Difficulty of Project
Medium
Cost
Less than $50
Safety Issues
None
Material Availability
Most materials can be purchased at any local office supply retailer. Objects to display may be borrowed or purchased at the organizations that are researched (zoos, nature centers etc.).
Approximate Time Required to Complete the Project
One day to one month
Students will go beyond the simple definition of conservation to explore the different facets of what conservation means and how different organizations work to conserve the environment.
- Conservation related organizations
- Display board
- Photographs
- Items related to conservation (for example: seeds, paw prints, plants, recycled items, etc.)
Conservation is a relatively new concept in human history that came about as humans began to realize the effects our population growth and industrial development had on the natural world around them. To reduce our impact, various organizations formed to conserve nature. With each organization having a specific focus and mission, conservation is achieved in hundreds of different ways.
Research Questions
- Are there different philosophies related to conservation?
- What types of natural resources are being conserved?
- What are the different methods an organization uses to conserve nature?
- What types of conservation projects are happening locally, nationally and internationally?
Terms, Concepts and Questions to Start Background Research
- Conservation – the act of conserving or protecting natural resources
- Natural Resource – anything in the natural word or environmental that gets used by people, whether as a product (ex: trees turned into paper), or for recreation (ex: parks and lakes)
- Find several organizations (at least 3) dedicated to conservation. Choose organizations that have distinctly different conservation missions.
- Research what each organization conserves and how they do it. Use their website, newspaper articles, and interviews to conduct this research.
- Visit one local conservation place (zoo, wildlife center, protected park or refuge etc.) and interview a staff member or volunteer about the organization’s work.
- After researching conservation, decide what conservation means to you and what types of conservation you find important.
- Create a display showing your research. Include a collage or other creative way to show your own conservation values. Include photos, brochures from the organizations, and any other objects that relate to, or were collected, during your research.
Conservation International
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
NOAA Fisheries: Restoration Center
The Conservation Fund
Arizona Game and Fish Department: Wildlife & Conservation
Author: Jennifer L. Tuso
