Group+1+SUM13

= ** Design A Koala Exhibit ** = By: Lan Nguyen, Kritika Garg, Shaoni Bandy


 * Objectives**
 * Students will be able to identify how environmental quality and natural and human-induced hazards impact animal habitats as evidenced by designing a koala exhibit.


 * Targeted Grades: 6-12**

This is a 3 Part Lesson:
 * Teacher Notes**

Part 1: Previsit Activities Part 2: Zoo Visit Part 3: Postvisit Activities


 * Part 1: Previsit Activities-Inquiry Lesson**


 * Ask the students what they know about koalas. Write down their answers.
 * Ask the students what they would like to know about koalas. Write down their answers.
 * Write this question on the board:
 * How would you design a koala exhibit? Ask the students to “guess” some answers. Ask the students how they might find the answers to this question (e.g. books, visit to a zoo, watch a movie or a television show, ask an expert, etc.).
 * Review what animals need to survive (i.e., food, water, shelter).
 * How might the needs of animals with highly specialized diets change when they live in a zoo?
 * Have the class brainstorm a list of factors a zoo would need to consider when designing a koala exhibit. (Refer to the __background information below__ to help guide students.)
 * Divide the class into groups and assign an adult chaperone to work with each group. Give each student a copy of the Field Trip Activities Sheet (See Student Notes) to review before visiting the Zoo.

__Background Information__ Listed below are some of the factors that zoos consider when designing enclosures:
 * Location(s) of drinking water and feeding area
 * Space and structures that enable animals to climb, run, dig, swim, fly, or exercise
 * Areas where animals can perch, rest, nest, or have privacy from zoo visitors
 * Adequate light for diurnal animals and darkness for nocturnal animals
 * Method for heating and/or cooling the enclosure
 * Barriers between the animals and visitors that are safe for both
 * Safe and efficient ways for keepers to clean the exhibit
 * Signage
 * Crowd and noise control
 * Additional Resources: Koala Videos


 * Part 2: Field Trip Activities** (See Student Notes)


 * Part 3: Postvisit Activities**


 * Ask students what they have learned about koalas.
 * Review the list of what they wanted to know about koalas to see if their questions were answered.
 * Review the question: How would you design a koala exhibit?
 * Have each group design an enclosure for a koala, **developing a scale drawing** and an **analysis of the enclosure**.
 * Have each group **present** their final plan to the class.
 * Did the exhibit tell a story about the koala and its home? How might Australian Aboriginal folklore be integrated into a zoo exhibit? Ask the students to research and design signage.
 * Ask students to share their thoughts and feelings about the impact of humans on the lives of koalas.

__Exhibit__- Is the exhibit to scale? Aesthetics? Clearly labeled? __Analysis-__ Students must justify their design choices. Why did you include certain factors? Why did you not include certain factors? Are you meeting the animal's needs? __Presentation__-Students are knowledgable about their design.
 * Assessment: Koala Exhibit**


 * Extension Activities/ Variations**
 * Student groups are each assigned a different animal
 * Students debate whether animals should be placed in zoos or not. Is it ethical? Are there benefits? What are the problems with zoos?
 * If all groups are designing a plan for the same animal, student groups "pitch" their exhibits to the class and the class votes on which is the best (or goes into the zoo!)

Adapted From The San Diego Zoo Education Page http://www.sandiegozoo.org/images/zoo/education/downloads/curr_koala_grade6-12.pdf