Conservation Challenge: Engineering for Wildlife

Your Challenge: What kinds of animals do you think live in our neighborhood?

Brainstorm: As a group, let’s list all the animals we think we might find right outside. Think big and small, from squirrels and birds to insects and spiders.
Where do they live? For each animal, let’s discuss what it needs to survive.
- Food: What does it eat?
- Water: Where does it find a drink?
- Shelter: Where does it make its home?
Urban Challenges: What problems might these animals face living around humans? (Think about buildings, roads, trash, etc.)

Your Mission: Head outside and become a data-collecting scientist! Your goal is to observe and record evidence of animal life.

Define Your Study Area: Find a patch of grass, a tree, or a small area. Use your string to create a one-meter square “quadrant.” This is your official study zone.
Observe and Record:
- What do you see? Look for any animals, big or small. Count how many you find.
- What evidence do you find? Look for clues that animals have been there:
  - Tracks in the dirt
  - Feathers
  - Chewed leaves or nuts
  - Spiderwebs
  - Holes in the ground
Document Your Findings:
- In your notebook, draw your study area.
- Mark where you found animals or evidence.
- Take notes on what you observed. If you have a camera, take pictures of your evidence!
- Do this each day to monitor changes.

Your Challenge: Use your data to design a solution that will help local wildlife.

Analyze Your Data (30 mins):
- Back inside, share your findings with your group. What were the most common signs of animal life you found?
- Based on your observations, what do you think is the biggest challenge for animals in our area? (e.g., lack of safe places to hide, not enough food or water).
Brainstorm a Solution (30 mins):
- As a team, come up with an idea to help solve the problem you identified.
- Low-Barrier Idea: Design a poster to teach people in the neighborhood about the local wildlife and how to help them (e.g., “Don’t Litter, It Hurts Our Animal Friends!”).
- High-Ceiling Idea: Design and build a prototype of a device to help local animals. Examples:
  - A “bee hotel” made from a plastic bottle and hollow sticks.
  - A safe water source for birds using a shallow dish and rocks.
  - A small shelter for insects or lizards from a cardboard box.
Present Your Solution (30 mins):
- Create a presentation on your poster board or using your prototype.
- Explain what you found during your investigation.
- Describe your solution and how it will help local wildlife.
- Share your project with the other groups!