ver since my brother Eli saw a sea · 2020. 5. 31. · the sea turtles now, too. a Hawksbill, and a Green sea turtle. He drew small smiles on their faces. That made me smile, too

Ever since my brother Eli saw a sea turtle in his favorite movie, he loves sea turtles! He reads books about sea turtles. He draws pictures about sea turtles. He tells everyone he meets all about sea turtles.

Eli learned that many sea turtles are endangered. They are hunted for their shells. Some have lost their beach habitats to houses and hotels. Lights from houses confuse baby turtles when they try to find the sea. Also, some predators eat turtle eggs for breakfast!

Last week, Eli’s teacher told him about an art contest for Endangered Species Day. He could not wait to get started. He made a blue-green background for the sea. Then, with torn paper, he made his favorite turtle shells. In his sea, Eli showed a Kemp’s Ridley,

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Credits: left: Robert Eberz/Wilkinson Studios, Inc.

Sea TurtlesSaving

I didn’t know why he makes such a fuss over them. So, one day I asked him, “Why do you care so much about turtles?”

He said, “Because I want them to live on Earth as long as I do.

Actually, even longer. If we don’t do something, they

may just be history.”

I guess his enthusiasm is catching. I am helping to save the sea turtles now, too.

a Hawksbill, and a Green sea turtle. He drew small smiles on their faces. That made me smile, too.

My brother decided he needed to do something more to help animals in need. He began raising money for turtle conservation. How did Eli raise money? Well, he started to do odd jobs for the neighbors, like taking dogs for walks. Whenever he got some money, he would give it to a zoo or a park that helps turtles. He even set up a lemonade stand on warm Saturday afternoons. All the money he made went to help sea turtles.


DID YOUKNOW?

All six species of sea turtles listed as endangered in the 1970s remain a threatened species today.

Credits: right: Robert Eberz/Wilkinson Studios, Inc.

welcome home“What are you planting, Aunt Erin?” I asked as we worked in the garden together.

She explained as she worked, “I am planting lupine. It is a plant from the pea family with pretty flowers. In the wild, it is found in sunny patches of oak or pine forests. I am hoping to attract a Karner blue butterfly.”

“What’s so special about a Karner blue butterfly?” I wondered aloud.

“Well, Karner blue butterflies once lived in our state. After many of the forests were cut down for houses and roads, the lupine couldn’t be found, and these butterflies could not survive. Now, they are endangered. They live in only little areas of other states. But we can make a difference. We can help these animals.”

Karner BlueButterfly


Credits: lef: Toby Williams/Wilkinson Studios, Inc.

to help the Karner blue have a safe habitat, or place to live and grow. Together we can help them create and watch over new habitats.”

“Aunt Erin, why do you care about this small butterfly? There are so many other butterflies around,” I said.

“Once a species is gone, it is gone forever. By saving these habitats, we can save other animals that need the same habitats, such as turtles, lizards, or other insects. You might not think these little blue butterflies are important, but they are.”

“Thanks, Aunt Erin,” I said. Then, I painted a sign to welcome the butterflies. I hoped I would see one soon!

“By planting lupine? How will that work?” I asked.

“These delicate little creatures are very picky eaters. When they hatch from their eggs as caterpillars, they will only eat the leaves of wild lupine. With the help of park rangers, we are working to bring these butterflies back home to our communities.”

She continued, “The park rangers and scientists have been studying these butterflies. They learned how

DID YOUKNOW?

The Karner blue butterfly once lived from Maine to Iowa. Due to conservation efforts, the Karner blue butterfly has been reintroduced in states where it has not been seen for many years.


Credits: left, right: Toby Williams/Wilkinson Studios, Inc.

“Look at that animal. It’s beautiful!” I pointed out the spotted wild cat to my friend, Ava. “What do you think it is?” Our field trip to the zoo was as good as expected.

Ava replied, “Maybe it’s a baby leopard?”

A zoo volunteer stood nearby and told us it was an ocelot. Then, he told us they once roamed areas of the southwest United States, from Arizona to Louisiana. He explained, “The ocelots are endangered. They live in only two known areas of southern Texas. There are now fewer than fifty in the wild.”

“What happened to them?” we asked.

“They were hunted for their beautiful and soft fur. Their habitats

Adopt an Ocelot!


Credits: left: Seitu Hayden/Wilkinson Studios, Inc.

“Donations are also being used to create enough space for the ocelots to move freely, away from dangerous roads,” he explained.

“That would be great! Maybe we could get our whole class to make a donation and together we could adopt an ocelot,” Ava suggested.

We told our classmates all about the ocelots and collected money. By the end of the month, our class adopted an ocelot!

were cleared away for ranches and roads. Conservation has been difficult. Ocelots need room to roam. When they are released back into the wild, they are often hit by cars on local highways,” the volunteer explained.

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Ava asked.

“I’m so glad you asked. You, or a group of you, can adopt an ocelot,” said the volunteer.

“I don’t think my mom would like that!” I said.

The volunteer smiled. “When you adopt an ocelot, you make a donation to help with its conservation. The money would go to help monitor the ocelots currently in the wild and fund research to help ocelots survive.”

DID YOUKNOW?

Ocelots like thick brush and dense bush because it provides them a place to hide from their prey. It also provides protection from the weather.


Credits: right: Seitu Hayden/Wilkinson Studios, Inc.

Our school takes Sea Otter Awareness Week seriously. We learn all about the sea otters, including their history and their role in our coastal ecosystem. Today, we have a guest speaker from the aquarium, Mr. Dennis.

“Hello,” said Mr. Dennis, “Have you ever heard of the term: keystone species?”

I asked, “Does it have something to do with a key?”

“In a way,” he answered. “Sea otters are a keystone species because they are the key to balancing the ecosystem. They help maintain the kelp beds by eating sea urchins that feed on the kelp. If the kelp disappeared, then the small ocean animals that use the kelp beds as homes will disappear.”

Sea Otter Survival

DID YOUKNOW?

There are three subspecies, or groups, of sea otters: the Southern sea otter in California; the Northern sea otter in Washington, Canada, and Alaska; and the Russian sea otter in Russia and Japan.


Credits: left: Tim Jones/Wilkinson Studios, Inc.

Students suggested natural predators, disease, pollution, hunting, fishing nets, and oil spills. Then Mr. Dennis answered, “Yes. These are all problems the sea otters have faced. They once lived on the coast from Alaska to Mexico. Most of our sea otter population now lives

in a small area of central California.”

“How can we help?” I asked.

“Two of the ways you can help are to learn about what endangers sea otters and to help prevent ocean pollution,” finished Mr. Dennis.

“They sound really important,” I said.

“They are,” Mr. Dennis continued, “We can also tell the health of our oceans by the health of the sea otters. Because they live so close to the shore, pollution from the land can hurt this species, too.” He explained that pollution can be anything that gets washed into the ocean: pet waste, chemicals from farms, and bacteria from fresh ponds.

“Sea otters are a threatened species. These animals have overcome a lot to survive! Do you know why scientists are still worried about their survival?” Mr. Dennis asked.


Credits: center: Tim Jones/Wilkinson Studios, Inc.

“Dad,” Tony called, “Look at those birds!”

“Those are whooping cranes. We need to report seeing them,” said Dad.

“Why do we need to report it?” asked Tony.

“Not long ago, there was only one pair of whooping cranes left in the wild,” Dad explained, “Scientists from the United States and Canada decided they had to do something to save the species.” This team raised whooping cranes in captivity. Unfortunately, the ones born in captivity did not fly between their winter and summer habitats. They would die if released back into the wild.

Whooping CraneSighting

DID YOUKNOW?

When animals are raised “in captivity,” they are protected against wild dangers and cared for by people.

© Learning A–Z All rights reserved. www.readinga-z.com Connecting Passage

1Credits: left: Karel Hayes/Wilkinson Studios, Inc.

“That’s right,” said Dad. “These must be two whooping cranes that are returning to Canada for the summer. They need our help to survive. There are many dangers for the birds as they migrate. Predators might kill them. Power lines might hurt them. Hunters might mistake them for sandhill cranes. Cell phone towers may confuse them when they fly at night.”

Tony wondered, “How can we help?”

“By reporting this sighting, we can help scientists monitor them. We can let them know that the whooping cranes have made it this far,” said Dad.

“I hope we see more of them!” shouted Tony.

“The scientists tried a new way to raise whooping cranes,” Dad continued. “They got the birds used to the engine of a small plane. Then, in the autumn, that plane led the birds all the way from Wisconsin to Florida. It was a success. Once the birds knew the way, they returned to Wisconsin on their own in the spring.”

“But we live in Nebraska, how did these get here?” Tony said.

Dad answered, “Well, another group of whooping cranes was taught to migrate between Canada and Texas. These whooping cranes were placed with sandhill cranes for the migration lessons.”

“And that’s where we come in, right?” Tony asked.

DID YOUKNOW?

Migration is the regular, predictable flight between the birds’ northern and southern habitats.

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2Credits: center: Karel Hayes/Wilkinson Studios, Inc.

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Name

Student ReSponSe Sheet IndIvIdual ReadIng

Events People

Key Terms Key Facts

How Humans Can Protect Animals

Key Question

How can human action protect animals in the wild?

On Your Own

1. Read the Key Question. Then read the story. Look for details in the story that help you answer the Key Question. Circle or underline the details.

2. Now look back at the story. Add the details you circled or underlined to the Note Manager below.

3. Think about the Key Question. Write your answer to the Key Question using the details you found in the story you read.

My First Answer

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Name

Student ReSponSe Sheet Team Discussion

Events People

Key Terms Key Facts

How Humans Can Protect Animals

Key Question


Share Your Ideas

Meet with your team. Talk about each story your team read.

1. Tell the team what happens in the story you read. Share your notes.

2. Look at the Note Manager your team made. Compare the details in each of your stories by looking at all the notes you added. Answer these questions together.

•Whyaretheanimalsimportanttohumans?

•Howcanhumanshelptheanimals?

Next, write the information that answers the Key Question on the Note Manager below. Write only the details that are in every story your team read.

Answer the Key Question

Review the notes on your team’s Note Manager. As a team, write an answer to the Key Question. Use the details from the stories to support your answer.


Our Team’s Answer

Documents

ver since my brother Eli saw a sea · 2020. 5. 31. · the sea turtles now, too. a Hawksbill, and a Green sea turtle. He drew small smiles on their faces. That made me smile, too