Profile Sheet.
Endangered Species Profile Sheet Due Date: _________________________
2. You will have two class days to complete your poster,
___________________________________ and Wednesday, 4/22.
Poster Due Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2015
2
Name: ________________________________________ Biodiversity –
Endangered Species
Date: _____________________________ Period: ____ Endangered Species Poster Project
Endangered Species Profile Sheet
1. What is the common name of your endangered animal?
2. What is the scientific name of your animal?
3. Where does it live? This is also known as an animal’s “range.” This could be the name of
a country or countries or an area within a specific country. You should include a small
map on your poster. See the samples provided during the description lesson. Sketch or
cut and paste your map on this profile sheet.
4. What does your animal look like? Sketch or cut and paste a picture of your animal on
this profile sheet. You will draw a picture of the animal on your poster.
3
5. What is your animal’s habitat? Describe where your animal lives. List and sketch some of
the details you will use as background when you draw your poster. For example you
might list and sketch cactuses if your animal lives in a desert habitat.
6. Why is your animal endangered? List the reason(s) and provide plenty of detail to back
up your answer.
7. What conservation measures are in place to protect the animal?
4