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All grades  Project 6 weeks

Batty for Bats: Guardians of the Night!

Savannah T
HS-LS2-7
8-LS2-5
HS-LS4-6
Productive Collaborator
Critical Thinker
+ 1 more
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Purpose

The purpose of this project is to engage students in a meaningful exploration of the critical role bats play in ecosystems and the challenges they face due to human activities. Through collaboration with community partners like university professors and forestry service workers, students will design and evaluate solutions for bat conservation. This hands-on experience will help students develop critical thinking skills, foster empathy, and encourage active participation in biodiversity preservation efforts.

Learning goals

Students will explore the ecological significance of bats and the challenges they face due to human activities. They will collaborate with community partners, such as university professors and forestry service workers, to develop and evaluate conservation strategies. Through hands-on activities, students will integrate social studies and science standards to create a community awareness campaign. The project will culminate in a presentation to community partners and school administrators, demonstrating their understanding and proposed solutions for bat conservation.
Standards
  • [Kentucky] HS-LS2-7 - Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.*
  • [Kentucky] 8-LS2-5 - Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.*
  • [Kentucky] HS-LS4-6 - Create or revise a simulation to test a solution to mitigate adverse impacts of human activity on biodiversity.*
Competencies
  • Productive Collaborator - Engages with others to achieve a common goal through building positive relationships, actively listening, showing empathy, and making individual contributions to a larger group.
  • Critical Thinker - Thinks deeply and makes informed decisions to create solutions or new understanding supported by relevant and reliable evidence.
  • Empowered Learner - Demonstrates mastery and application of academic competencies. Develops the skills and dispositions to persist through difficulties and plan for a future of self-improvement.

Products

Students will collaboratively design and construct bat houses using sustainable materials, which they will install in local parks or school grounds. They will create informational brochures and digital presentations to educate the community about the importance of bats and conservation efforts. These products will be showcased during a community exhibition event, where students will present their findings and solutions to community partners, including university professors and forestry service workers.

Launch

To kick off the learning experience, organize a "Bat Awareness Day" where students participate in an interactive presentation led by a local forestry service worker. This event will include a virtual tour of bat habitats and a discussion on the importance of bats in ecosystems. Following the presentation, students will engage in a hands-on activity to construct simple bat houses, fostering excitement and curiosity about the role they can play in bat conservation.

Exhibition

Students will host a "Bat Conservation Awareness Fair" at the school, inviting community partners, such as university professors and forestry service workers, along with school administrators. They will present their findings and conservation plans through interactive displays, models, and digital presentations. Each group will showcase their unique solutions to the challenges bats face, encouraging dialogue and feedback from attendees. This exhibition will serve as a platform for students to demonstrate their learning, engage with the community, and advocate for bat conservation.