Can Beavers Help Mitigate Wildfire and Drought?
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Provided by: The Kid Should See This|Published on: April 27, 2021
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video explains how beavers can help restore habitats, minimize wildfires, and fight droughts.
- Students will learn that beaver dams store water and carbon and improve water quality.
- Climate change and human activity have degraded many habitats, making it hard for beavers to survive, but scientists are now working to reintroduce beavers into several river ecosystems.
Subjects: Biology
Authors: The Kid Should See This, PBS Terra
Region: North America, USA - West, United States, Oregon, Idaho
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- A short article below the video provides links to relevant sources.
- Students will learn from the scientists who are studying and working with the beavers.
- This engaging video uses animation as well as historic and present-day video footage to illustrate certain concepts.
Additional Prerequisites
- There may be ads during the video.
- Students should have a basic understanding of ecosystems and keystone species.
Differentiation
- Teachers could use this video in a biology class when discussing climate change and keystone species.
- Science classes could research other biomimicry climate change solutions.
- Other resources on this topic include this video and article on how scientists can use nature to help restore ecosystems, this video on the adverse impacts of human activity on the water cycle, and this video on how wildfires are affecting Oregon.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
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Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
The Kid Should See This
The Kid Should See This is a Webby award-winning collection of over 7,000 kid-friendly videos, curated for teachers and parents who want to share smarter, more meaningful media in the classroom and at home. Selections are grown-up-friendly, too. And thanks to TKSST members, it’s free and ad-free for everyone. Start conversations, spark questions, and inspire offline exploration for all ages.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
