Pika Stories in Rocky Mountain National Park
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology
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 →
Provided by National Park Service
What it is
- This video from the National Park Service describes a research study about Pika, an important climate indicator species present in Rocky Mountain National Park.
- The video explains how scientists monitor the species, track their health, and collect data with the help of citizen science volunteers.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This video provides an example of how volunteers can support climate change research.
- Pika are cute mammals that students will likely enjoy learning about.
Prerequisites
- Students should have some understanding of the ways that climate change affects ecosystems.
Differentiation & Implementation
- This video can be used in a lesson about migrations of animals and plants due to climate change, citizen science, habitat loss, or ecosystem dynamics.
- Science and math classes can discuss the steps that scientists must take when they design a research project and tie it into lessons about the scientific method, data collection, and data analysis.
- After watching the video, students can learn more about your region using these interactive map resources: Global Forest Watch, Maps of Precipitation, and NASA Climate Time Machine.
From the scientist review
Pika in the Rocky Mountain National park is being studied in this video to understand the impact of climate change and seasonality on its spatial distribution. This is recommended for teaching.
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