Endangered & Threatened Species of IL
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Provided by: Illinois Department of Natural Resources|Published on: June 3, 2025
Articles/WebsitesScientist Reviewed
K-8
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Synopsis
- This website by The Illinois Department of Natural Resources provides an interactive and easy-to-use website to explore endangered species in Illinois.
- The material presented on this website provides detailed but user-friendly opportunities to explore facts on endangered species that are relevant to the region.
Subjects: Science, Civics, English Language Arts
Authors: Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Region: Illinois
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The vocabulary utilized when discussing endangered species is explicitly detailed on this website.
- The criteria for being considered an endangered species as well as what needs to improve to be removed from the list are clearly outlined.
- A timeline of the conservation efforts to date is provided.
Prerequisites
- This website can be accessed in multiple languages by using the language selection dropdown in the upper right-hand corner.
- Students will need their own devices in order to interact with the variety of clickable banners on this website.
- This link to the pertinent vocabulary used from the website can be used to teach the vocabulary ahead of time to ensure the language used when discussing endangered species is understood by all.
- Students should have a basic understanding of climate change and how it can contribute to endangered species.
- Consider printing out the 20 endangered species "banners" in color and laminating them to use again in the future and increase durability.
Differentiation & Implementation
- The book list from this resource that is divided up by ages 2-15 can be used to further emphasize details on endangered species or as an introduction prior to using this website.
- If teachers choose to print out the "banners," they can be hung up around the classroom or hallway to facilitate a gallery walk to learn about 20 endangered species in Illinois.
- Adaptations can be discussed by using the individual endangered species banners. Depending on the students' ages, they can simply look at the "banners" and describe physical features that would allow them to survive or read about their organism.
- Older students can learn more about advances being made in protecting endangered species by using the detailed timeline to further research and learn about legislature in effect to protect plants and animals.
- To connect climate change and endangered species, students can investigate what is causing concern for each species and determine what connections can be made to climate change.
- Students in grades 3-5 can use this resource for additional information about conservation and endangered species.
- This resource can be used with students in grades 6-8 to investigate how the Endangered Species Act and concerned citizens helped once-endangered species survive.
This resource from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources provides teachers with several posters of endangered and threatened species of wildlife in Illinois. A crossword referencing the posters is also included. This resource would be a great addition to classroom discussions about natural resources and environmental stewardship.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
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