Threatened, Endangered, or Extinct

G4 U5 L1
LeSSON 1 Are These Animals Threatened,

endangered, or extinct?
Lesson at a Glance
This first lesson introduces students to the concepts of extinct, endangered, and threatened species using
examples from a PowerPoint presentation, Are These Animals Extinct, Endangered, or Threatened? Students
learn that Hawai‘i has the greatest number of threatened and endangered species of any state in the United
States, and that almost all of these are endangered (and not threatened). This lesson sets the stage for subsequent
student investigations of several of Hawai‘i’s marine animals and seabirds to determine what environmental
conditions each species needs to survive, and what has caused their populations to decline.
Lesson Duration Related HCPSIII

One 45-minute period Benchmark(s):
Essential Question(s) Social Studies SS.4.7.2

What are the differences between threatened, endangered, and Collect, organize and ana-
extinct species? lyze data to interpret and
construct geographic repre-
Key Concepts sentations.
• Species may be considered threatened or endangered based on
Language Arts LA 4.1.1
factors including significant reductions in population and/or habitat. Use new grade-appropriate
• A threatened species is at risk of becoming endangered; vocabulary, including homo-
an endangered species is at risk of becoming extinct. phones and homographs,
• Hawai‘i has more threatened and endangered species than any learned through reading and
other state in the United States. word study, including root
words, affixes, and word
Instructional Objectives origins.
• I can define and explain the differences between threatened,
endangered, and extinct species and give an example of each.
• I can explain why Hawai‘i has more threatened and endangered species than any other state.
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Assessment Tools
Benchmark Rubric:
Topic World In Spatial Terms

Collect, organize, and analyze data to interpret
Benchmark SS.4.7.2
and construct geographic representations
Rubric
Advanced Proficient Partially Proficient Novice
Collect, organize, Collect, organize, Collect, organize, Collect, organize,
and analyze data and analyze data and analyze data and analyze data
to interpret and to interpret and to interpret and to interpret and
construct geographic construct geographic construct geographic construct geographic
representations, with representations, with no representations, with a representations, with
accuracy significant errors few significant errors many significant errors
Topic Vocabulary and Concept Development

Use new grade-appropriate vocabulary,
including homophones and homographs, learned
Benchmark LA.4.1.1
through reading and word study, including root
words, affixes, and word origins
Rubric
Advanced Proficient Partially Proficient Novice
Use new grade- Use new grade- Use new grade- Use new grade-
appropriate vocabulary, appropriate vocabulary, appropriate vocabulary, appropriate vocabulary,
including homophones including homophones including homophones including homophones
and homographs, with and homographs, with and homographs, with and homographs,
fluency, accuracy, and no significant errors difficulty and a few with great difficulty
precision significant and/or many and many significant
minor errors errors or rarely use new
vocabulary
Assessment/Evidence Pieces
Lesson
• Student collection of data on locations where threatened and endangered species live,
organization of the information, and analysis as to why this trend may exist.
Materials Needed
Teacher Class Group Student
• Method to present • None • None • None
PowerPoint
• PowerPoint
Are These Animals
Extinct, Endangered, or
Threatened?
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Instructional Resources
Student Worksheet: Where are the Endangered and Threatened Species?
Teacher Reading: Endangered and Threatened Species
PowerPoint: Are These Animals Threatened, Endangered, or Extinct?
Student Vocabulary Words

endangered species: an animal or plant species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant
portion of its range.
extinct species: a species that no longer exists.
population size: the number of individuals in a population.
threatened species: an animal or plant species whose population size is decreasing so that it is at risk of
becoming endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all, or most of its range.
Lesson Plan
Lesson Preparation
• Read the Science Background provided in the Unit’s Overview and the Teacher Reading: Endangered
and Threatened Species.
• Preview the PowerPoint: Are These Animals, Threatened, Endangered, or Extinct? Check whether the
map included showing endangered or threatened species by state has been updated since the following
PowerPoint was published:
http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/StateListing.do?st =all
• If the map has been updated, insert the new map into the PowerPoint presentation.
• Make copies of the Student Worksheet for all students.
I. What Happened to these Animals?

A. Tell students that they are going to learn more about animals that are extinct, endangered, or threatened.
Ask students to help you figure out what those words mean. Lead a brainstorming session about the
words on the board. Ask the following types of questions: What do you think endangered means? What
do you think threatened means? How do these words compare to extinct?
B. Create a ranking of threatened, endangered, and extinct species on the board:
• Extinct (none left alive on Earth)
• Endangered (a few left on Earth)
• Threatened (more than a few left on Earth, but not many)
II. Are These Animals Threatened, Endangered, or Extinct?

A. Show the PowerPoint presentation, Are These Animals, Threatened, Endangered, or Extinct? to students.
Use the notes in the PowerPoint presentation, Are These Animals, Threatened, Endangered, or Extinct?
to make key points as you show the slides to students. Stop before showing the map.
B. When you complete the presentation, ask students how the scientists know whether plants or animals
may be threatened or endangered. Establish that in order to know whether a population of plants and
animals is thriving or decreasing in numbers, scientists and others must make observations and either
count or estimate population sizes. Remind students about the whale counts conducted in Hawai‘i, as
well as the periodic news reports of estimated population size of such organisms as the Golden Plover.
Briefly discuss other examples familiar to the students. Include species that have become extinct in
Hawai‘i. Endemic species in Hawai‘i that have become extinct can be found at
http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/endangered/extinct.html
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III. Species by States

A. Ask students (before showing map), Where do you think the threatened and endangered species live?
Where are the most threatened and endangered species?
B. Give students access to the map of threatened and endangered species at
http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/StateListing.do?st =all. The map is also available in the PowerPoint
presentation, Are These Animals, Threatened, Endangered, or Extinct? Pass out the student worksheet,
Where are the Threatened and Endangered Species?
C. This may be used as assessment evidence.
IV. Check for Understanding.

A. Ask students to write a three-sentence summary of what they have learned in this lesson using the
vocabulary terms: extinct, endangered, and threatened. Students should include at least one example of a
Hawai‘i-specific animal in each sentence.
B. Ask students to share their summaries with a partner.
C. Have volunteers share with the entire class.
Extended Activities
Take field trips to marine aquariums or zoos where threatened and endangered species may be seen. Find
out what environmental conditions these animals or plants need to survive. Practice observing in respectful
ways that do not disrupt habitat or species. Be sure to check with your school administration for Field Trip/
Travel policy guidelines before planning the trip.
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LeSSON 1 Teacher Reading

endangered and Threatened Species
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services classify species by conservation status.
• If a species is extinct, the species no longer exists on Earth.
• If a species is endangered, it is in danger of extinction in the foreseeable future in a significant portion of its
range.
• If a species is threatened, it is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a
significant portion of its range.
• If a species is de-listed, it has been removed from the list because of extinction or recovery.
The primary causes of extinction (and endangerment and threatened status) are habitat loss and degradation.
However, the introduction of foreign or alien species can also impact a species negatively, which is particularly
the case in Hawai‘i. Other causes of extinction are over-exploitation, pollution, disease, and climate change.
For further information, see “Endangered Means There’s Still Time” at

http://training.fws.gov/deo/endang/lrg/sld50.html
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LeSSON 1 Where are the Threatened

and endangered Species?
NAME___________________________ Date____________
Directions: Using the map on threatened and endangered species answer the following:
List three states that have the most endangered and threatened species, and the number for each of these
species:
1.
2.
3.
List three states that have the least number of endangered and threatened species and the number for each of
these species:
1.
2.
3.
What kind of trend or grouping do you see in the areas where there are the most threatened or endangered
species?
What do you think might cause a species to become threatened or endangered?
Why do you think that we have so many threatened or endangered species in Hawai‘i?

Threatened, Endangered, or Extinct

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G4 U5 L1

LeSSON 1 Are These Animals Threatened,

Lesson Duration Related HCPSIII

Essential Question(s) Social Studies SS.4.7.2

Topic World In Spatial Terms

Topic Vocabulary and Concept Development

Student Vocabulary Words

I. What Happened to these Animals?

II. Are These Animals Threatened, Endangered, or Extinct?

III. Species by States

IV. Check for Understanding.

LeSSON 1 Teacher Reading

• If a species is extinct, the species no longer exists on Earth.

For further information, see “Endangered Means There’s Still Time” at

LeSSON 1 Where are the Threatened

What do you think might cause a species to become threatened or endangered?

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