1. Schoolyard Habitats 1. Question
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Schoolyard Habitats 1 2 3 4 5 6
1. Question
Image Sources: Microsoft Office
As more homes and businesses are built in Maryland, the natural habitats that sustains native plants, insects, birds, and small animals are disappearing. As a result, small mammals have nowhere to hide from predators. Birds are losing spaces to build their nests and many animals cannot find the food they need to survive the winter.
How can we assist these animals in surviving? We can create a schoolyard habitat!
A schoolyard habitat is an environment that provides food, water, space, cover and a place to raise young for the wildlife that live in and around your school.
Click on the rabbit to view the film clip “Changes in Habitats.” (Run time 2:35)
How can schoolyard habitats help to protect a variety of local species?

2. 2. Information Sources Forest Resources Wetland Resources
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2. Information Sources 1 2 3 4 5 6
Using the resources below, learn about the environment(s) that you might encounter around your school. Record your findings here.
Forest Resources
Wetland Resources
Other resources
Temperate Deciduos Forest – NatureWorks
Forest – World Book Student
Forests – BrainPOP Jr.
Forest – World Book Kids
Wetland – World Book Student
Wetlands – EPA
Freshwater Habitats – BrainPOP Jr. Wetland – World Book Kids
Swamps and Wetland – A-Z Animals
Geography and Landforms – Teachers First Tracks and Sign Guide – BioKIDS
Observing Wildlife – Wildlife Journal Junior
Field Guides – eNature
Maryland Plants and Wildlife – Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources

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3. Student Activity
It is now time to head outside the library and into your school yard!
Using a device that can take video and/or pictures, work in teams to document the habitat outside of your school.
Use this checklist to make sure that you record all of the findings that you need.
Image Source: Clipart.com by subscription

4. Our Schoolyard habitat is important!
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4. Assessment Activity 1 2 3 4 5 6
Now it is your turn to answer the focus question:
How can schoolyard habitats help protect a variety of local species?
You will take the information that you’ve learned about habitats AND the pictures and videos you took from your own schoolyard to construct a public service announcement for your school.
Your PSA could be created in one of these formats:
Audio-Only Announcements - Rubric
Video Announcements – Rubric
Use the Rubrics to help you do your best work!
Our Schoolyard habitat is important!
Image Source: Clipart.com by subscription

5. 5. Enrichment Activities
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5. Enrichment Activities
Habitat – Living Things (game)
Image Source: Discovery Education
Image Source: BBC Schools
Whaddaya Know Quiz Show – Animal Habitats

6. 6. Teacher Support Materials1 2 3 4 5 6
Grade 4 Library Media: Unit 6
Objective: Students will conduct brief, focused research in order to explore the natural environment of their schoolyard and develop a product which describes and explains the importance of the schoolyard habitat.
Standards See attached document.
Time Frame: Two class periods in the library, one class period in the schoolyard
Differentiation strategies for this lesson:
Database content features audio read-aloud, labeled reading levels/Lexiles, closed-captioned video.
Encourage students to use learning supports provided in any BCPS-licensed Digital Content included in this lesson, such as audio read-aloud and labeled Reading Levels/Lexiles.
Use Digital Content Snapshots & Support resources as needed to customize or personalize student learning.
Refer to K-12 Research Guides for 21st century skill builders & tools as needed to customize or personalize learning.
Notes to the teacher:
Collaborate with your 4th grade classroom teachers to implement this lesson.
To implement a schoolyard habitat, refer to this guide from the National Wildlife Foundation.
On Slide 2, the sources marked with a gold star are more challenging resources.
Direct links to PebbleGO, BrainPOP, and BrainPOP Jr. will not work in the PowerPoint version of this Slam Dunk; however, they will work in the PDF version. If you wish to personalize this Slam Dunk, make your modifications in PowerPoint and then save your changes as a PDF. Students should view this Slam Dunk as a PDF.
Discovery Education and Safari Montage videos will require students to log in.
YouTube Videos must be displayed to the whole class using the teacher’s account.
Image Source: Microsoft Office clip art
Last updated: July Created by: Jamie Higgins Shaull, Library Media Cohort, Library Media Cohort Report broken links or issues to: Office of Digital Learning, BCPS Slam Dunk Research Model, Copyright 2016, Baltimore County Public Schools, MD, all rights reserved. This lesson may be used for educational, non-profit school use only. All other uses, transmissions, and duplications are prohibited unless permission is granted expressly. This lesson is based on Dr. Jamie McKenzie’s Slam Dunk Digital Lesson model.