Bear Trust International (BTI) recently created a new science-based conservation education lesson plan titled, "Grizzly Bears: Ready for Delisting?" BTI Executive Director, Dr. Melissa Reynolds-Hogland, developed the lesson plan with support from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC), Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP), and the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI). She said the goals of the lesson plan are to provide engaging science-based conservation education for youth, help youth hone critical thinking skills, teach students the differences between evidence-based information and emotion, and provide a high quality ready-to-go lesson plan for teachers. The lesson plan is also intended to promote knowledge of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and garner support for delisting grizzly bears, once they are recovered.

The lesson plan targets youth in grades 9-12 and is aligned with the Next Generation Science and Math Standards, Common Core State Standards, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) guidelines. Dr. Reynolds-Hogland emphasized the importance of alignment with these standards to make the plan useful for teachers. Dr. Reynolds-Hogland added, "By design, teachers don't need to know anything about grizzly bears prior to implementing this lesson in the classroom. They can simply load the introductory slide show and begin!"

The lesson plan provides information about all six grizzly bear recovery zones in Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wyoming, but the data-rich component of the lesson focuses on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). "This lesson plan follows a flipped learning model where teachers don't stand before the class and lecture," said Dr. Reynolds-Hogland. "Instead, students become grizzly bear scientists. Working individually, in three Science Teams, and as a class, students use real-world data collected over the last 30 years on the GYE grizzly bear population to evaluate whether or not this grizzly bear population is biologically ready for delisting. All the data come directly from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team's decades of rigorous research."

The grizzly bear lesson plan includes an introductory slide show that provides ecological and historical context for the data-rich lesson, student pages with individual and team activities, data files compiled from the study team's research, and a results slide show. A Teacher Guide, and answer key are also provided.

As part of this lesson, students learn background information on grizzly bear ecology and conservation along with the three recovery criteria established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that must be met before grizzlies can be delisted. The students must use the information and data they are given to scientifically explore the question, "Are grizzlies in the GYE ready for delisting?" Once they have an answer, they report back to their peers. Dr. Reynolds-Hogland said, "It takes more work to design lessons this way, but the impacts are significantly more powerful and lasting."

Dr. Thomas Baumeister, education bureau chief for MFWP, and Laurie Evarts, MFWP education program manager, helped oversee development of the lesson plan. Dr. Baumeister said, "We're always looking for ways to involve the public in wildlife management. We believe sharing the same data we use leads to engaged and informed decision-making." Ms. Evarts added, "Teachers strive to use lesson plans based on real data from places close to home. It makes learning more relevant for the students. Plus," she said, "there's a real demand for STEM lesson plans that will excite student's imagination. Wildlife does that."

"Providing objective information and data and encouraging students to explore tough questions is important to their learning," concluded Dr. Reynolds-Hogland. "Today's high school students will be tomorrow's decision-makers. We need them to develop critical thinking skills and appreciate the value of science."

Dr. Reynolds-Hogland previously developed similar lesson plans based on wild sheep science and wood bison science. With this grizzly bear lesson plan completed, BTI, MFWP and WMI are exploring the potential for new lesson plans using real-world data on wolves, mule deer, white-tailed deer and waterfowl.

The lesson plans are available for free download to educators anywhere in the world on the BTI website. Agency conservation educators are encouraged to explore the lesson plans and share them with schools in their areas. (cs)