North American National Parks: Your Adventure in Park Design!

A fun and creative lesson where students explore existing North American National Parks and then design their own unique park or a new feature for an existing one, fostering an appreciation for nature, conservation, and creative problem-solving.

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North American National Parks: Your Adventure in Park Design!

Welcome, Park Explorer! Get ready for an exciting journey into the amazing world of North American National Parks. Today, you are not just going to learn about them; you are going to become a park designer!

What You Will Need (Materials):

  • Internet access for research (parental guidance recommended), or books/documentaries about National Parks
  • Paper (plain, colored, construction)
  • Drawing/coloring supplies (crayons, markers, colored pencils)
  • Optional creative extras: scissors, glue, modelling clay, LEGOs, recycled materials for building models
  • A notebook or journal for your brilliant ideas

Let Us Get Started!

Part 1: Park Explorer - What Makes a Park Special? (About 30-45 minutes)

National Parks are special places set aside to protect beautiful natural areas, wildlife, and important history for everyone to enjoy. Think about parks like Yellowstone with its geysers, the Grand Canyon with its vastness, or Banff with its stunning mountains and lakes.

Your Mission:

  1. Choose 1 or 2 North American National Parks to investigate. You can pick famous ones or try to find some lesser-known gems! (Examples: Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, Acadia in the USA; Banff, Jasper in Canada; Sian Ka'an, Palenque in Mexico).
  2. Find out:
    • What makes this park unique? (Think about its landscapes, animals, plants, or history.)
    • What can visitors do there? (Hiking, camping, wildlife watching, learning programs?)
    • Why is it important to protect this park?
  3. Jot down some cool facts and ideas in your notebook. What inspires you about these parks?

Part 2: Park Planner - Design Your Dream National Park! (About 60-90 minutes - Take your time and have fun!)

This is where your imagination takes flight! You have two exciting options:

Option A: Create a BRAND NEW National Park!

  • Location: Where in North America (USA, Canada, or Mexico) would your park be? What is the environment like (mountains, desert, forest, coast, maybe even underground caves or an underwater area!)?
  • Name: Give your park a fantastic, catchy name!
  • Unique Features: What amazing natural wonders will your park protect? (e.g., giant glowing mushrooms, a habitat for a mythical creature (friendly, of course!), a valley of singing stones, a hidden oasis). Be creative!
  • Visitor Activities: What will people do there? (Think beyond just hiking – maybe ziplining through a unique forest, special stargazing platforms, eco-friendly submarine tours, workshops on local crafts or nature photography).
  • Star Attraction: Design a very special landmark or main attraction for your park. What makes it a must-see?
  • Park Map: Try to draw a simple map of your park. Show where the main entrance, visitor center, key attractions, and maybe some trails are.

OR

Option B: Enhance an EXISTING National Park!

  • Choose one of the parks you researched (or another favorite).
  • Design a new, innovative, and eco-friendly attraction, facility, or visitor experience for it. This should be something that makes the park even better or helps people learn more, while still respecting nature.
  • (Ideas: a super-safe canopy walkway for birdwatching, an interactive holographic exhibit about the park's geology, a solar-powered educational rover, a program to help reintroduce a native species).
  • Explain why your new feature is a great idea for the park and its visitors.

Showcase Your Design:

How will you present your amazing park plan? You could:

  • Draw detailed pictures or a diorama.
  • Write a descriptive report.
  • Build a model using LEGOs, clay, or recycled materials.
  • Prepare a short verbal presentation explaining your ideas.

The most important thing is to be creative and have fun showing what makes your park (or park feature) special!

Part 3: Park Promoter - Spread the Word! (About 30-45 minutes)

Every great park needs visitors who appreciate it! Now, create something to tell the world about your amazing park design (from Part 2).

Your Mission: Choose ONE of these to create:

  • A Travel Poster: Design a colorful and exciting poster that makes people want to visit. Include your park's name and a cool slogan.
  • A Short Brochure: Fold a piece of paper to make a small brochure. Include highlights, a mini-map, and why people should visit.
  • A Park Jingle or Song: Write a short, catchy song or jingle about your park. (You can write the lyrics, and sing it if you like!)
  • A 30-Second 'Commercial' Script: Write the words for a quick radio or video ad for your park. What would you say to get people excited?

Wrap-up & Reflection: Guardians of the Parks

Wow, what amazing work you have done today, future Park Director!

Let us think for a moment:

  • Why is it so important for us to have and protect National Parks, both the real ones and the ones we can imagine?
  • What is one thing you learned or enjoyed most about creating your own park or park feature?
  • How can we all be good 'guardians' of these precious natural and cultural treasures?

Share your thoughts and your amazing park creations! Remember, every big idea starts with a spark of imagination, just like the ones you had today. Keep exploring, keep creating, and keep caring for our planet!