Wildlife Science: Big Cats (Self-Paced) (Ages 8-13)
Kimberly Cowan, Wild Animal Science, BA Elem Ed
Star Educator
Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(756)
In this popular wild animal science class, you will explore the habitats, traits, and conservation status of Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs and Pumas as a four-week course, following a self-paced schedule.
Class experience
Welcome to Wildlife Science: Big Cats 1, Self-Paced Edition. These important mammal species are found in their individual habitats on the continents of North and South America and Africa. They share many similar physical characteristics, but of course are all separate species that are all super important to the continued biological health of their individual ecosystems. Over the next 4 weeks, you will learn about these big cats by exploring the types, physical characteristics, adaptations,...
4 lessons//4 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1Puma (North and South American Mountain Lion)In this lesson, you will learn about North and South American Pumas, also known as Mountain Lions. You will explore their physical traits, social behaviors and how they are specifically adapted for survival in their ecosystem on both continents. You will also learn how and why this awesome cat is recognized as an important keystone species by helping to regulate prey populations for balanced ecosystems in their habitat ranges.Week 2Lesson 2African LionsIn this lesson, you will learn about African Lions. You will learn about their wild habitats, family/social behaviors, dangers they face in the wild and how they are specifically adapted for survival in their ecosystem. You will also be taking a deep dive into their conservation status and how important they are to a balanced savanna ecosystem. You will learn how biologists and conservationists are making headway to stop the population decline for this keystone African species.Week 3Lesson 3African LeopardsIn this lesson, you will learn about African Leopards by discovering their physical traits, social behaviors and how they are specifically adapted for survival in their wild habitat. You will also learn about the role they play in the hierarchy of African big cats on the savanna and the dangers they face in the wild and from increasing human proximity.Week 4Lesson 4African CheetahsIn this lesson, you will learn about the amazing African Cheetah. You will learn about their habitat, social behaviors, ecological importance and how they use their specially adapted physical characteristics to generate their fast run speed. You will take a deep dive to learn how biologists are trying to save this critically endangered cat species from extinction.
All of the content presented in this animal science class is factual and has been researched through at least three current scientific resources and aligns with CCSS and NGSS standards-based curriculum guides. (CCSS for ELA standards and NGSS for science standards.) This class and its activities can provide a great way to develop, enrich or follow a learner's interests, as well as supplementing any afterschool or homeschool learning program. 1. Each week, students will learn facts about the physical characteristics of a specified Big Cat species, including size, features, diet and habitat. 2. Students will learn how scientists use information about each specified Big Cat species listed in order to compare and classify them into groups. 3. Students will learn why conservation of each specified Big Cat species is important to the ecosystems where they live and what is being done to prevent their extinction. 4. Each week, students will also learn new science vocabulary words related to the study of a specified Big Cat species. 5. Students will learn specific characteristics and special adaptations of four of the subtypes of Big Cats. For this class, these subtypes are: Pumas (North American Mountain Lion/Cougar), African Lions, African Leopards, and African Cheetahs.
I have a BA in Elementary Education and my credentials are uploaded to Outschool. I taught classroom science to both preschool and elementary aged students for almost twenty years before coming to the Outschool online platform. As a child, I developed a strong love of nature and animals through books and hands-on experiences. As a teacher, I'm constantly reading, researching and learning everything I can about wild animal conservation and the natural world.
Homework Offered
There will be weekly activities posted in the classroom for students to complete and post as part of interacting with the teacher and each other in the classroom. Examples of these activities will include drawing/coloring and labeling worksheets, vocabulary searches, interactive questions, scavenger hunt challenges and weekly quizzes using Kahoot. This class and its activities can provide a great way to develop, enrich or follow a learner's interests, as well as supplementing any school or homeschool learning program.1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
I will be checking and monitoring the classroom activity posting daily and will provide teacher feedback on posted assignments and interactions within 24 hours of the post.Grades Offered
Each learner will receive a certificate at the end of each week after completing each video lesson and its activities. Then at the end of the course, learners will receive a comprehensive certificate for completing the entire course of four weeks.
Learner Supply List: 1. Weekly activity sheets or coloring/drawing/labeling templates are posted for download each week in the classroom. These activities can be printed or opened up on a computer or tablet to view. 2. Notebook or sketchpad or loose paper. If you are not printing the above activity sheets or coloring/drawing/labeling templates, you will probably want to have a notebook for writing, labeling or drawing assignments. 3. Pencils or crayons and markers for completing Labeling, tracing, coloring or writing activities.
1. NO scary or violent content allowed here, just scientific facts presented in a positive way to encourage learning and scientific discovery. 2. Video lessons posted were created by me and a link will be posted in the classroom to its YouTube. No account is necessary to view. 3. Weekly quizzes using Kahoot will also be posted to further extend and enrich the learning experience. No account necessary to view.
Here are the science resources I used as SOURCE MATERIAL to develop the science content in the lesson for this class. These resources are NOT used as third-party teaching tools: https://animals.sandiegozoo.org https://nationalzoo.si.edu https://library.sandiegozoo.org
Star Educator
Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(756)
Hello and thank you for visiting my teacher profile. I have a BA in Elementary Education and my credentials are uploaded to Outschool. My favorite area of teaching is science, with a focus on Zoology, Wildlife Biology and Conservation science....
Self-Paced Class
$15
weekly or $60 for all content4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks of teacher feedback
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Completed by 8 learners
Ages: 8-13
