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Engineering Design Challenge:

Design a wildlife crossing system in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument that allows animals to safely cross roads, while minimizing disruption to human transportation, using the book "Crossings" by Katy Duffield as a reference.
NGSS Standards:
  • Engineering Design (ETS1)
  • Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems (LS2)
  • Earth's Systems (ESS2)
Instructions:
  • Research the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument to understand the types of animals that inhabit the area and their migration patterns. Use this information to identify the specific challenges animals face when crossing roads.
  • Read the book "Crossings" by Katy Duffield to gain inspiration and knowledge about the various wildlife crossings that exist around the world. Identify key features of successful crossings, such as size, location, and design.
  • Develop a design plan for your wildlife crossing system. Your plan should take into account the needs of different species and the specific challenges faced by animals in the area. Consider factors such as topography, vegetation, and climate.
  • Build a prototype of your wildlife crossing system using recyclable materials found around your classroom or home. Test your prototype to ensure that it is functional and meets the needs of the animals in the area.
  • Evaluate the success of your wildlife crossing system by collecting data on animal use and behavior before and after the installation of the crossing. Use this data to make improvements to your design.
  • Present your design and data to your classmates, highlighting the NGSS standards that your project meets.
Evaluate:
Your design challenge will be assessed based on the following criteria:
  • Design plan: Does your plan take into account the needs of different species and the specific challenges faced by animals in the area?
  • Prototype: Does your prototype function as intended and meet the needs of the animals in the area?
  • Data collection: Did you collect data on animal use and behavior before and after the installation of the crossing?
  • NGSS standards: Does your project meet the NGSS standards for Engineering Design, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, and Earth's Systems?
  • Presentation: Did you effectively communicate your design and data to your classmates?​

Wildlife Crossings at Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
Grade Level: 5-8

Objective: Students will learn about the importance of wildlife crossings and their impact on preserving biodiversity through reading Katy Duffield's book "Crossings," hands-on activities, and research on Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. They will also connect their learning to the Next Generation Science Standards.
Engage (10-15 minutes): Introduce the topic of wildlife crossings and their importance by showing pictures and videos of existing wildlife crossings. Ask students what they notice about the crossings and why they think they are important. Then, introduce the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and ask students to brainstorm why wildlife crossings might be especially important in this area.
Explore (30-45 minutes): Read "Crossings" to the class, stopping to discuss how the characters in the book are working to protect the animals that live in their community. After reading, divide students into small groups and have them research the animals that live in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and their habitats. They can use pictures and videos to create a poster explaining how the animals use the landscape and where they might need wildlife crossings.
Explain (20-30 minutes): Lead a class discussion about the research and posters. Ask each group to present their findings and discuss how the different types of crossings might work in different areas. Explain the importance of wildlife crossings in preserving biodiversity and reducing road accidents.
Elaborate (60-90 minutes): In small groups, have students design their own wildlife crossings using recyclable materials found around the classroom or home. Encourage creativity and practicality, and make sure they are thinking about the animals that live in the area. Each group should present their design to the class and explain how it would work in the designated area.
Evaluate (10-15 minutes): Wrap up the lesson by having each student write a short reflection on what they learned about wildlife crossings and why they are important for preserving biodiversity. Collect the reflections and use them to assess the students' understanding of the topic and their ability to connect it to the NGSS.

When completed, contact Dacia Jones ([email protected]) for an introduction to Ranger John and/or a possible collaboration with other classrooms around the country. ​

    You can also message us below. Tell us if you want to connect with Ranger John or a classroom or both.

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​Expeditions In Education, INC is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.   ​EIN: 85-1846134
Dacia and Steve Jones.  Email us
Copyright 2025
  • Home
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    • Our Books >
      • Adventures of Marvin & Huck:
      • Lila & Toby: Into the Wild
      • Educational & Meaningful
      • Book Connections
    • Our Kits >
      • Family Outdoor Discovery Box
      • ParkQuest Engineering Kits
    • Expeditions in Education BLOG
    • Experience the Parks >
      • Experience Pullman >
        • Experience Pullman Blog
    • Great Lakes Odyssey >
      • Getting Started with GLO
      • Great Lakes Odyssey Travel Blog
      • Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
      • Indiana Dunes National Park
      • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
      • Keweenaw National Historical Park
      • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
      • Voyageurs National Park
    • Math in Nature
    • Nature Pages
    • Preserve the Parks PBL >
      • Addressing Environmental Resilience in Puerto Rico
      • Protecting the Puerto Rican Harlequin Butterfly
      • Creating Sustainable Communities Inspired by Pullman
      • Combating the Green Crab Invasion in Acadia National Park
      • Enhancing Sustainable Trails at Big Cypress National Preserve​
      • Exploring the Green River's Impact on Water Purity and Cave Preservation
      • Protecting Crater Lake's Endemic Newts
      • Restoring Native Trees at the Lincoln Boyhood Home
      • Restoring the Elwha River
    • Backpack the Parks!
    • Park Pioneers
    • Ready to Go Lessons
  • National Parks Expedition Challenge
    • Expedition Challenge Full List
    • Acadia to Bryce >
      • Acadia National Park
      • Alcatraz Island
      • Amache National Historic Site
      • Amistad National Recreation Area
      • Arches National Park
      • Assateague Island National Seashore
      • Badlands National Park
      • ​Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
      • Big Bend National Park
      • Big Cypress National Preserve
      • Biscayne National Park
      • Black Canyon of the Gunnison
      • Bryce Canyon National Park
    • Cabrillo to Dry Tortugas >
      • Cabrillo National Monument
      • Cape Cod (ONE) National Seashore
      • Cape Cod (TWO) National Seashore
      • Carlsbad Caverns National Park
      • Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
      • César E. Chávez National Monument
      • Chaco Culture National Historical Park
      • Channel Islands National Park
      • Crater Lake National Park
      • Cumberland Island National Seashore
      • Cuyahoga Valley National Park
      • Dayton Aviation National Heritage Historical Park
      • Death Valley National Park
      • Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
      • Denali National Park
      • Dry Tortugas National Park
    • Eleanor to Fort Pulaski >
      • El Malpais National Monument
      • El Morro National Monument
      • Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
      • Everglades National Park
      • FDR Memorial
      • First State National Historical Park
      • Flight 93 Memorial Park
      • Ford's Theatre
      • Fort Laramie National Historic Site
      • Fort Monroe National Monument
      • Fort Pulaski National Monument
    • Gateway to Hot Springs >
      • Gateway Arch National Park
      • Gettysburg National Military Park
      • Grand Canyon National Park
      • Grand Teton National Park
      • Great Smoky Mountains National Park
      • Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
      • Haleakala National Park
      • Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
      • Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
      • Homestead National Historical Park
      • Home of Franklin Roosevelt National Historic Site
      • Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
      • Hot Springs National Park
    • Indiana to Lincoln Memorial >
      • Indiana Dunes National Park
      • Isle Royale National Park
      • Jewel Cave National Monument
      • Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
      • Joshua Tree National Park
      • Kenai Fjords and Alaska Coastal Parks
      • Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
      • Keweenaw National Historical Park
      • Lava Beds National Monument
      • Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
      • Lincoln Home National Historic Site
      • Lincoln Memorial
    • Maggie to Pullman >
      • Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
      • Medgar & Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
      • Mammoth Cave National Park
      • Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
      • Mesa Verde National Park
      • Natchez Trace Parkway
      • New River Gorge and Preserve National Park
      • Niobrara National Scenic River
      • Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum
      • Olympic National Park
      • Palo Alto Battlefield
      • Pearl Harbor National Memorial
      • Petroglyph National Monument
      • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
      • Pinnacles National Park
      • Pipestone National Monument
      • Pullman National Monument
    • Redwood to Zion >
      • Redwood National and State Parks
      • Rocky Mountain National Park
      • Saguaro National Park
      • San Antonio Missions NHP
      • San Juan National Historic Site
      • Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail
      • Shenadoah National Park
      • Tidal Basin-NAMA
      • Tumacácori National Historical Park
      • Vanderbilt Mansion National Historical Site
      • Vicksburg National Military Park
      • Voyageurs National Park
      • Waco Mammoth National Monument
      • Wright Brothers Memorial
      • Yosemite National Park
      • Zion National Park
  • STEAM in the PARK
  • Crossing America