Ohio's Wild Treasures Outreach Guide - Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

19 Pages·2010·1.11 MB·English

Ohio’s Wild Treasures
Outreach Guide
Sponsored By
Background Information
Ohio has many types of habitats to explore! A habitat is the place where
an animal or plant normally lives. All good habitats have four parts: food,
water, shelter, and space.
Each habitat has its own special set of conditions that support the wild
creatures and plants that are adapted to live there, such as tall trees in a
forest or water in a wetland. Ohio is home to more than 1,000 species of
wildlife.
Some species are adapted to living in only one type of habitat. For
example, you might see plenty of beavers living in wetland habitats such
as rivers and ponds, but they would not be able to survive in the deep
thick forest habitats.
There are other species that can survive within several habitat types.
Opossums live in forests, around wetlands, and in suburbs and cities.
Our very own backyards and parks are great places to observe wildlife.
Because we live in a diverse and mobile society, our definition of
“backyard” can be many different things. Some of us live in suburbs,
others in cities, and still others in rural farm areas.
Let’s take a closer look at Ohio’s habitats and some of the animals that call
them home.
Ohio’s Wild Treasures Outreach Guide
Prairie
Prairies first began to develop over
25 million years ago. When the
Rocky Mountains were formed they
interrupted the flow of moisture
from the west by forming a rain
“shadow” far to the east. Closest to
the mountains where the conditions
were the driest is where the short
grass prairies formed. Further east,
The prairie is home to many unique
as the rain “shadow” gradually
animals. Some of the animals that
diminished and rainfall levels
call the prairie their home are the
increased is where the tall grass
red fox, horned lark, meadow vole,
prairies appeared.
thirteen-lined ground squirrel, red-
Prairies are beautiful and complex tailed hawk, monarch butterfly and
natural ecosystems. They are made the coyote.
up of native perennial grasses and
When the first settlers moved into
other flowering plants. About 1/3 of
Ohio, they encountered over 300
a prairie plant grows above ground,
prairies that ranged in size from
the leaves, stems and flowers. The
several acres to several square
other 2/3’s of the plant—roots and
miles. Most of these prairies were
underground stems—are beneath
located in the western part of the
the ground.
state.
Today, prairies are considered to be
one of Ohio’s rarest ecosystems.
Most of the prairies disappeared to
agriculture and development. A few
prairie remnants can still be found
growing along roadsides, railroad
right-of-ways, abandoned pioneer
cemeteries and other undisturbed
areas.
Ohio’s Wild Treasures Outreach Guide
Forest
Ohio was once covered by mature the forest all the way from the
forest. Today, forested areas cover ground to the treetops.
approximately 30 percent of Ohio’s
landscape. The once large forests of Forests are wonderful places to
Ohio’s past have long been cleared explore and view wildlife. Ohio’s
to make way for agriculture, forests offer many opportunities for
expansion and human population. recreation, including hiking, nature
photography, camping, and bird
Forests grow in layers from the watching. When you walk along a
ground all the way up to the tallest trail through the forest make sure to
treetops. The lowest layer of the use all of your senses. Observe the
forest is called the forest floor; this is diversity of wildlife around you,
where ferns, wildflowers and kneel down and touch the rich moist
seedling trees grow. The next layer soil of the forest floor. Smell the
is called the shrub layer where many freshness of the air and plants. Sit
different types of shrubs can be down for a few moments and listen
found. The understory layer is where to the forest sounds, close your eyes
some of the smaller trees reach their and enjoy this special place!
peak. The very top layer is called
the canopy layer and this is where
you will find the tallest trees in the
forest.
Animals live in every layer of the
forest, some animals use all the
layers, while others live in just one.
Squirrels live mainly in the treetops
along with birds like the great
horned owl. Wild turkeys and
chipmunks live on the forest floor
along with earthworms, slugs, ants
and many other insects. Raccoons
and opossums travel all through
Ohio’s Wild Treasures Outreach Guide
Wetland
There are many kinds of wetlands in
Ohio. Bogs, fens, marshes, swamps,
wet woodlands, wet prairies and
vernal pools are all types of
wetlands. They all have one thing in
common…water.
An area does not always have to be
wet to be considered a wetland.
Some wetlands are covered by
water only during the rainy spring
season. Others are regularly flooded
Wetlands are very important
by tides, while still others may be
habitats. They provide food, shelter
covered by water most or all of the
and space for many animals. Some
time.
of the animals that call the wetlands
Before European settlers came to
their home are ducks, herons, frogs,
Ohio, wetlands covered nearly one-
turtles, deer, beaver and even bear.
fifth of the state. As population
expanded, over 90 percent of the Some of the other reasons that
state’s wetlands were drained or wetlands are an important part of
filled to allow for agriculture and our environment:
development. (cid:129) Filters pollution out of the
water
(cid:129) Absorbs excess water caused
by runoff
(cid:129) Mixes nutrients and oxygen
into the water
(cid:129) Provides a resting place for
migratory birds
Ohio’s Wild Treasures Outreach Guide
Create Your Own Habitat Plant vines and shrubs in thickets
or hedges for cover
Did you know that your backyard
Wildlife, especially birds prefer
can be a wonderful habitat?
using areas of cover for nesting,
Here are some ways that you can perching, and protection from
make your backyard more attractive predators.
to wildlife.
Create shelter for animals
Provide a water source Animals need safe places to hide
Birdbaths; small ponds, and dishes from predators and to be protected
of water will attract wildlife. from harsh weather. Animals like
Locating the water near shrubs, chipmunks, reptiles, amphibians,
trees or other cover will encourage and birds can find shelter in log
animals to use those areas. piles, stacks of firewood, stone
walls, dry leaves, twigs and
Choose native plant species
branches.
Native plants are plants that occur
naturally in an area. Native species Creating a Backyard Habitat is the
usually provide the best sources of perfect way for you, your family, and
food and cover to wildlife. your school to help conserve wildlife
while being able to enjoy observing
Reduce the amount of lawn on
it every day in your own backyard.
your property
Turf grasses provide little value to
wildlife. Replace lawn with gardens,
trees, shrubs, or meadows.
Reduce or eliminate the use of
pesticides and herbicides
They can harm animals. Whenever
possible, use organic products.
Plant fruit trees and shrubs
They are used by many wildlife
species, especially birds preparing
for migration.
Ohio’s Wild Treasures Outreach Guide
Ohio Academic standards
The Ohio’s Wild Treasures outreach program is designed to assist teachers in fulfilling
the following Ohio Science Content Standards:
Life Sciences Standard
Kindergarten Indicator
B5. Investigate observable features of plants and animals that help them live in
different kinds of places.
Grade 1 Indicator
A1. Explore that organisms, including people, have basic needs which include
air, water, food, living space and shelter.
A4. Investigate that animals eat plants and/or other animals for food and may
also use plants or other animals for shelter or nesting
B2. Explain that food comes from sources other than grocery stores.
B3. Explore that humans and other animals have body parts that help to seek,
find, and take in food when they are hungry.
Grade 2 Indicators
A1. Explain that animals, including people, need air, water, food, living space,
and shelter; Plants need air, water, and nutrients, living space and light to
survive.
B2. Identify that there are many different environments that support different
kinds of organisms.
B3. Explain why organisms can survive only in environments that meet their
needs.
Grade 3 Indicator
B2. Relate animal structures to their specific survival functions.
C6. Describe how changes in an organism’s habitat are sometimes beneficial
and sometimes harmful.
Ohio’s Wild Treasures Outreach Guide
Grade 4 Indicator
A5. Describe how organisms interact with one another in various ways.
Grade 5 Indicators
B2. Explain that almost all kinds of animals’ food can be traced back to plants.
C4. Summarize that organisms can survive only in ecosystems in which their
needs can be met.
Grade 6 Indicator
No Indicators.
Ohio’s Wild Treasures Outreach Guide
This activity was designed to assist
teachers in fulfilling the following Ohio
BACKGROUND
Science Academic Content Standards:
You don’t have to travel very far to find wildlife – just
Earth and Space Sciences Standard
look in your own backyard! Many creatures can be
Benchmark C
found around a school or near the homes of your
Observe, describe, and measure
changes in the weather, both long term students. The important part is recognizing that every
and short term.
species is special.
Kindergarten Indicator
GOAL
5. Observe and describe seasonal
changes in weather. Students will explore the wildlife around them while
practicing important observation skills.
Life Sciences Standard
Benchmark B
MATERIALS
Explain how organisms function and
My Natural Journal Worksheets
interact with their physical environment.
Pencil
Kindergarten Indicators
Ohio Wildlife Resource Books
5. Investigate observable features of
plants and animals that help them live in
PROCEDURE
different places.
1. Introduce the idea of journaling to the students.
Grade One Indicators Explain that their nature journal is a place for them to
5. Recognize that seasonal changes can
record their observations of the plants and animals
influence the health, survival or activities
of organisms. they see in the world around them.
Grade Two Indicators 2. Do the first journal entry as a class activity. Begin
8. Compare the activities of Ohio’s by taking the students to an outdoor location at your
common animals during the different
school. Find a plant or animal species to use as an
seasons by describing changes in their
behaviors and body covering. example and model a descriptive journal entry for the
students.
9. Compare Ohio plants during the
different seasons by describing changes
3. Ask students to begin looking for plants and
in their appearance.
animals they would like to write about in their own
Scientific Inquiry Standard nature journal. They can include items in their
Benchmark C
notebooks, even if they are unable to identify the
Gather and communicate information
from careful observation and simple species. Explain to the students they need to record
investigation through a variety of as much detail as possible about the plant or animal
methods.
they are observing so they may be able to use their
Kindergarten Indicators descriptions to identify the species at a later time.
5. Draw pictures that correctly portray
features of an item being described. 4. Once students have begun making entries in their
nature journals, make sure they have access to
Grade One Indicators
resource materials that will help them fill in more
9. Describe things as accurately as
possible and compare with the details about the species they are seeing in their
observations of others. neighborhood.
Ohio Wildlife Nature Journal: Science
5. Encourage the students to continue to add items to their nature journal throughout
the school year. Maintain a supply of My Nature Journal worksheets in the classroom
so students can easily access them when they want to add to their journal.
6. Ask students to share their favorite entries on a regular basis with the rest of the
class. The teacher can also keep a nature journal and share their sightings with the
students at this time. Discuss changes in the weather and how those changes affect
wildlife.
7. Develop a class list of local species that have been sighted by your students. Divide
this list into categories such as plants, mammals, reptiles, etc. to begin exploring
animal and plant classification.
8. Keep journals throughout the year in order to record seasonal changes in the plants
and animals of your region. Look for patterns. For example, are there certain animals
that disappear in the winter? Did they migrate or could they be hibernating during the
cold weather months?
REVIEW
Journaling is a great way to collect data. At the end of the school year, be sure to
review the information contained in the nature journals and discuss the diversity of
wildlife found in your area. Encourage the students to explore the changes of Ohio
wildlife throughout the seasons.
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
Narrative Writing - Students pick a favorite entry to expand upon and create a detailed
narrative account of their experiences with a particular species.
“Who Am I?” Imaginative Writing - Students pick a species they have observed and
write a personal account from the perspective of their selected plant or animal. They
can present this piece of writing to a group of classmates to see if they are able to
identify the species.
Ohio Wildlife Nature Journal: Science