Hi Friends…
Do you know what a piping plover is? Have you ever noticed at the beach, areas of sand fenced off to protect the piping plovers?
In this lesson, we are going to learn about piping plovers, what it means to be camouflaged, conservation and what it means to be endangered.
For today’s activity, you will be playing Hide & Go Seek with your family. You are going to see if you can camouflage yourself, so it is a bit harder to find you (either in the house or in your yard).
What is the lesson (overall purpose)? To learn about respecting animals and their habitats on Cape Cod and to learn about why the piping plover is protected on Cape Cod.
Endangered species are animals and plants that are in danger of becoming extinct. The Northern Great Plains and Atlantic coast piping plovers are threatened species. Threatened species are animals and plants that are likely to become endangered in the future. Identifying, protecting, and restoring endangered and threatened species is the primary objective of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered species program.
What is the Piping Plover?
Appearance - These small shorebirds have a sand-colored upper body, a white underside, and orange legs. During the breeding season, adults have a black forehead, a black breast band, and an orange bill.
Habitat - Piping plovers use wide, flat, open, sandy beaches with very little grass. Their nest is on the beach, typically.
Reproduction - The female lays four eggs in its small, shallow nest lined with pebbles or broken shells. Both parents care for the eggs and chicks. When the chicks hatch, they are able to run about and feed themselves within hours.
Feeding Habits - The plovers eat insects, spiders, and crustaceans
MA Guidelines/Standards:
Compare and contrast natural materials such as water, rocks, soil, and living organisms using descriptive language. Link to Earth’s Materials 1.1
■ look for living organisms (eg insects, plants, animals) in their natural environment.
Observe and identify the characteristics and needs of living things: humans, animals, and plants. Link to Characteristics of Living Things 2.1
observe living creatures in their natural environment (e.g., ants, spiders, insects, worms, snails, birds) to learn about their habits.
■ describe or represent first-hand observations about the characteristics, behavior, and growth of plants and animals (e.g., what happens when a plant dries out? How do fish/animals eat, move, behave, and grow? What detailed characteristic of a flowering plant do they observe?).
Learning Outcomes: I would like you to learn what a piping plover looks like, why they are endangered and how you can help keep them safe at the beach in the summer on Cape Cod.
Songs, Books & Videos (Motivational Techniques)
Peep: the story of the Piping Plover (NY): https://youtu.be/uC_zqKlfKug
Piping Plover on Plymouth (MA) Beach: https://youtu.be/1zgUDrXvVvk
Book: Piping Plover Summer https://youtu.be/zjacpe9ybiQ
Materials:
*A sibling, parent or family member.
Activity (Procedure):
Listen and watch Piping Plover Summer (see link above).
Either go outside or stay inside.
Game: Camouflage Hide & Go Seek
*Notice what color your clothes are. You will be looking to hide next to objects, materials, furniture, trees, etc. of that color.
One person will count from 0-20 and then will go on the hunt looking for the person (people) that is hiding.
Take turns hiding & counting.
Game: #2 Camouflage Hide & Go Seek with nature
Sit quietly outside or by a window looking outside. Observe and see what animals you see. (ie. birds, squirrels, insects, etc.). Why is it hard to see them? Why is it easy to see them?
Activity Wrap Up:
Where were some of the places that you hid. Was it easy for them to find you in that hiding spot? Why or why not? Was it easy for you to find the other person when it was your turn to count? Why or why not?
How do I know what my child is learning? (Assessment)
Talk about why the piping plover is protected. Do they know any other animals that are either extinct or that are endangered? Next time you are at the beach, look to see if that beach has an area where the piping plover is protected. Read the information signs that are on the fence. Observe (with your eye) to see if you see any piping plovers. Are they easy to see or are they camouflaged? Why do they blend in with their habitat so easily?
Do you think piping plovers should be protected? Why?
How can you extend this activity? (Modifications)
Song: Camouflage (tune: Jingle Bells)
Camouflage, Camouflage
colors, spots or stripes.
Helps protect the animals
all different types.
Camouflage, Camouflage
Helps them night or day.
Hide away from predators
so they won’t be prey. Hey!
Camouflage, Camouflage
better watch your back
Predators will use it too
then they can attack!
*Cape Cod National Seashore: Become a National Park Service Junior Ranger (explore, learn and protect).
Helpful Hints: (Pitfalls & Solutions)
If your beach doesn’t have an area for the piping plovers, take a trip to another beach to see if they have an area.
Do you know what a piping plover is? Have you ever noticed at the beach, areas of sand fenced off to protect the piping plovers?
In this lesson, we are going to learn about piping plovers, what it means to be camouflaged, conservation and what it means to be endangered.
For today’s activity, you will be playing Hide & Go Seek with your family. You are going to see if you can camouflage yourself, so it is a bit harder to find you (either in the house or in your yard).
What is the lesson (overall purpose)? To learn about respecting animals and their habitats on Cape Cod and to learn about why the piping plover is protected on Cape Cod.
Endangered species are animals and plants that are in danger of becoming extinct. The Northern Great Plains and Atlantic coast piping plovers are threatened species. Threatened species are animals and plants that are likely to become endangered in the future. Identifying, protecting, and restoring endangered and threatened species is the primary objective of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered species program.
What is the Piping Plover?
Appearance - These small shorebirds have a sand-colored upper body, a white underside, and orange legs. During the breeding season, adults have a black forehead, a black breast band, and an orange bill.
Habitat - Piping plovers use wide, flat, open, sandy beaches with very little grass. Their nest is on the beach, typically.
Reproduction - The female lays four eggs in its small, shallow nest lined with pebbles or broken shells. Both parents care for the eggs and chicks. When the chicks hatch, they are able to run about and feed themselves within hours.
Feeding Habits - The plovers eat insects, spiders, and crustaceans
MA Guidelines/Standards:
Compare and contrast natural materials such as water, rocks, soil, and living organisms using descriptive language. Link to Earth’s Materials 1.1
■ look for living organisms (eg insects, plants, animals) in their natural environment.
Observe and identify the characteristics and needs of living things: humans, animals, and plants. Link to Characteristics of Living Things 2.1
observe living creatures in their natural environment (e.g., ants, spiders, insects, worms, snails, birds) to learn about their habits.
■ describe or represent first-hand observations about the characteristics, behavior, and growth of plants and animals (e.g., what happens when a plant dries out? How do fish/animals eat, move, behave, and grow? What detailed characteristic of a flowering plant do they observe?).
Learning Outcomes: I would like you to learn what a piping plover looks like, why they are endangered and how you can help keep them safe at the beach in the summer on Cape Cod.
Songs, Books & Videos (Motivational Techniques)
Peep: the story of the Piping Plover (NY): https://youtu.be/uC_zqKlfKug
Piping Plover on Plymouth (MA) Beach: https://youtu.be/1zgUDrXvVvk
Book: Piping Plover Summer https://youtu.be/zjacpe9ybiQ
Materials:
*A sibling, parent or family member.
Activity (Procedure):
Listen and watch Piping Plover Summer (see link above).
Either go outside or stay inside.
Game: Camouflage Hide & Go Seek
*Notice what color your clothes are. You will be looking to hide next to objects, materials, furniture, trees, etc. of that color.
One person will count from 0-20 and then will go on the hunt looking for the person (people) that is hiding.
Take turns hiding & counting.
Game: #2 Camouflage Hide & Go Seek with nature
Sit quietly outside or by a window looking outside. Observe and see what animals you see. (ie. birds, squirrels, insects, etc.). Why is it hard to see them? Why is it easy to see them?
Activity Wrap Up:
Where were some of the places that you hid. Was it easy for them to find you in that hiding spot? Why or why not? Was it easy for you to find the other person when it was your turn to count? Why or why not?
How do I know what my child is learning? (Assessment)
Talk about why the piping plover is protected. Do they know any other animals that are either extinct or that are endangered? Next time you are at the beach, look to see if that beach has an area where the piping plover is protected. Read the information signs that are on the fence. Observe (with your eye) to see if you see any piping plovers. Are they easy to see or are they camouflaged? Why do they blend in with their habitat so easily?
Do you think piping plovers should be protected? Why?
How can you extend this activity? (Modifications)
Song: Camouflage (tune: Jingle Bells)
Camouflage, Camouflage
colors, spots or stripes.
Helps protect the animals
all different types.
Camouflage, Camouflage
Helps them night or day.
Hide away from predators
so they won’t be prey. Hey!
Camouflage, Camouflage
better watch your back
Predators will use it too
then they can attack!
*Cape Cod National Seashore: Become a National Park Service Junior Ranger (explore, learn and protect).
Helpful Hints: (Pitfalls & Solutions)
If your beach doesn’t have an area for the piping plovers, take a trip to another beach to see if they have an area.
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