2. Technology Integration
• Rationale: Elephants are a vital part of the global ecosystem,
but also an endangered species. In recent years, technology
has developed to the point that there are more ways to learn
about animals in their natural habitats than ever before.
Blogs, live elephant zoo cams, animal documentaries, online
organizations, podcasts, photos, and videos are examples of
how technology can be used to give insight into elephants’
lives and enhance students’ learning about these animals in
an educational unit.
3. Note on Internet Resources
• The sources used in this presentation were all investigated
and confirmed to be reliable and educational for teaching
purposes.
4. Internet Resources
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
The WWF is a conservation organization that employs an
innovative, technological approach to seeking solutions to the
global degeneration of wildlife. This site is a reliable source of
information on why elephants matter economically and how
WWF works to help them.
5. Internet Resources
• Defenders of Wildlife
This prominent conservation organization seeks to protect
animals in their natural habitat. This site features extensive
information on elephants’ diet, reproduction, life expectancy,
etc. An excellent source for student research.
6. Internet Resources
• African Wildlife Foundation
This wildlife foundation features current statistics and economic
statuses on many African species, including the African elephant.
Students could use this resource for statistical information to be
used in a report or brochure.
7. Internet Materials for Teachers
Elephant Word Search
Students can practice their unit-themed vocab by completing this
fun word search that can be used as a closing activity or to review.
Venn Diagram
A classic way to make comparisons, students can use a Venn
diagram to compare and contrast the characteristics of African and
Asian elephants.
9. Subject-Specific Internet Resource
• National Geographic Education
This site contains a multitude of videos, photos, interactive
activities, and games. There is even a special National
Geographic site for kids!
14. Uses of the Internet
San Diego Zoo
Encyclopedia Resource
• The San Diego Zoo website offers videos, photos, and blogs on
elephants and other animals. The encyclopedia site offers an
easy-to-navigate, organized resource for teachers and
students. The first site can be used for visual supplements and
info, and the second for research purposes.
16. Web 2.0
Photo Peach
• Students can use this site to create slideshows with
photos that can be shared easily with other students,
parents, and teachers. This would be a valuable
resource for a final project or presentation on the
unit.
Sources: (Elephant Word Search) http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/code/BuildWordSearch.asp
(Venn Diagram) http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/graphic/venn2/
Source: http://www.k12reader.com/worksheet/fact-vs-opinion-do-you-know-elephants/
This worksheet satisfies a 3rd or 4th grade Common Core Standard on writing. Students are tasked with listing facts about the elephant in one column and writing their opinions in a separate column. They learn the difference between fact and opinion while also becoming knowledgeable about elephants. This is a great worksheet to use in a writing lesson in a unit on elephants.
Source: http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/?xpop=1&ar_a=1
A teacher might use this website in support of the teaching topic in several ways. Students can access and print photos for a collage, presentation, or project, watch the videos for informative content, or play one of the many educational games for a more interactive lesson.
Source: Kidspiration software (free trial accessed at http://www.inspiration.com/Kidspiration)
This diagram could be used as part of an introductory lesson in a unit on elephants. The diagram contains general information and fun facts about elephants, which could be used as an exciting, eye-catching way to introduce students to these animals. If students were required to create their own chart as an end project to the unit, this diagram could also be used as an example to show students. This visual enhances student understanding because it provides an organized visual for the information they are given.
Source: http://thinkelephants.org/pages/who_we_are.html
This blog is a great online resource for teaching a unit on elephants or the conservation of elephants, because the goal of the organization involved, Think Elephants International, is to raise children’s awareness of conservation through education. The blog offers many ideas for teachers to collaborate with classrooms across the globe, to bring elephants into the classroom virtually, as well as offering access to scientific research and studies on elephants. Teachers can use these resources to educate both themselves and their classes on the state of elephant conservation efforts, and can use the blog as a resource students can use for research projects or writing assignments.
Link and Image Source: http://www.discoverwildlife.com/podcast/bbc-wildlife-july-2014
This BBC podcast offers teachers a new perspective on conservation efforts for elephants and other animals. It provides a perspective from a country outside the US, and although its use would be mostly for teachers in preparing and learning for the teaching of the unit, teachers could share what they learned from the podcast and remind students of the importance of extending one’s curiosity on a subject beyond one’s nation to other parts of the globe.
Link and Image Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP5uJVpHrVw
This video could be used as an introductory tool for a unit on elephants, because it offers a fun, visual way to engage students in the unit and grab their attention. The sound effects, bright colors, and clear footage of elephants in their natural habitat make the video an enjoyable visual aid. Teachers could use this as a way to kick-off a lesson, or a link for students to watch and respond to for a homework assignment.
Sources: http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/
http://www.encyclopedia.com/
These sites could be used for a research project, presentation, or also for students to explore their curiosity about elephants and other animals.
Link and Image Source: https://www.pinterest.com/search/boards/?q=elephants
This is a great resource to enhance collaboration between students and teachers because there is such a variety of different Pinterest boards on the internet. Teachers can recommend boards to the class, and then show them how to navigate the site and find their own. Each board has bookmarks to other sites that may contain videos, photos, and blogs that pertain directly to the subject of the board. Teachers could create a class Pinterest board on elephants and have each student help find sites and photos to pin; the board could then be presented to another class, shared with parents, or used as a culmination project on the unit.
Source: http://photopeach.com/education/premium
This resource enhances collaboration between students and teachers because it is designed for this purpose; teachers can create slideshows together with students, or students can create their own, which can then be shared with teachers, parents, or other students. A class could even share a group slideshow with another class to show what they have learned in their unit. Students have the option to make a slideshow using images from the internet or their own photos. If the class took a trip to the zoo to observe elephants, these photos could be used in a slideshow about their trip, which could then be shared with other classes or even posted on the school website.
Source: https://edshelf.com/tool/wwf-together
Image Sources: https://edshelf.com/tool/wwf-together, https://www.njea.org/news-and-publications/njea-review/october-2011/ipads-in-the-classroom
This interactive app can be used on an iPad, a common resource in today’s classrooms. The app provides an interactive experience to learning about endangered species from around the globe, including elephants, tigers, and whales. The app has games, a 3D interactive globe, current conservation news, animal fun facts, and high definition photos of animals. This app could be used as a supplement to a lesson on elephants or on African animals because it contains such a wide variety of activities.
