Prairie Project - Teacher Page

It is a well-known fact that our natural habitats are threatened.  Students must become aware of the threats to these habitats and how they can be conserved.  Since our students live in Illinois we will begin our study by making them more aware of the dwindling prairies.  Students will investigate the importance of the Illinois prairies and the impact that the decline of the prairies has had on different species of plants, animals, and insects.  They will look at the past and present conditions of the prairie and make plans and predictions for the future of these prairies.

The major goal of the unit is to recreate an actual prairie environment utilizing all subject areas.  Furthermore, another purpose of the project is to share with the students the prairie as an active habitat, discuss its nature, history, and forms of life.  As part of Mayor Daley’s Urban Garden Project and Illinois State Prairie Project, students will plan, create and maintain a prairie on the school property.   Through the use of the scientific method, students will identify and describe prairie plants, insects, and animal species that show adaptation to habitat and environmental conditions.  They will also acquire knowledge of native prairie species through various scientific field experiences to the Chicago Botanical Garden.  To synthesize ideas, concepts and facts that they have learned about protecting the prairie ecosystem, students will create a prairie book and complete a presentation within the community on the importance of prairie conservation.  Finally, to provide a concrete method to visualize the size, colors, shapes, of prairie plants, insects, and animals, students will create a life size prairie mural within the school.

What is a prairie?

How do prairies differ from most local grasslands?

What adaptations allow plants and animals to survive in the prairie habitat?

What plants and animals are native to the prairie?

How did previous cultures utilize the prairie?

What are the reasons leading to the decline of native prairie areas?

What is the current status of the Illinois prairie?

How have non-native plants and animals species affected the Illinois prairies?

What environmental conditions affected the Illinois prairies?

How did community development and expansion unto the prairie lands impact the Illinois prairies?

What conservation efforts are currently being undertaken to protect Illinois prairies?

What can you do to save the prairies?

What major roles will the prairies have on the future of Illinois?

STATE GOAL 3:

WRITE TO COMMUNICATE FOR A VARIETY OF PURPOSES.

STATE GOAL 5:

USE THE LANGUAGE ARTS FOR INQUIRY AND RESEARCH TO ACQUIRE, ORGANIZE, ANALYZE, EVALUATE, AND COMMUNICATE INFORMATION

Unit Prerequisites

·        Students will have some understanding on the main concepts of botany, biology, and prairie history.

·         Students will have a general understanding of the history of Illinois.

·        Students are able to write and edit their work.

                Access:

              ·        Investigate and research about the prairie.

·        Investigate the cause and destruction of the prairie.

·        Gather information from different prairie conservation groups.

 Interpret:

·        Combine information gathered from the web sites.

·        Organize and prioritize information.

·        Synthesize solutions to the problem.

                        Produce:

                        ·        Compose a prairie book.

·        Construct a prairie pamphlet.

·        Build a presentation about prairie restoration.

                        Communicate:

·        Share and inform your findings with the teacher, classroom, school, and community.

·        Disseminate information.

Evaluate:

·        Assess your effectiveness in the cooperative groups.

·        Evaluate the quality of the presentation.

·        Critique own work and work of others using rubrics.

Scaffolding Lessons: 

·        Students will identify, observe and research the various prairie plants and animals to learn about their significance within the prairie ecosystem.

·        Students will compose a prairie book depicting a variety of prairie species native to Illinois.

·        Students will compose imagery poems on a prairie topic, such as a flower, animal or artwork printed and researched from a web site and post around the school prairie mural.

·        Students will create a pamphlet informing the community on the importance of prairie restoration and conservation.

·        Students will present a written and oral report to the community informing them of the importance of maintaining the remaining prairie life.

·        Students will demonstrate their knowledge of prairie life, restoration and conservation by planning, creating and maintaining a prairie garden on school property.

Teacher Resources