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Overview:
In Nebraska, the Platte River Valley and the Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary are home to a migratory "pit-stop" for sandhill cranes. In this lesson, students will use resources on the National Geographic magazine feature Crane Cam to learn about cranes and their migratory patterns, including the ways in which they use the land area in and around the sanctuary. Students will discuss the importance of preserving habitats like these for a variety of animals.
Connections to the Curriculum:
Geography, social studies, science
Connections to the National Geography Standards:
Standard 4: "The physical and human characteristics of places"
Standard 8: "The characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems on Earth's surface"
Standard 14: "How human actions modify the physical environment"
Standard 16: "The changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources"
Time:
One to two hours
Materials Required:
Objectives:
Students will
- learn about the Crane Cam and Rowe Sanctuary projects in the Platte River Valley of Nebraska;
- describe the ways in which cranes behave like humans;
- understand the function of the sanctuary as it relates to crane migratory patterns;
- describe the ways in which sanctuaries such as Rowe can have unintended effects on a variety of animals as well as people; and
- discuss the importance of conservation efforts.
Geographic Skills:
Acquiring Geographic Information
Organizing Geographic Information
Answering Geographic Questions
Analyzing Geographic Information
S u g g e s t e d P r o c e d u r e
Opening:
Show students images of cranes available at the Crane Cam Photo Gallery, and ask if anyone has ever seen a live crane. Explain to students that they are going to learn about these birds and the great distances they travel each year, a place they stop along the way, and why it is important for them to have this resting ground.
Development:
Activity 1:
Show students a map of the United States, and have them find the state in which they live. Then point out the state of Nebraska, and tell them approximately how far Nebraska is from where they live. [This will be different for each state, but you should be able to estimate for students by using the scale provided on the map.] Ask students if they think that is a great or a small distance—and whether it would be a long or short flight for a bird.
Show students a map of North America and explain that cranes fly a great distance each year to get from the warm southwestern states to northern regions such as Alaska, Canada, and Siberia. Trace the route with your finger on the map as you explain. Then, point out Nebraska again, and explain that cranes need a place to stop and rest on their long journey.
Activity 2:
Introduce students to the Crane Cam feature from National Geographic magazine. Tell them about the Rowe Sanctuary and how thousands of cranes stop there in the early spring each year as they make their way north. Show students one of the multimedia shows available on the site. [If the time of year is right, students can watch live activity via the Crane Cam itself.] Explain that the gathering of cranes is so popular that thousands of people travel to Nebraska every year to see it for themselves. Those who don't can watch the activities on Crane Cam just as students are doing now.
Focus student attention on these two videos highlighting cranes' behavior and importance in human culture:
Crane Cam: Kids & Cranes—Why Study Cranes?
Crane Cam: About Cranes—Charismatic Birds
Ask students to give examples of the ways in which cranes behave like people do, and reasons why they think cranes are an important part of our world.
Activity 3:
Lead a discussion in which you ask students whether they think it is important for the sanctuary to be protected, as it is, by the National Audubon Society. Ask:
- How have people affected cranes? [First, people developed the land and cranes lost part of their habitat; now the river is managed and the land is protected so the cranes have safe roosts, but there are still dangers such as power lines and fences that can hurt the birds as they fly.]
- How have cranes affected people? [Tourism is an economic benefit for the area; the cranes’ presence helps publicize the need to preserve wildlife habitats, and enhances other conservation efforts.]
- What other animals do you think are affected by the Rowe Sanctuary? [All animals that live in the area are benefiting from it.]
Closing:
Have students work in groups to create a small mural or poster showing the Rowe Sanctuary and the animals it is helping. Remind students that other animals besides cranes are helped by having this safe habitat. Encourage your students who are writing to add captions to different parts of their murals explaining important points they discussed in class. Have each group share their work with the rest of the class.
Suggested Student Assessment:
Have students work independently to make a drawing of a crane and write one or two sentences about why the Rowe Sanctuary is important.
Extending the Lesson:
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