Beaver Dams and Wildfire, a Stop-Motion Demonstration

• This brief stop-motion video illustrates how beaver dams have the ability to change their surrounding environment, particularly in ways that can slow the spread of wildfires. 
• Through this video, article, and related links, students will learn about the hydrologic functions of beaver dams and how they might play a role in building climate resilience in their ecosystem. 

Positives

• The video is playful and engaging, providing students with a visual demonstration of how beaver dams can be beneficial to their ecosystem. 
  
• This resource provides links to more than 10 additional sites that provide further learning. 

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should have basic background knowledge of beavers and why they build dams. 

Differentiation

• A graphic organizer (such as an "already Know-Want to know-what did I Learn" chart) may help students activate background knowledge and compare their prior knowledge about beavers to new learning. 
• Since the video is short, teachers might choose to show it more than once to give students an opportunity to process their understanding of the concept. 
• Have students create their own 3-D models in pairs (using pencils, rulers, erasers, or whatever is on hand) to match the video and then have them explain it to you or to another group.
  
• Art classes could discuss how stop-motion animation helps illustrate concepts and students could also demonstrate their own new learning through drawings or other art forms.