In the Classroom
High School Curriculum
Teachers with students in grades 9-12 can find wildlife projects and resources to add to their classroom curriculum.
K-12 Programs
Project WILD
Project WILD is a focused conservation and environmental education program designed for students in Pre K-12. Project WILD resources are a field tested supplemental curriculum that aligns with the latest academic standards. To learn more about the curriculum, available guides, and other resources, visit the National Project WILD website.
Programs
Teachers can receive environmental education training from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Find out moreActivities
Wildlife Classroom
Wild Classroom allows students to explore Colorado's wild side through video content and related curriculum-based activities. Topics include wildlife, ecosystems, backyard science, and Colorado's hatcheries, parks and wildlife areas.
Tarantulas
Video: "Tarantulas: They may be crawly, but are they really so creepy?" - CPW
Standards Connections
LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
Science & Engineering Practices
- Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)
- Planning and carrying out investigations
- Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering)
- Engaging in argument from evidence (Middle-High School Activities only)
Curriculum-Based Activities
To use the curriculum, download the document and open in a PDF viewer. Print as needed.
High School Activities
Students will investigate Colorado spiders through research and observation, and then they will dive deeper into just one species to debate their adaptations with other students.
Marmots
Video: "Staunton State Park Marmots" - CPW
Standards Connections
LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
Science & Engineering Practices
- Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)
- Planning and carrying out investigations
- Analyzing and interpreting data (Middle-High School Activities only)
Curriculum-Based Activities
To use the curriculum, download the document and open in a PDF viewer. Print as needed.
High School Activities
Students will investigate marmot adaptations through questions and experimentation.
Owls
Video: "Why You Should Give a Hoot About Owls" - CPW
Standards Connections
LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
Science & Engineering Practices
- Asking questions (for science)
- Planning and carrying out investigations
- Constructing explanations (for science)
- Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
Curriculum-Based Activities
To use the curriculum, download the document and open in a PDF viewer. Print as needed.
High School Activities
Students will investigate marmot adaptations through questions and experimentation.
Snake Sheds
Video: "Shedding Some Light on Snake Sheds" - CPW
Standards Connections
LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
Science & Engineering Practices
- Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)
- Planning and carrying out investigations
- Using mathematics and computational thinking
- Constructing explanations
Curriculum-Based Activities
To use the curriculum, download the document and open in a PDF viewer. Print as needed.
High School Activities
Students will take a closer look at snake scales through experimentation.
Antlers
Video: "Antlers: What are they good for?" - CPW
Standards Connections
LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
Science & Engineering Practices
- Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)
- Analyzing and interpreting data (Middle-High School Activities only)
- Constructing explanations (for science) (Middle-High School Activities only)
- Engaging in argument from evidence (Middle-High School Activities only)
- Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
Curriculum-Based Activities
To use the curriculum, download the document and open in a PDF viewer. Print as needed.
High School Activities
Students will investigate the lives of elk and other species with antlers as they learn about their needs, habitats and the role of research.
Bighorn Sheep
Video: "What's the Big Deal with Bighorn Sheep?" - CPW
Standards Connections
LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
Science & Engineering Practices
- Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)
- Developing and using models
- Planning and carrying out investigations
- Analyzing and interpreting data
- Using mathematics and computational thinking
- Engaging in argument from evidence
Curriculum-Based Activities
To use the curriculum, download the document and open in a PDF viewer. Print as needed.
High School Activities
Students will investigate how bighorn sheep absorb the impact of ramming through questioning and experimentation.
The Past, Present & Future of Wolves Video Series
As gray wolves become a part of Colorado’s landscape once again, learn about this species and Colorado’s reintroduction process that aims to balance priorities for both wolves and people. Join Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to explore the past, present and future of gray wolves in Colorado in this four-part series geared towards grades K-12.
Restoring through Reintroductions
There have been several successful reintroductions of species in Colorado, like moose, lynx, river otters and more. Learn how these wildlife successes are guiding the reintroduction of gray wolves in Colorado.
Video: "Past, Present and Future of Wolves: Restoring through Reintroductions" -CPW
Journey of the Gray Wolf
Explore the history and biology of the gray wolf with detailed information about their pack dynamic, eating and travel habits, language, physical traits, and history within the United States and Colorado.
Video: "Past, Present and Future of Wolves: Journey of the Gray Wolf" - CPW
What’s at Stake for Stakeholders?
Working with stakeholders on reintroducing gray wolves to Colorado is an important component of Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s (CPW) Wolf Restoration and Management Plan. Learn how CPW is balancing the needs of stakeholders with returning wolves to Colorado’s landscapes.
Video: "Past, Present and Future of Wolves: What’s at Stake for Stakeholders?" - CPW
Living with Wolves
Learn to coexist with gray wolves in Colorado and the methods that Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) employs to manage potential human and wildlife conflicts while balancing efforts to sustain healthy gray wolf and wildlife in Colorado.
Video: "Past, Present and Future of Wolves: Living with Wolves" - CPW
School Requests and Resources: Educators and Students
Reintroducing the Gray wolf to Colorado provides educators with a relevant, real-world example for students to learn about wildlife management, ecosystems and the biology of wolves specific to our state. Available resources for classroom educators and students include:
- Wolf Virtual or in school programs: Request a program with Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff to learn more about wolves, the reintroduction process or how to live and recreate with wolves. Requests need to be made at least 3 weeks in advance.
- Wildlife Curriculum Teacher Resource - How Do Wolves Impact an Ecosystem: Download this one hour lesson plan for upper elementary and middle-school students. It explores food webs and trophic levels within an ecosystem and how it may change over time with and without the presence of wolves.
- Researching Wolves: In addition to the resources found on this page, students can visit our Wolves in Colorado page to find more information needed for classroom research projects.
Riparian Ecosystem
Video: "Riparian Ecosystems: The Waterworks of Colorado" - CPW
Discover the importance of water in our state with Colorado Parks and Wildlife Educator Barona and River Watch Manager Megan as they examine how water quality impacts habitats, wildlife and us!
For more riparian resources, check out the links below:
Fish Hatchery
Video: "What’s Hatching at Mt. Shavano Hatchery" - CPW
Find out how our fish hatcheries support anglers and manage native aquatic species by exploring Mt. Shavano Fish Hatchery. Learn what it's like to work at a fish hatchery and watch until the end to get insider tips on how to get a job at one.
Video: Virtual Programs for Schools - CPW
Virtual Programs for Schools
Sign up for a free, interactive virtual program for your middle school classroom. We currently are offering standards aligned programs on adaptations, ecosystems and mapping, with more topics to be added soon!
Wildlife Curriculum
Prying into Prions: Investigating Chronic Wasting Disease
Prying into Prions: Investigating Chronic Wasting Disease is written for high-school biology and genetics courses. This six-lesson module is designed for approximately two weeks of classroom instruction.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal neurological disease found in deer, elk, and moose. The disease attacks the brains of infected animals, causing them to become emaciated, display abnormal behavior, lose coordination, and eventually—die. Like other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), CWD is a “prion” disease. (Prion is short for “proteinaceous infectious particle”.)
The prion protein exists in two forms. The normal form is found in many types of cells, including those in the central nervous system. The pathological prion form has the same chemical composition, but a different shape! There may be no better illustration of the idea that form dictates function—a central tenet of science and biology.
Wildlife Curriculum:
The Species Question: Applying Taxonomy to Wildlife Research and Management
The Species Question: Applying Taxonomy to Wildlife Research and Management presents a scientific topic - what makes a species unique? - in an engaging and relevant context. Each activity focuses on current endangered species issues and demonstrates that the field of taxonomy, often viewed as a “stagnant” science, is evolving and changing the way we think about and protect species.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife invites high school teachers and students to join in its discoveries, questions, and arguments about species. On the journey, students will develop a clearer understanding of modern taxonomy, the nature of scientific knowledge and the scientific process, the human dimension of science, and the value of peer review.
Wildlife Curriculum
Return of the Snow Cat: the Reintroduction of Lynx to Colorado
Return of the Snow Cat: the Reintroduction of Lynx to Colorado is an eight-lesson module designed for two weeks of classroom instruction. Real research data from the lynx reintroduction effort in the early 2000's serves as a context to present topics such as ecosystems, population dynamics, and more! The module is designed to supplement or replace the activities found in most high school biology, ecology, or environmental science textbooks that address these topics.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife invites high school teachers and students to join in its discoveries, questions, and arguments about reintroducing species to Colorado. On the journey, students will develop a clearer understanding of wildlife management, develop their critical thinking skills, and apply science to a real-world situation.
Wildlife in the Classroom
Media, Kits and Critter Crates
These materials are for loan to educators only and are available from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices. At least 2 weeks notice is required to check out critter crates. Crate requests must begin and end on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Lending policies may vary and are noted on the request forms. In general, borrowers make arrangements to pick up and return materials. Contact information is listed below. Please allow up to 48 hours for a response to your inquiry.
Contact:
Tracy Predmore
Phone - 719-227-5207
Fax - 719-227-5297
Southeast Region CPW Office
4255 Sinton
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Colorado Springs Kits and Videos
Request Form
Contact:
Phone - 303-291-7828
[email protected]
Northeast Region CPW Office
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216
Denver Critter Crates
Online Request Form
Request Form
Critter Crate Lending Policy
Contact:
303-291-7828
[email protected]
Northeast Region CPW Office
317 W. Prospect
Ft. Collins, CO 80526
Fort Collins Critter Crates
Online Request Form
Request Form
Critter Crate Lending Policy
All CPW Area Service Centers in the Southwest Region (Durango, Gunnison, Montrose, and Monte Vista Offices) have critter crates available for loan. At this time, two topics are available at each of these offices:
Mammal Skulls: a collection of 10-12 plastic replica-skulls. See Skulls Lesson Plan.
Additional critter crates (beaver adaptations, aquatic invertebrates) are available at the Southwest Regional Office in Durango. See Beaver Adaptations Lesson Plan.
For more information and to request a critter crate, please call 970-375-6709 or email Catherine Brons at [email protected] and use "CRITTER CRATES" in the subject line.
Due to resource and geographic limitations, SW Region critter crates are only available for loan to those residing in the SW Region (Delta/Montrose/Paonia, Gunnison region, San Luis Valley, Durango/Cortez). If you live outside of these areas, we can work with your local CPW Education Coordinator to help you access similar materials.
Classroom Posters
Wild Colorado: Crossroads of Biodiversity
Colorado wildlife heritage is a source of pride for our citizens and can be an incredibly powerful teaching tool in the classroom. To help teachers and students learn about Colorado’s ecosystems and its wildlife, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has prepared a set of ecosystem posters and this education guide. Together they will provide an overview of the biodiversity of our state as it applies to the eight major ecosystems of Colorado.
Preview, or print, the complete educator's guide and see sample images from the series of eight posters; Subalpine Forest poster; Pinon-Juniper Woodlands poster; Sage Shrublands poster. (The guide is a pdf file and about 8MB in size.)
Bound copies of the guide–and the full-color posters–are available for free, and may be picked up at one of our regional offices. You may also email your request to your regional education coordinator to have a set shipped.
Planning Your Outdoor Classroom
If you are interested in creating an outdoor classroom, the following are great resources to help get you started.
Evergreen
This Canadian organization has an abundance of school ground greening resources for teachers, including planning and design information, lesson plans, maintenance tips, case studies and much more. Don't start from scratch - let Evergreen help!
Find out moreBoston Schoolyard Initiative
Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) recommends the planning resources from the Boston Schoolyard Initiative to help with understanding GOCO's School Play Yard Initiative.
The Acorn Naturalists Planning Guide
The Acorn Naturalists Planning Guide for Habitat Enhancement on School Grounds.
Find out more