Endangered Species - The Wild Thornberrys

Grade Level: PreK - Grade 8

Subject: Ecology, Language Arts, Foreign Language, Science, Endangered Species

Keywords: Ecology, Wild Thornberrys, science resources, teaching elementary science, teaching science, rhinoceros, endangered species. Africa, Eliza, African animals, endangered animals, teaching with film, movies in the classroom, ClassBrain

Author: Cynthia Kirkeby

Affiliation: ClassBrain, Inc.

Date: 17 March, 2003

Duration: 1-2 class periods

Film: The Wild Thornberrys

Courtesy of Nickelodeon © 2001

MPAA Rating: PG

Background:
Eliza Thornberry is today’s Dr. Doolittle. Once again in Africa on safari, Eliza sets out to rescue a leopard cub from poachers. Along the way, kids get to meet a number of animals that are on the endangered species list and learn more about ecology.

Objective:
Explore ecology and endangered species through these interdisciplinary worksheets and projects.

Projects

Project 1:
Eliza talks to the animals wherever she goes. Did you know that different countries have different words for the sounds that animals make? Find out the french words for the “buzz” of a bee or the sound the Chinese say a horse makes at Sounds of the World’s Animals from Georgetown University. Print out the Sounds Animals Make in Africa Crossword Puzzle and see how many you can find from the Sounds of the World’s Animals web site.

Project 2:
Use our Endangered Animals Word Search puzzle to find some of the top endangered species in the world. Or Then learn more about endangered species from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services.

Project 3:
Have students work on their English skills with our Rhinoceros Worksheet. Each student will write the adjectives they think best describes this amazing animal, and then color or decorate the worksheet.

Available Worksheets:
Sounds Animals Make in Africa Crossword Puzzle
Endangered Animals Word Search
Rhinoceros Worksheet

Learning Links

Sounds of the World’s Animals
This great site allows you to see animal sounds as other cultures translate them. A cow may say moo in America, but what do the French say it sounds like? (meuh )
Source: Georgetown University

Kids Corner - Endangered Species
Learn more about the animals that are having a hard time surviving in our world today.
Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

eSpecies Fact Sheets
Study endangered species through the use of these great fact sheets. Choose animals from North America, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, or the Arctic and Antarctica. Be sure to scroll down the page for the last four areas.
Source: Defenders of the Wildlife