Rise of the Mesopredator!
In this one-time class, we will learn about animals that are considered mesopredators such as the American kestrel, grey fox, and bats.
Gabe
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(1)
What's included
1 live meeting
45 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
In this class, we will learn about the classification of mesopredators. We will discuss what mesopredators are and what distinguishes them from apex predators. We will explore the role that mesopredators play in an ecosystem and why they are so important. We will examine specific examples of mesopredators in the Northeastern United States; including the grey fox, American kestrel, and bats. Then we will learn about the impact of humans on apex predators and, in turn, the impact on mesopredators and ecosystems in general. As a class, we will discuss some potential issues with this classification, how it may change in the future, and what we think the role of mesopredators will be going forward. This class will be mostly lecture-based but will allow for student discussion. I will be using a variety of teaching aids such as skulls, pelts, personal field notes, and pictures. Depending on the weather I hope to teach outside where we can use my background to further our learning. As a naturalist, mesopredators are a particular fascination of mine and I hope you will join me as we learn about this intriguing topic!
Learning Goals
Students will improve their understanding of mesopredators, predator-prey relationships, and human impact on these relationships.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
In this class, we will be discussing predators, so as a result, we will be discussing death and dying. This will not be overly graphic and will be handled in a scientific manner. I will also use various animal parts such as skulls as teaching aids to help students connect with these animals and understand them better.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have a bachelor of science in Natural Resources and have worked as a naturalist for a city with over 30 program animals. I have also been an outdoor educator for several years where I taught classes on predators, prey, and animal biology. Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$12
per classMeets once
45 min
Completed by 4 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-15
2-10 learners per class
