Welcome to the Elephanatics Elementary Education Hub!
We’re so glad you’re here. This hub offers free, downloadable elephant conservation lesson plans and toolkits for teachers and educators, designed to bring science and global issues to life for elementary students. Our goal is to give you everything you need to spark curiosity and civic action in your classroom, with resources that are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards NGSS and Canadian provincial curricula. They are designed to promote critical thinking, civic literacy, and scientific inquiry for students grades 3-6. Please read our –Special Letter to Principals and Educators.
Quick Start Opportunities
- Virtual Classroom Visit: Request a live virtual presentation from a ranger or researcher in Kenya, Africa! MaraElephantProject in collaboration with Elephanatics offers a wide range of elephant educational opportunities for students and teachers? Make any day impactful, or celebrate a special day like #WorldElephantDay, #WorldWildlifeDay, or #EarthDay!
- Empower Your Classroom with Knowledge: We’re thrilled to offer educators an enriching opportunity to bring conservation topics to life right in your classroom. Our teacher is prepared to deliver engaging presentations from our elephant conservation lesson plans each lasting 1 hour. Topics include:
- Poaching & Habitat Loss: The dire consequences for African elephants and actionable solutions for their protection.
Climate Change & Elephants: Understanding the pivotal role elephants play in mitigating global warming.
Biodiversity: The importance of elephants as a keystone species in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Fostering Empathy: Cultivating compassion for animals to inspire the next generation of conservationists.
- Poaching & Habitat Loss: The dire consequences for African elephants and actionable solutions for their protection.
Join our Elephanatics’ Teacher Community! Take a moment to share your experiences and insights using our resources. Your feedback is invaluable in shaping future materials. Participate in our survey and get a chance to win exclusive Elephanatics swag in our monthly draw! Click here to access our user-friendly feedback form and make your valuable contribution.
Elephant Conservation Lesson Plans Toolkits
Toolkit 1: Elephant Biology & Ecosystems
(Grades 3-5)
This toolkit focuses on the science of elephants. It’s designed to introduce students to elephant biology, behavior, and their critical role in their ecosystems.
- Elephant Senses & Survival: Adaptations and Ecosystems: Focuses on elephant adaptations and how they use their unique senses to survive:
- The Rewilding Connection: From our Backyards to the African Bush: This lesson uses the principle of Rewilding to connect local biodiversity action (planting native Canadian/US species) with global conservation efforts (supporting African elephant coexistence gardens). Students will become Habitat Heroes by understanding how their small actions contribute to a larger, global ecosystem.
- Are Elephants Colorblind?: A fun, fact-based lesson that explores elephant vision and other sensory details:
- Different Lives: Compares and contrasts the biology and habitats of African and Asian elephants:
Toolkit 2: Empathy, Ethics & Civic Action
(Grades 4-6)
This toolkit moves into the social sciences. It’s built to help students develop empathy, understand the ethical dimensions of human-wildlife conflict, and empower them to take action.
Elephants Matter Too: Teaches students about the emotional complexity of elephants and why their survival is an ethical issue:
- Letters for Life: A powerful lesson that guides students to write letters to government officials highlighting the importance of this civic action. Engage in letter writing to support elephant conservation:
- Trunks of Hope: T-Shirt Design Mission for Elephant ConservationThis lesson engages students in creative strategies for raising awareness about elephant conservation through designing t-shirts, incorporating structured discussions, research, and collaborative design activities:
Toolkit 3: STEM, Technology & Solutions
(Grades 5-7)
This toolkit is perfect for students interested in technology and problem-solving. It covers the ways science and technology are used to address modern conservation challenges.
- AI Digital ‘Elephant Book’ for Conservation: A project-based lesson where students can use technology to create their own elephant-themed resources:
- Project Ideas: For Science Class or After School Clubs: Creating science projects centered around elephants and conservation is a great way to engage students with environmental science, biology, and conservation efforts. Here are several project ideas that span different aspects of these topics. They can be adjusted in complexity for different age groups and can be designed to encourage individual research, teamwork, and creative thinking. They offer a hands-on approach to learning about conservation, the challenges elephants face, and how everyone can contribute to their preservation.
- PROJECT IDEAS FOR SCIENCE CLASS OR AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS
Supplemental Resources Library
1.) Free Downloadable Education Guides & Templates
- Top Resource: Persuasive Essay Structure Guide (PDF) This is the full, downloadable guide on structuring persuasive and argumentative essays. It provides a foundational template that can be used for the “Letters for Life” lesson or any other conservation advocacy project.Download the Complete Persuasive Essay Structure Guide (PDF)
2.) Educator’s Multimedia Guide
This collection of videos is curated for deeper study, research projects, and classroom discussion.
Educational Presentation – Ivory Is For Elephants
AI, Misinformation and How to Know What’s Real and Fake Online – Exploring By the Seat of Your Pants
- How to Help Solve the Human-Elephant Conflict – Application of a Human-elephant Conflict Toolbox for Developing Coexistence in Rural Kenya offers insights into coexistence strategies from rural Kenya (50 minutes).
- The Fight Against the Ivory Trade explore the complexities of poaching with Dr. Caroline Cox (7 minutes).
- How To Stop The Ivory Trade by The Economist discusses strategies and challenges in the fight against the ivory trade, offering a concise analysis for classroom discussion (7 minutes).
- What caused the COVID-19 outbreak? A bat? A pangolin? is a concise investigation into COVID-19’s zoonotic origins, crucial for understanding environmental health (7 minutes).
- Why Elephants Never Forget by TEDEd, a perfect introduction to animal cognition for students (5 minutes).
- The Elephant and Rhino Poaching Crisis provides an opportunity to listen to Dr. Jake Wall discuss the ongoing elephant and rhino poaching crisis, shedding light on conservation challenges (5 minutes).
- This infographic video by WildAid vividly illustrates the devastating impact of elephant poaching, suitable for engaging students visually (3.5 minutes).
- Ivory Victims: The Orphans Second Chance at DSWT highlights the critical work in elephant rescue and rehabilitation, showcasing the positive impact of conservation efforts (12.5 minutes).
- The Great Elephant Census: Counting Africa’s Elephants offers an in-depth look at the efforts to count and conserve Africa’s elephants, providing a basis for discussions on conservation research (8.5 minutes).
3). Research and Action
Conservation Through Classroom Presentations
Unlock a world of learning with our downloadable PowerPoint presentations designed specifically for educators like you. Dive into engaging, ready-to-use slides that show the critical issues facing the majestic elephant. These presentations are crafted to captivate your students’ imaginations, fostering a deep understanding of conservation, the importance of biodiversity, and the ethical treatment of animals. Bring the conversation about elephant conservation into your classroom and watch young minds awaken to the beauty and significance of protecting our Earth’s precious inhabitants.
BackyardBio: Celebrating Global Biodiversity with Schools Around the World
Join our global initiative with BackyardBio, connecting schools across continents to celebrate biodiversity. Participate in activities like observing local wildlife and sharing discoveries, culminating in the International Day of Biodiversity. BackyardBio is a project run by Exploring By The Seat of Your Pants, encouraging the public, especially school classrooms, to get out in nature and observe and document the amazing wildlife near them!
Empower Your Class with Elephant Fundraising
Teachers, inspire your students to make a difference with the Elephanatics Elephant Education Fundraising Kit. This resource is a foundation for creativity and activism in your classroom. Encourage your students to infuse their own innovative ideas, crafting a fundraiser that resonates with your class’s unique spirit. Don’t miss the Introductory Letter for additional guidance on personalizing your fundraising kit. Together, let’s turn your classroom into a vibrant hub for elephant conservation!
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Educator’s Guide to Elephant Literacy
Use our specially curated Educator’s Guide to Elephant Literacy to effortlessly bring the world of elephants into your classroom. This collection features a diverse selection of books and apps that educate and inspire students of all ages, promoting a deeper understanding of conservation through literature and technology.
Educational Books for Kids
- The Elephant in the Room by Holly Goldberg Sloan: Discover the giant secrets and big adventures that elephants can bring into our lives.
- Gone Is Gone: Wildlife Under Threat by Isabelle Groc: Learn about the challenges faced by wildlife, including our large friends, and what we can do to help.
- Elephants: A Book for Children by David Henry Wilson: A heartwarming introduction to the life of elephants for the youngest readers.
- National Geographic Readers: Great Migrations: Elephants by Laura Marsh: Follow the epic journeys of elephants across the wild landscapes.
- Elephants (African Animals) by Sydnie Kleinhenz: Get up close with African elephants and learn fascinating facts about these majestic creatures.
- “Stand Back,” Said the Elephant, “I’m Going to Sneeze!” by Patricia Thomas: A fun and explosive adventure that will make you giggle and learn.
Educational Books for Older Kids and Adults
- A Place Like No Other by Anthony Sinclair and Rene Beyers: Journey into the heart of elephant territories and their breathtaking ecosystems.
- The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony & Graham Spence: Discover the deep bond between a conservationist and a herd of wild African elephants.
- The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson: Delve into a story of friendship, care, and the profound connection between humans and elephants.
- Elephant Memories: 13 Years in the Life of an Elephant Family by Cynthia Moss: Witness the intricate social lives and memories of elephants in their natural habitat.
- Wildlife Wars: My Fight to Save Africa’s Natural Treasures by Richard Leakey: Understand the frontline battles in conserving Africa’s majestic wildlife, including elephants.
Apps for Older Kids And Adults
- WWF Together: Immerse yourself in the world of amazing animals, including elephants, through this beautifully designed app.
- The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: Connect with the efforts to protect and conserve elephants in the wild, and learn how you can help.
Apps for Young Children
- The Elephant’s Child: An interactive storybook that brings the enchanting world of elephants right to your fingertips.
- Real Animals HD: Perfect for kids 4+, explore the animal kingdom with fun and educational content.
Further Learning:
Expand your educational toolkit with additional videos covering diverse topics such as elephant family structures, the role of religion in poaching, and firsthand accounts from global conservation marches. These resources are designed to complement your lessons, stimulate critical thinking, and inspire your students to explore solutions for wildlife conservation.
- The Family Structure of Elephants – Caitlin O’Connell Rodwell at TedX
- Global March for Elephants and Rhinos in Vancouver Promo Video – 2014
- God’s Ivory: The Role of Religion in the Elephant Poaching Crisis
- Poaching in Vietnam – Paul Blackthorne, Actor, fights for Rhinos
- Elephant Facts
4.) Celebrating Our Impact: Schools and Online Engagements
A Glimpse into Our Classrooms: Explore our compilation of classroom presentations given across San Diego and Vancouver, showcasing the passionate discussions and innovative projects undertaken by students and teachers alike to protect elephants.
East Kensington School – Engaging Classroom Presentations on Elephant Conservation
Save The Elephants: Classroom Champions: Our heartfelt thanks go to the educators and students at Encanto Elementary School in SanDiego for sharing information about the importance of keeping them from extinction with other classrooms in their school.
Fostering Compassion and Empathy: Through our presentations, we strive to teach compassion and empathy towards elephants, sharing their emotional depth and intelligence with students. Our initiatives, such as the Elephanatics Club and Elephant Earth Day, exemplify the powerful impact of education in action.
Earth Day: Elephant Earth Day at Braemar Elementary School in North Vancouver was a wonderful day for the elephants! Sixty students listened to the ‘Saving the Elephant’ in-class presentation about the poaching crisis, given by our Director of Education, Fran Duthie. They made placards and marched the school shouting: “SAVE ALL ELEPHANTS!” Thank you for your support, Braemer Elementary!
Learning About Poaching: At the annual, “Reading is Fundamental” event at the University of British Columbia, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and Beta Theta Pi fraternity taught children at University Hill Elementary about the African elephant poaching crisis.
Saving the Elephant: The poaching crisis PowerPoint presentation taught by our Chief Program Officer, Andrea and our Director of Education, Fran to the Grade 2-3 and 3-4 classes.
The poaching crisis PowerPoint presentation taught by our Director of Education, Fran to a Grade 2 class in San Diego.
Lesson Plans for Teachers: Our Director of Education, Fran, and the Chief Program Officer, Andrea, presented all of our lesson plans at a professional development day for K-12 teachers. They were eager to start using them!
A Heartfelt Appreciation to Our Educators: Your dedication to fostering a compassionate and knowledgeable environment inspires us daily. Please read our thank you to teachers.
Attention Teachers: Enhance Your Lessons with Elephant Snapshots!
We invite you to explore our collection of elephant photographs, perfect for enriching your classroom projects. Whether you’re planning a lesson, a presentation, or a creative activity, these images capture the beauty and grandeur of elephants, offering a fantastic visual aid for your students.
