During the past several weeks during their Exhibition Unit of Inquiry time, Mrs. Monty’s class has been searching for and contacting organizations that focus on Wildlife Conservation. Recently, they happened upon the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation located in Calgary (Canada). Luckily, their email was spotted by former IB student Mrs. Katrina Terrill (IB Diploma from McNally High School in Edmonton, AB). Mrs. Terrill is the Community Engagement Manager for Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation and is trained as a wildlife biologist. She eagerly responded sharing some incredible resources with Mrs. Monty’s class and offered to present one of their wildlife education programs to the class.

Just this past Thursday, Mrs. Monty’s class welcomed Mrs. Terrill to the classroom via Zoom. Mrs. Terrill shared an amazing interactive (high-school level) presentation focused specifically on human-wildlife conflict issues that occur in and outside of urban areas. Students learned that the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation mainly functions as a wildlife rehabilitation center for injured and orphaned animals and over ninety-five percent of their patients are admitted due to human-caused issues. So, sadly, Mrs. Terrill had numerous examples to draw from to share with Mrs. Monty’s class. This incredible live, online session allowed lots of time for questions from the students. Mrs. Monty’s students definitely become more knowledgeable about their Exhibition topic, Wildlife Conservation, thanks to the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation and Mrs. Katrina Terrill.

Student Reflections:

The presentation was important to me because I got to learn about wildlife conservation in a different country. I thought the most interesting fact was that polar bears come into towns! Jacob S.

Miss Katrina’s presentation was very important because we all gained lots of knowledge about our Exhibition topic, and this will help us with the paper we are writing. The most important thing I learned is climate change is really bad. Matthew N.

I think it was important that Miss Katrina presented to us because we got to learn about wildlife conservation in Canada - not just in America. I learned that habitat fragmentation can have serious effects because predators can use the roads to find prey easier and many species must mate with a family giving the babies defects. Tilly M.

Our presentation with Mrs. Katrina Terrill was really important because some of our questions were answered. I found it interesting that ninety-five percent of wildlife that is orphaned or injured happens because of humans. Lilly J.

An important fact I learned was that skunks have four stages before they spray. The information that most interested me is that in Canada people have to unlock their cars in case a polar bear walks down their street. Alex L.

I think the most important thing I learned from our presentation was about pollution and how it is affecting the world. The polar bear issue was also strange since people keep their cars unlocked. Legend B.

I enjoyed it when we learned how to stop birds from hitting our windows. I think something you need to know if you move to Canada is to leave your car doors unlocked. Caitlin W.

Our presentation was important so we could learn more about wildlife conservation. I learned that twenty million birds get hurt or die because of slamming into windows. Levi H.

The presentation was important because I learned a lot about wildlife conservation and ways to prevent it. It was interesting because I got to learn and start new things to help wildlife. Aydan S.

I think everything we learned was very important, and I enjoyed everything. A cool fact I learned was in some places in Canada, people leave their car doors unlocked in case a polar bear comes. Natalia P.

I think our presentation was important so we could learn some important information for Exhibition. One thing I learned is that a lot of birds get injured each year because they crash into windows. Olivia R.

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Thank you to CDS 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Monty, for facilitating this discussion and to Mrs. Terrill for spending time with our students.