Middle & High School Resources

LESSON PLANS & PRESENTATIONS

Listed below are lessons that are available to you to use with your students or on your own. All you need to do is follow the link. Each lesson is designed to address a specific Florida state educational standard. The standard and objectives are contained in the lesson descriptions.  Lessons are marked as to whether they require access to technology (digital) or are designed for students with limited access to technology.  

Wolf or wolf dog

A Lesson on Phenotype

This Lesson is appropriate as an introduction to genetics, phenotype and genotype, in middle school or as a fun review/refresher activity in high school.

In this lesson students will learn the role that genetics plays in Phenotype. They will be able to tell the difference between genotype and phenotype and will use phenotype to compare and contrast the characteristics of a wolf and a dog.

In a hands on lab activity students will design a “wolfdog” using phenotype characteristics.

Gopher Tortoises 

Keystone Species and Symbolism

This lesson is appropriate for middle school students and as a review of ecosystems and symbiosis with high school students. There is an interactive Nearpod included which may be completed individually or in the classroom setting.

This lesson offers an online interactive component. Students will discover gopher tortoises and the burrows where they live. As students learn about these amazing creatures they will learn what a keystone species is and the impact that it has on its environment. They will also examine symbiotic relationships and give examples of each within the tortoise burrow. Students naturally enjoy the Nearpod learning experience. This lesson may be completed independently using technology or as directed instruction in the classroom.

Habitat

A STEAM Challenge

This lesson is appropriate for middle school students or as a review STEAM challenge for biology students.

This lesson introduces the components of a habitat using the animals and habitats found at Shy Wolf Sanctuary. Students will watch a video describing a habitat and featuring an enclosure with animals at Shy Wolf. Students will learn about why animals need each component. Finally they will select an animal, investigate that animal’s habitat requirements and design and build a model of a habitat for their selected animal. 

Senses

Animals use senses for survival

This lesson is appropriate for middle school students, with hands-on activities investigating the senses.

This lesson reviews the five senses using animals at Shy Wolf Sanctuary. Students will watch a video reviewing the senses and how animals use senses to thrive in their environment. Students can write about senses in an animal, complete a Fill-In Story Sheet and finally, they can complete interactive activities which explore how their senses work. 

Living With Wildlife in Florida

This lesson is appropriate for middle school students, and includes a real world application project with rubric.

This lesson introduces different wildlife that live in Florida. It presents general characteristics of this wildlife and the challenges that living with each animal offer to us. Students will have the opportunity to identify risks to different animals and then propose solutions to help humans live along side the animals safely. Students will draw a picture of their home and indicate what each one they do to improve both their safety and the safety of the animals with whom they share space. Finally, students may be asked to develop a product which educates their peers or an audience about how to safely live with wildlife.