Ducks in the Classroom
presented by Wisconsin Waterfowl Association
Curriculum Notes
The goal of this project is to increase awareness of waterfowl, waterfowl habitat, and waterfowl conservation. There is a focus on wood ducks since they are common In many areas and an easy bird to support with the construction of wood duck houses, helping created an ethos of citizen science.
- This curriculum was designed to be used as a full unit or individual lessons.
- Before each lesson, there is a slide describing the lesson with materials needed and standards addressed. All of the additional documents and resources needed are linked to the slides and are also available in the Google Drive folder from the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association for the curriculum.
- Most of the slides include teacher notes to aid in the presentation. Find them in the box below. This slide’s notes are “All teacher slides will be colored orange to make them easier to identify.” You can print these notes along with the slides by selecting File>Print Settings & Preview. You can also adjust the size of the notes window by click and dragging the edge to make it easier to read the larger blocks of text without scrolling.
Curriculum Notes
The goal of this project is to increase awareness of waterfowl, waterfowl habitat, and waterfowl conservation. There is a focus on wood ducks since they are common In many areas and an easy bird to support with the construction of wood duck houses, helping created an ethos of citizen science.
- This curriculum was designed to be used as a full unit or individual lessons.
- Before each lesson, there is a slide describing the lesson with materials needed and standards addressed. All of the additional documents and resources needed are linked to the slides and are also available in the Google Drive folder from the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association for the curriculum.
- Most of the slides include teacher notes to aid in the presentation. Find them in the box below. This slide’s notes are “All teacher slides will be colored orange to make them easier to identify.” You can print these notes along with the slides by selecting File>Print Settings & Preview. You can also adjust the size of the notes window by click and dragging the edge to make it easier to read the larger blocks of text without scrolling.
Are you interested in hosting your very own wood duck hen sitting on her nest in your classroom? We have a partnership with Tactacam and have developed
A Teacher’s Guide to Bringing Wood Ducks Into
Their Classroom with the Tactacam Reveal X-Pro
Standards Addressed in this Unit (Wisconsin)
Science:
- MS-LS2-1.Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organismsin an ecosystem.
- MS-LS2-2. Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
- MS-LS2-3.Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
- MS-LS2-4.Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
- MS-LS2-5. Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Environmental Science:
- ELS.EX2.B.m Analyze the relationships between living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) parts in an ecosystem and examine the impact of each on the system
- ELS.EX5.B.m Investigate short-term and long-term impacts of change and adaptation in natural systems.
- ELS.EN6.A.m Identify and analyze complexities of decisions on natural and cultural systems now and in the future, and consider possible unintended consequences.
- ELS.EN7.A.m Explain the importance of civic responsibility and their duty to be advocates for change.
ELA/Social Studies:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.7 Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.
Technical and Engineering:
- BT2.b.5.m: Explain artificial ecosystems are human-made complexes that replicate some aspects of the natural environment.
Wood Duck Unit Overview
Lesson 1: Wood Duck Identification
This lesson is designed to familiarize students with what a wood duck looks like and sounds like.
Lesson 2: The Wood Duck Calendar
This lesson is designed to familiarize students with a wood ducks migration and nesting
timeline.
Lesson 3: Natural Cavities and Boxes
Gain an understanding of the importance of natural cavities for many species, not just wood ducks.
Lesson 5: Predation
Understand that ducks and duck eggs are a prey species in a food chain.