Wild Rescue

"Wild Things" in Salinas, CA, provides professionally & humanely trained wild exotic & domestic animals for film, television, live productions, and education. Wild Things also offers sanctuary to many animals that can no longer participate in entertainment or would otherwise not have a safe haven.

See http://www.wildthingsinc.com/html/_welcome_to_our_jungle_.html

Students will research the humane treatment of animals used in the entertainment industry.



Students will:

- articulate their prior knowledge

- define guiding questions

- obtain primary resources

- contribute artifacts to repository of knowledge

- create reflective questions

- identify and define authentic problems

- investigate issues surrounding identified problems

- communicate and support their position in digital format

- evaluate their growth through reflective journal entries

ISTE NETS-S



I. Creativity and Innovation

Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes

using technology. Students:

A. apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.

B. create original works as a means of personal or group expression.



II. Communication and Collaboration

Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance,to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:

A. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environmentsand media.

B. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.



III. Research and Information Fluency

Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students:

B. locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources andmedia.



IV. Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving, and Decision-Making

Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Students:

D. use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions.



VI. Technology Operations and Concepts

Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. Students:

B. select and use applications effectively and productively.





P21 Framework



Global Awareness



Learning and innovation skills

- Creativity and Innovation

- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

- Communication and Collaboration



Information, Media and Technology Skills

- Information Literacy

- Media Literacy

- ICT (Information, Communications & Technology) Literacy

This initial activity with students will integrate the SmartBoard technology as a means toward identifying the various ways animals are used in the entertainment industry.



Students will create pages using smart notebook to answer the open ended questions.
1. Where have you seen animals used for entertainment? What types of entertainment venues?
2. Do you think it is appropriate to use animals purely for entertainment? why or why not?
3. What happens when an animal is no longer able to perform?




Student groups will be formed based on the information collected about their prior knowledge ( pros and cons).

SmartBoard Educator Resources
http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed+Resource/

How do you intend to educate yourself to better understand this complex topic. Describe the strategies you will employ to learn about this topic. What resources will you need to accomplish this task.

Would you choose the castle or the tent? Watch the attached clip and respond with information to support your decision. Do you have a choice?

Construct your reflection to the attached media clip. Do you agree with this philosophy? Why or why not?

This space will be used by students and teachers as a repository of digital artifacts. See the collection of sample field trip images under "Wild Rescue" in the table of contents.

Procedure of activity:

Students will have the option to create audio, enhanced or video podcast to build awareness of humane treatment of working and retired animals. Students will apply their knowledge to provide solutions to the growing problem of animal entertainment.


In groups, students will first analyze different aspects of the entertainment industry using different references including primary / secondary sources.


Primary Sources

• Person
  • Interview
    • E-mail contact
      • Discussion
        • Debate
          • Survey
            • Artifact, pictures, graphs
              
              Secondary Sources
              
              • Reference Material
                • Book
                  • Encyclopedia
                    • Magazine
                      • Newspaper
                        • Video & Audio Files
                          
                          Then students will make inferences of the treatment and conditions when animals are no longer able to participate.
                          
                          Students will reflect on the value of animal treatment in the entertainment industry and provide alternatives when they are no longer needed.
                          
                          
                          
                          Students will be required to submit a written script of the podcast and reference page (MLA style - www.citationmachine.net) of resources.

Please click on the attached quicktime file to experience a sample podcast for the Wild Rescue project.

http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/galleryfiles/12090/wild_thing.m4a

Assessment:



The student-created podcast will be assessed with the attached rubric.



Student reflections will be used to assess the individual knowledge gained through their journal entries.

Please click on the image to display the podcast rubric.

1. Black Pine Animal Park
http://www.blackpineanimalpark.com/
Professional animal Retirement Park which includes retired performing animals. Located in Albion, Indiana.

2. East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue
http://www.eastcoastrescue.org/
East coast exotic animal rescue- located in Fairfield, Pa. It started as an 85-acre private zoo and breeding facility, opening to the public in 1965. Suzanne Murray went to work for the previous owner in 1993 as an animal caretaker, as she loves to work with animals. The Game Park closed in 1989 and did not re-open until 1995, with Suzanne & her sister Judy as Managers.

3. Bergeron’s Exotic Animal Sanctuary
http://bergerons.ca/
More a "safe haven" than a zoo, the Sanctuary has taken in a number of animals that for one reason or another were unwanted elsewhere and often-in need of special care and attention. Many were formerly zoo stock that had been labeled as surplus and handed over to animal brokers for disposal. Many were from private ownership where they simply hadn't worked out as pets. Many were unwanted because they were suffering from various medical problems but have now been nursed back to good health and provided with a happy home.

4. The Performing Animal Welfare Society
http://www.pawsweb.org/site/homepage.htm
The Performing Animal Welfare Society is a place where abused, abandoned or retired performing animals and victims of the exotic animal trade can live in peace and contentment. PAWS is a true sanctuary -- a permanent home where animals come first. Founded by former Hollywood animal trainer and author, Pat Derby, and partner, Ed Stewart, PAWS maintains 3 sanctuaries for captive wildlife -- 30 acres in Galt, California, the 100-acre Amanda Blake Wildlife Refuge in Herald, California and ARK2000, 2300 acres of beautiful natural habitat in San Andreas, CA.

5. International Animal Welfare Alliance
http://iawa.info/
International Animal Welfare Alliance is an international nonprofit organization of animal owners, trainers, handlers, educators and enthusiasts dedicated to protecting the rights of legal, responsible and humane animal professions. Our members adhere to a code of ethics and are committed to providing animals humane care at the highest professional level.

6. Listing of animal rights and animal protection agencies by state.
http://www.greenpeople.org/animalrights.htm

7. 266 Chimps From Lab Adopted by Florida Refuge
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/08/0806_040806_tv_chimpanzee.html
National Geographic Channel

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/video/index.html
search chimp care
Florida Center Provides Refuge for Working Chimps
Note: Click above to connect directly to this resource.
In this National Geographic Channel video, learn about the Center for Captive Chimp Care. Chimpanzees used in research, circuses, and as pets get a well-deserved rest at the refuge. This video is a clip from a National Geographic Channel special.

8. The Sea World Animal rescue and rehabilitation
http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/rescue&rehab/home.html

9. Reporter's Notebook: Elephants Heal at Thai "Heaven"
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/10/1017_021017_elephantheaven

10. Tarzan's Cheeta's Life as a Retired Movie Star
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/0509_030509_cheeta.html

11. Keepers of the Wild
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/video/index.html
Video search- show cats
Keepers of the Wild - In this National Geographic Channel video, learn how a former Las Vegas showman provides a place of rest and refuge for retired animal performers. This video is a clip from a National Geographic Channel special.