Alaska Fish & Wildlife News
April 2024
From Tracks to Trail Cameras
Wildlife education kits for your classroom!
The classroom fell quiet as students eagerly anticipated the next object to be revealed. Sitting cross-legged on the floor in a semi-circle, they watched their teacher reach into a large black box, craning their necks to glimpse the object coming into view – a skull. They began looking for clues – what animal does this skull belong to?
This classroom is engaging with a Skull Kit, just one of the education kits for Alaska teachers provided courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G). Students become “skull detectives” as they observe, explore, and identify features of Alaska animal skulls. What does this skull tell us about the life and behavior of this animal? What does it eat? What sense does it use the most? These are a few of the questions students ask when observing an animal skull for the first time.
ADF&G wildlife education kits provide students with opportunities to engage in hands-on learning about Alaska’s wildlife and natural environment. A variety of education kits are available throughout Alaska, in addition to the kits mentioned here, such as a trail camera kit, an aquatic insect kit, and a wolf kit. Teachers can visit the ADF&G website and follow the steps to reserve a kit in their region of the state.
Four kits are offered in every region: the skull, bear, fur, and tracks kits, and a teaching guide comes with these kits. The teacher’s guide provides additional materials and background information to facilitate hands-on lessons that align with Alaska State Science Standards. For example, the skull kit introduces students to skull identification, the form and function of skulls, and techniques for illustrating skulls. The kits also offer references to additional resources such as ADF&G’s Wild Wonders publications. The skull kit pairs well with Wild Wonders Skull Detective, a 12-page full-color publication for kids.
Teaching guides are available online to download! Some materials for lessons and activities, such as consumables (i.e. plaster, popsicle sticks, bags, etc.) are not stocked in the kits and you will need to provide them. In addition, the teacher’s guides include worksheets that you can print and prepare beforehand.
Bear Kit
Alaska is special for many reasons, one being that all three species of North American bears live within the state. Living among bears is a part of living in Alaska, which makes it important to learn about bears; their biology, natural history, and role in the ecosystem. Bear behavior and how to be safe in bear country are other important concepts covered within the kit’s teaching materials. The Bears Kit provides educators with the background information, lessons, and activities needed to facilitate a memorable learning experience for students!
Pair the ADF&G’s Wild Wonders issue Bears! with the Bear Kit. Available for download online at the ADF&G website.
Fur Kit
How do Alaska’s mammals survive this challenging environment? Mammals in Alaska have evolved a variety of strategies for dealing with the notoriously cold, harsh climate. From sea otters in Southeast Alaska to polar bears on the Arctic coast, mammals survive because they have incredible adaptations specific to their environments. The Fur Kit provides students with opportunities to investigate the unique properties of furs that allow Alaskan animals to survive and thrive in Alaska.
Pair the ADF&G’s Wild Wonders issue Fur, Fluff, & Other Stuff! with the Fur Kit. Available for download online at the ADF&G website.
Tracks Kit
Animal tracks are engaging educational tools for teaching students about wildlife and natural ecosystems. Tracking sparks curiosity about what students can find in their local surroundings, fosters an appreciation for nature, and encourages responsible outdoor activities. Tracking requires students to be knowledgeable of the wildlife species that occur in the area, to look and listen closely for signs, and to refine their observation skills. The Tracks Kit provides educators with background information and activities to teach students the basics of tracking.
Note: A Tracks of Alaska Mammals teaching guide is in its final stages of development. Stay tuned for the release and it will eventually be included within the Tracks Kit!
Pair ADF&G’s Wild Wonders issue Tracks! with the Tracks Kit. Available for download online at the ADF&G website.
If you’d like to see your students hold a piece of fur while learning about its insulative properties, draw animal skulls to compare features to determine if the animal was predator or prey, or engage in a variety of other learning experiences through ADF&G’s education kits, reserve a kit today!
Links:
More on Becoming a Skull Detective
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