LEARN

TARGET AUDIENCE
Grades K - 8

PROGRAM LENGTH
45 - 60 minutes

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Explore the world of wolves! This interactive program will take you on a journey through the wolf pups' first year of life. Students explore the behavioral and social development of wolf pups and construct their very own "ideal" wolf den. In addition, they will observe the social dynamics and hierarchy system of the International Wolf Center's ambassador wolf pack. Short video clips taken during the 2008 summer and photographs of the two newest additions of the ambassador pack are included. All programs feature real-time observations of the International Wolf Center's resident wolves.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to:

• Describe/Draw an ideal wolf den
• Understand the purpose of a wolf den
• Identify when pups social development begins
• Identify when physical development changes
• Become familiar with human socialization towards pups in captivity
• Understand that, while pups may be given human qualities, they do not actually feel or act like humans.

NATIONAL STANDARDS TO WHICH THIS PROGRAM ALIGNS
NS.K-4.3 LIFE SCIENCE
As a result of activities, all students should develop understanding of

• The characteristics of organisms
• Life cycles of organisms
• Organisms and environments

• Structure and function in living systems
• Regulation and behavior
• Populations and ecosystems
• Diversity and adaptations of organisms

• Types of resources
• Changes in environments
• Populations, resources, and environments

VOCABULARY
Adaptation, Herbivore, Carnivore, Omnivore, Predator, Prey, Scavenger, Ecosystem Habitat, Socialization, Food web, Energy cycle, Rendezvous Site, Regurgitation, Nurture

SUGGESTED PRE-PROGRAM PREPARATION

• Discussions of ecosystems, nature's cycles, and habitat needs before the program are very helpful but not required.
• Play the "Wolf Jeopardy" Game with the class; see section one of the International Wolf Center's Gray Wolves, Gray Matter curriculum.
• Brainstorm or visit www.wolf.org to develop questions for instructor.
• Please provide pencils & paper during program for wolf den drawings.
• Please print out the one-page pup development chart for each student.

SUGGESTED POST-PROGRAM FOLLOW UP

• Use International Wolf Center Wolf Logs to update the up development charts to keep tracks of their behavior, growth and place in the pack.
• Learn about the very close relationship between wolves and moose on Isle Royale National Park by visiting the Web site about the predator/prey research.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING AN INTERACTIVE VIDEOCONFERENCE PROGRAM WITH THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER

All videoconference programs with the International Wolf Center combine real-time observations of the Center's resident pack of ambassador wolves with lively discussion, interactive activities, and question/answer time with a wolf expert. Students will observe the wolves behaving naturally in their 1.25 acre wooded enclosure, which may mean that the wolves are resting or out of view. International Wolf Center staff will do their best to ensure that the students observe the wolves being active, but we make no guarantees.

Teachers are asked to remain in the classroom with the students during the program. When the instructor poses a question to the students, we ask that the teacher call on a student to answer. Students are encouraged to answer as loudly as possible into a microphone, but the teacher may still need to repeat the answer so the instructor can hear what the student said.

Because audio and video quality can vary greatly during a program, please let the instructor know if you didn't hear or understand something or if you can't see what the instructor is talking about.

When we do our "Wolf Den Blue Prints" drawings, I will ask for volunteers to share their dens and may ask them questions as to why they designed them that way? It would be best if these blue prints were prepared ahead of time, but we can certainly take a few minutes to allow time for drawings.

Please print out enough copies to the pup development growth chart for each student. We will explain the different categories of the chart and how students can continue to collect data on the Center's wolf pups by following the wolf logs.

We encourage questions! We will reserve at least 10 minutes at the end of each program for student questions. Teachers may wish to have the students visit www.wolf.org before the program to prepare questions. Questions may relate to the program's theme or may be about wolves in general.

Thanks for your interest in wolves, we are looking forward to the program!