Beavers Building Ecosystems

Studies have shown that wetlands created by beaver dams are more biodiverse than human-made wetlands. Beavers’ first impact on the environment begins with dam building. Using their powerful teeth and engineering instincts, they significantly alter the ecology of a place. This book will discuss both positive and negative effects beavers have on their landscape and prompt students to think about how to effectively use beavers to create positive ecosystem changes. Students will also be introduced to ways in which ecosystems can change due to the influences of living and nonliving things, and they will use observation and data to observe how beaver dams change water levels and how that in turn changes the flora and fauna around the site. As a final assessment of what they have learned, students will be asked to play the role of wildlife managers assessing sites to find an appropriate place to relocate beavers. Students will apply their new understanding to decide where the beavers’ presence will be most useful as environmental restorers.

These e-books are highly interactive, self-directed learning experiences designed to augment understanding of science content. These e-books include high-resolution images, animations, videos, and interactive simulations.

Excerpt from Teachers Guide

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Allison Onstad
Allison Onstad

Beavers Building Ecosystems

I think this book would be great way to teach elementary students about ecosystems and how animals interact with the environment. I like how it emphasizes the use of the Nature of Science in... See More

Cyndi (San Jose, CA)
Cyndi (San Jose, CA)

Popsicle sticks, Water, Fun

This E-Reader helped my students to understand a variety of situations of what could happen with and without Beaver Dams. It was fun to go outside with a nice long containers have students... See More

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