Have you ever heard of the mountain pygmy possum? What about the resplendent bush frog or Scott's stick insect? In this class, we will learn about some of the rarest and most vulnerable species on earth and how we can help protect them.

In each lesson, we will learn about one main cause of endangerment and extinction, as well as several animals at risk from this issue. Using slides, photos, short videos, and discussion, kids will get to learn the ecology, physiology, and behaviors of these unique creatures. The class will focus heavily on causes of extinction and endangerment, including the nuances of poaching and hunting, deforestation, palm oil plantations, the pet trade, pollution, climate change, invasive species, and diseases/pathogens. There may be mention of how governments do or don't support animals in a location, but no political stances are expressed other than those related to the conservation of animals. We also treat the existence of anthropogenic climate change as fact, as does the global scientific community at large.

We will also discuss the conservation status, current population data and if there's anything that we can do to help protect our animal friends. We will rely heavily on data and information provided by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List.

Students will learn about hunting, poaching, habitat loss, invasive species, diseases and pathogens, climate change, and pollution. While it is sometimes discouraging to learn about threats to animals, we spend part of every lesson by talking about solutions and success stories in conservation.

Each lesson includes pre-recorded video lesson (15-30 minutes) of me teaching the topic. Supplemental videos, discussions, and additional activity ideas will also be in the classroom to allow students to explore further. Students will also be prompted to answer discussion questions. There will be a short quiz that accompanies each lesson and a test at the end of the unit. As they are multiple choice, they are automatically graded and return the student's results immediately.

My teaching style is energetic, humorous (at least I think so...), and supportive. I strive to create classes that are simultaneously rigorous, challenging, approachable, and fun for all learners. No prior experience or knowledge is required.