LIFE 04NAT/IT/000144 - COEX SCHOOL EDUCATION KIT ABOUT WOLVES A PRESENTATION IMPROVING COEXISTENCE OF LARGE CARNIVORES AND AGRICULTURE IN S- EUROPE 1
Introduction Educational activities in the schools This wolf kit is an educational tool about wolves to be used in schools. Its main educational purposes are: - to understand the value of biodiversity conservation; - to understand the human concepts and attitudes regarding endangered wildlife species; - to understand the importance of coexistence between humans and wildlife. Moreover, the wolf educational package will offer the students an opportunity to obtain and enhance communication kills, information processing capacities as well as critical thinking and a critical approach about environmental management. A fundamental aspect of this educational kit is its multi-disciplinary character. Wolf conservation is approached not only from a biological point of view, but also from social, economic and political ones. The other important aspect of this educational kit is the role of the students. In all the activities the pupils will have an active role and not be simple listeners. This aspect shall stimulate the students interest and participate and allow them to value their experiences. Target group The educational material targets students of secondary schools (ages 11-14). It is used in rural areas inhabited by wolves as well as in urban settings. Thematic units coverei are: - Basic elements of wolf biology and ecology - Man and wolf: the shaping of public opinion - The role of the scientific research in the conservation of wolves at national and international level The package is composed by: Activities = for the different thematic units covered there are corresponding activities that will allow to discuss a variety of issues with an active approach of the students (i.e. doing researches, analyzing newspapers, doing interviews ). A teacher s guide = an exhaustive guide for the correct usage of the wolf kit. 2
Description and length of the activities Phase 1 (Activities 1, 2 &3) Title: Create your own adventure in detecting the wolf in your environment Aim: To stimulate the students to think that different people, under diverse conditions, form their own opinions, attitudes and beliefs about wildlife species, such as the wolf. 1. A teacher s guide 2. A PowerPoint file with instructions for the students (5 slides) 3. A wolf puzzle in natural size Activity 1: 45 minutes Activity 2: 45 minutes One week-end is needed outside the classroom for the collection of the proposed material. Activity 3: 50 minutes The first two activities can be done in the same day, the 3rd one after 15 days more or less. 3
Phase 2 (Activities 4 & 5) Title: the wolf and people meeting with shepherds Aim: In the second phase the students are introduced to the issue of humanwolf conflicts presented in interviews with shepherds who talk about their experiences and thoughts. 1. An introductory video titled: The wolf and the shepherds (duration time: 4,36 minutes) 2. A teacher s guide 3. A PowerPoint file with instructions for the students (16 slides) Activity 4: 10 minutes Activity 5: 1 hour and 50 minutes 4
Phase 3 (Activity 6 and 7) Title: Approaching of wolves following their tracks in snow Aim: In the third phase the students are introduced to the basic concepts related to wolf biology and ecology, with an emphasis on that is needed for species management (territory, dispersal, food flexibility, adaptation, dynamic social organization). During these activities the students will follow the tracks of the animals in snow. Snow-tracking is a technique that allows researchers to gather important information on the behaviour of wolves by following, for long distances, the tracks left by these animals in snow. 1. Two videos entitled The vital cycle of the wolf (duration time 6,07 minutes) and the research of the wolf (duration 9,56 minutes) 2. A teacher s guide 3. Two PowerPoint presentation related to the activities to be carried out by the students (24 slides in total) 4. A board game following wolf tracks with 18 questions (dimension: 42 x 60 cm) Activity 6: 1 hour Activity 7: 2 hours 5
Phase 4 (Activities 8 & 9) Title: The wolf and habitat discovering the territory of the pack Aim: The basic aim of the fourth phase is to demonstrate the flexibility and the capacity of adaptation of the wolf in various environments. This species is not only an animal of the wilderness but coexists, especially in S. Europe, with human activities. Indeed, the wolf is able to live in strongly anthropomorphic habitats, wherefore the survival of the species is strongly linked to its coexistence with humans. The students analyze telemetry data, a technique with which researchers can follow the movements of the wolves. Understanding the habitat characteristics are fundamental to foresee wolf population expansion in Europe. 1. A video entitled: the satellite radio-collar for wolf monitoring (duration time: 5,43 minutes) 2. A teacher s guide 3. A PowerPoint file with instructions for the students (22 slides) Activity 8: 30 minutes Activity 9: 1 hour and 30 minutes 6
School education kit about wolves Phase 5 (Activities 10 & 11) Title: The streets of coexistence Aim: In this phase the students will have to think about the complexity of interests and relationships that characterize the conservation of wolves. In the first activity different interest groups that are directly or indirectly involved with wolves are taken into account. In the second activity the role of the wolf in the ecosystem is analyzed to demonstrate the intrinsic value of a species without reference to the human values and needs. 1. A teacher s guide 2. Two PowerPoint file with instructions for students (22 slides). Activity 10: 2 hours Activity 11: 2 hours 7
Phase 6 (Activities 12 & 13) Title: What the newspapers tell us about the wolf Aim: To stimulate the students toward a critical approach through the analysis of the opinions and feelings that characterize the relationship between humans and the wolf. Students will read newspaper articles published in different European Countries, all about wolves. In this phase they will understand how the perception as well as the prejudice of people can influence the conservation of the species. 1. A teacher s guide 2. A PowerPoint file with instructions for students (16 slides). 3. A Word file with the articles of the newspapers that students will analyze 4. A music track to be used as a basis to create a song Activity 12: 1 hour Activity 13: 1 hour 8
Phase 7 (Activities 14 & 15) Title: What the researchers tell us about. Aim: In this phase the students will think about the main problems connected with the conservation of the species, by listening to the words of three European researchers who about the that have been covered until now in this wolf kit. In particular, the students will start to understand how an international approach and collaboration is relevant to solve environmental issues. 1. A video entitled: Interview with the experts (11,47 minutes) 2. A map of the European wolf distrubutions 3. Ateacher s guide Activity 14: 1 hour Activity 15: 1 hour 9