Home Fan Club Wildfiles TV Buy DVDs Sponsors Teachers and Parents Links Contact Privacy Site Map
Home > Teachers & Parents > Planning for Instruction

PLANNING FOR INSTRUCTION

Wildfiles.tv may be incorporated into unit and lesson planning as a resource to meet the curriculum requirements for science and other subject areas. The following chart identifies the learner expectations (from Alberta’s 1996 Elementary Science Program of Studies) that specific areas of the content will address. The second chart includes the learner expectations from other subject areas that can be met by using several areas of the resource.

Grade Level
Wildfiles.tv Resource
Match to Alberta’s 1996 Science Program of Study
K - 6 The resource as a whole can be used to meet these expectations, but the following are particularly suited for these areas of the curriculum:
  • Backyard Scientist
    *Ask an Expert
    *Wild Jobs
    *Hands on Science – 15 Experiments
  • Wildlife Agents
  • Wild Life files on 13 species.
  • Take the Challenge (quiz)
  • E-mail Us
  • E-Zine
 Addresses the General and Specific Learner Expectations (SLE) for the Science Skills and Attitudes in each grade level.

These include:

  • developing and using methods of science inquiry
  • problem-solving through technology
  • developing a positive attitude towards the study of science and the application of science in responsible ways.
Pre-School to K Kindergarten and pre-school children will enjoy exploring all areas. The bright graphics, animation, sound effects and video appeals to young children and introduces them to using the mouse and keyboard.

Wild Stuff
*Build a Creature
*Coloring Pages
*Puzzles (3 levels of difficulty)
Wild Life files on 13 species: text, audio, videos and graphics.
E-Zine, Kids Gallery
 Kindergarten Program Statement objective: Community and Environment Awareness. This broad category could include many of the science activities and information.
1 Black Bear
  • Eat Drink and be Wary

Hands on Science: Activity #15

Wild Life- files on 13 species

  • Up Close & Purrsonal
  • Oh! Home on the Range
  • Eat, Drink & Be Wary
  • Family Tree
  • The Birds & the Bees
  • Take the Challenge (quiz)

Hands on Science: All activities
Wild Stuff: Build a Creature
Wild Plants
Wild Life (above)
Hands on Science: Activity #1, #12. #15

 Topic B:  Seasonal Change, SLE 2. Identify and describe examples of plant and animal changes that occur on a seasonal basis.

Topic E:  Needs of Animals and Plants (entire unit)
SLEs 1-11.  Describe some common living things and identify needs of those living things.

Topic C:  Building Things, SLE 1.  Select materials and construct and compare models of animal homes.

Topic D:  Senses, SLE 3.  Apply particular senses to identify and describe living things and environments. SLE 5.  Recognize that other living things have senses and identify ways that animals use their senses; danger, finding food, recognizing mates and babies.
2 Wild Life files on 13 species (all areas)
Hands on Science #11, 13, 14
Take the Challenge
 Topic E:  Small Crawling and Flying Animals, SLE’s 1-10.  Describe the general structure and life habits of small crawling and flying animals; e.g. insects, spiders, worms, slugs; and apply this knowledge to interpret local species that have been observed.
3 Wild Life files on 13 species (all areas)
Wild Stuff – Build a Creature
Hands on Science Activities
E-Zine
 Topic E:  Animal Life Cycles, SLE’s 1-10. Describe the appearances and life cycles of different animals, and identify their adaptations to different environments.
4 Wild Life files: many of these contain examples of animal scat, or a discussion of wastes that threaten these species or their habitats.
Peregrine – DDT
Barred Owl - forestry
Match the Poop with the Pooper
Tiger Salamander/Wood Frog
 Topic A:  Waste and Our World, SLE 1.  Identify animal and human wastes and how they recycle in nature. SLE 7.  Identify kinds of wastes that may be toxic to people and the environment.
5 Tiger Salamander – all areas
Wood Frog – all areas
Peregrine – Home on the Range
Lynx
Hands on Science #3, #10, #13
 Topic E:  Wetland Ecosystems, SLE’s 1-11.  Interactions between living and non-living things, life cycles and food chains of organisms in wetland ecosystems.
6 Wild Life files – foot prints, scat, trails and signs of animal activity in several of the species files.
Hands On Science: #2
Wildlife Agents

Barred Owl – Home on the range, conservation.
Black Bear - all areas
Conservation in Wild Life files

Wild Plants

Peregrine – all areas
Barred Owl – all areas
Backyard Scientist (#9)

 Topic D:  Evidence and Investigation: Investigating evidence of human and animal activity, SLE’s 1-4.

Topic E:  Trees and Forests, SLE 1. Trees and forests are important as a habitat for living things. 2. Describe kinds of plants and animals living on or near trees and how trees affect and are affected by these living things. SLE’s 8 and 9.  Human use of forests and actions which enhance or threaten forests.

Topic A:  Air and Aerodynamics, SLE 4. Recognize that for living things to fly they must have significant lift to overcome the forces of gravity. SLE 5. Identify adaptations that enable birds to fly. SLE 6.  Describe the means of propulsion for flying animals.

Topic B:  Flight, GLE 6-6.  Construct devices that move through air and identify adaptations for controlling flight (Peregrine Falcon flight and related flight terminology and design).


The above curriculum matches are based on the 1996 Elementary Science Program of Studies for Alberta. When compared with the curriculum units in other provinces and the Common Framework of Science Learning Outcomes from the Pan-Canadian Protocol for Collaboration on School Curriculum, all of these topics, including the cross-curricular matches below, would be relevant to elementary classrooms across Canada, and into the US.


Other Curriculum Matches

Wildfiles.tv Resource Subject
The resource as a whole can be used to meet these expectations, but the following are particularly suited for these areas of the curriculum:
  • Backyard Scientist
    *Ask anExpert
    *Wild Jobs
    *Hands on Science – 15 Experiments
  • Wildlife Agents
  • E-mail Us
  • E-Zine
 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Outcomes K-6 This educational series permits the ICT outcomes below to be incorporated into lessons in science and other subjects. Students will gather and communicate information via technology and interact and produce documents based on the content and e-Zine.
C1-C7 Communicating, Inquiring, Decision Making and Problem Solving using technology.
F1-F6 Foundational Operations, Knowledge and Concepts.
P1-P6 Processes for Productivity
  • Backyard Scientist
    *Ask an Expert
    *Wild Jobs
    *Hands on Science
  • Wildlife Agents
  • Wild Life files on 13 species: facts, statistics, etc.
 Mathematics K-6 Program of Studies - Strand:  Statistics and Probability
Students will collect, display and analyze data to make predictions about a population. The series encourages students to explore their environment, observe and collect data about species in their community and from Wildfiles.tv. This information can be used in each grade level to construct graphs, analyze and compare data and make predictions, which meet several learning objectives in this strand.
  • E-Zine – submit articles, interviews, poems, stories, jokes, book reviews, etc.
  • Wild Life files on 13 species: facts, statistics, etc.
  • Kids Gallery – Poetry Exhibit – submit poems and read poems.
 Language Arts: K-9
Activities and the online and video content can be used to assist students in their language arts learning to:
  • explore thoughts, feelings, experiences and ideas;
  • comprehend and respond personally and critically to oral, print and other media texts;
  • manage ideas and information;
  • enhance the clarity and artistry of communication;
  • respect, support and collaborate with others.

For example: Students might write a “Pourquoi” tale about one characteristic of an animal (Why the Great Horned Owl’s head rotates 270°), create a poster about an endangered species, submit a book review to the e-Zine.
  • Kids Gallery – Art Exhibit – submit original artwork, and view art by other kids.
  • E-Zine – submit drawings, poems, original photographs, reviews, etc.
  • Images of animals in Wild Life files.
Elementary Art, Drama and Music
The series can be used to assist students to gather information and ideas for reflection, depiction, composition, and expression in the Art curriculum. Information from the animal files could be a source of inspiration for student learning and expression in all aspects of the drama curriculum including dramatic play and dramatic expression. Students could also write/compose music or dance to express aspects of animal life cycles, behaviour or wildlife and conservation issues.

Fine Arts (Art Elementary – revised 1985)
In each grade level, the images and information in the series can be used to help design lessons in the four areas of art instruction. Eg. Contour drawings of animals, draw a bird in flight, create a picture of an animal in its habitat, or make a collage to express your views on the loss of Barred Owl habitat.
  • All areas of the French version of Wildfiles.tv.
French as a Second Language Elementary General Outcomes
Students can use the French version of this content to experience, communicate, understand and use the French language. The glossary, text, audio and video will provide students with an opportunity to listen, read, speak, view and communicate using French.
  • Wild Life files on 13 species: facts, statistics, etc. about conservation issues.
  • Backyard Scientist
    *Ask an Expert
    *Wild Jobs
    *Hands on Science
    *Poll
 Social Studies - Grade 2:  Occupations involving science and wildlife. The environment affects the way needs are met.

Grade 3:  Disadvantages of exchange of good and services: competition, air and water pollution, resource depletion, and ecological damage.

Grade 4:  Alberta - it's Geography & People  Animals and habitats as part of a natural resource, renewable and non-renewable resources, and conservation.

Grade 5:  Canada - it’s Geography & People  Canadians modify and adapt to natural settings in ways that alter their lifestyles and environment.

Grade 6:  Local Government  Study the issues of environmental conservation and extinction.