Giant Panda Teacher Packet - Memphis Zoo

China Conservation TrekGoal: To examine giant panda conservation efforts in China and at the Memphis ZooBehavioral Objectives:1) Students will be able to recall that giant pandas eat bamboo2) Students will be able to name the conservation projects that are going on in China and at theMemphis ZooCurriculum Standard Correlations:Grade 3• 4.1 Recognize that living things reproduce• 4.2 Recognize that offspring tend to resemble their parentsGrade 4• 4.2 Realize that reproduction is necessary for the survival of speciesGrade 5• Realize that reproduction is necessary for the survival of speciesTime: 15 minutesBackground Information:Mei-Mei is the name of the giant panda in the movie. She lives in the bamboo forests of China. Mei-Mei’s habitat is full of large trees and lots of bamboo. Mei-Mei’s favorite thing to eat is bamboo. Sheeats forty pounds of it each day. Mei-Mei’s home was destroyed because the trees were cut down tobuild farms and homes. Mei-Mei moved to a new home, but the bamboo began to die. At about thistime, scientists in China began to see that the giant panda’s needed help to survive. The scientistsstudied the growth of bamboo; they calculated how much land was needed to grow the large amountsof bamboo the giant pandas require; and they studied why there are so few giant panda in the wild.Finally, a wonderful thing happened. Mei Mei had a baby that looked like her! The birth of Mei-Mei’s baby helps the survival of their species. The land for thirty giant panda reserves was set asidethroughout southern China. The Memphis Zoo is helping the giant panda by studying the nutritionalcontent of different types of bamboo. Scientists will determine which type of bamboo species is themost nutritious for the giant panda to eat.Materials:Required:• Pencils or pens• China conservation movie provided by the Memphis ZooProvided:• China trek worksheetProcedures:Preparation:1) Make each student a copy of the china conservation worksheet.Conducting Activity:1) Give each student a copy of the China conservation video worksheet and a pen or pencil.2) Read the questions to the students so they will know what to be listening for.21