Program goal

Bring participants to understand that wildlife, as a renewable natural resource, must benefit from favourable conditions to maintain its populations at acceptable levels.

The activities of this program should enable students to understand:

• that wildlife is a renewable natural resource;
• that certain conditions are essential for its renewal;
• that a good quality habitat is important for wildlife;
• that there are rules to protect wildlife and its habitats;
• that students can act to ensure the sustainability of wildlife.

Description of activities

Preparatory activity
Duration: 30 minutes

This activity is presented by the teacher. It serves as a stimulus and makes it possible to ascertain the students’ initial notions concerning wildlife as a resource, its needs and our relations with wildlife. The activity takes place in class or at home prior to the officer’s visit. On the basis of their knowledge, students must formulate a hypothesis concerning the essential conditions for the renewal of wildlife. Subsequently, the student uses a drawing to illustrate one example of the use of wildlife.

Officer’s visit to the class
Duration : 2 periods

The classroom visit consists of three parts. First of all, with the help of visual elements, students discover what is meant by "wildlife, a renewable natural resource". Then, stories will be used that encourage ethical questioning to allow them to deduce the two essential requirements for the renewal of wildlife and thus to test the hypothesis that they formulated in the preparatory activity. Finally, the officer will talk to them about his work. During the visit, the presence of the teacher is essential. In the interests of quality, officers may not conduct the activity with more than one class at a time.

Final activity
Duration : 30 minutes

This activity is facilitated by the teacher. Thanks to the visit by officers, students have acquired knowledge about wildlife and its needs. This final activity will enable students to understand that a good quality habitat is essential for wildlife.

Links with the Quebec education program

The Wildlife and you program adheres to the main orientations and the aims of the Quebec Education Program. The broad areas of learning concerned by the program are mainly: Environmental Awareness and Consumer Rights and Responsibilities as well as Citizenship and Community Life.