Who's afraid of the big bad wolf: Changing perspectives through multi-diciplinary approaches

Silvana Dessi-Olive, Paul Menge, The Blake Upper School, 511 Kenwood Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55403, USA

The presence of wolves and their management has become a timely topic in Minnesota. We began to seek ways to make this issue relevant to our high school students' curriculum and to the community at large. Concurrently, we became aware of the fact that wolves had recently returned to the Maritime Alps in southeastern France. Thus, we sought links between the Gray Wolf of N. Mn. and that of France. This led to a multi - disciplinary, collaborative effort by the French and Science Departments of the Blake Upper School, culminating in an overseas study project based in the Maritime Alps.

During the year, the students were involved in the following: the study of wolves as examples of animal societies, investigation of relationship between wolves and humans, incorporation of knowledge into visual interpretations, multi-day intensive program at International Wolf Center, a comparative study in the Maritime Alps, France, a seminar on wolf management and behavior, presented by Nancy Gibson to French and Science classes, a symposium for the Upper School, presentation to community groups, and in class discussions with nature author Barry Lopez.

The format is inter-disciplinary, demonstrating: 1) how the Fr. and Sci. departments worked together to establish links in their curriculum, 2) how to provide outreach to the community, 3) how to establish on sight experiences at the International Wolf Center, 4) how to create an overseas study for students.