UNEP - Great Apes Survival Project

Aerin Jacob and Swen Renner, GRASP interns in 2004, compiled a list of sources on the Internet with links useful for teachers to teach conservation and issues related to great apes in primary schools and high schools. The list presents fast and easy access to teaching tools for pupils of all age groups. Due to the extensive database on the internet, the list generated has only relevant information and therefore is not complete in its inclusion of all aspects of the great ape conservation.

For students and those enrolled in higher levels of education, GRASP provides a list of schools and universities world-wide that teach primatology and/or great ape studies. A short description of the course is given, based on available and known information. It is recommended that interested individual contact the universities or schools directly for up to date information on the status of the courses.

The list provided is a brief overview of the educational opportunities available to students interested in primatology or great ape issues. Please contact the GRASP secretariat for any suggests.

ENGLISH RESOURCES

PRIMARY SCHOOL (Approximate age 4 - 9)

http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/game.html

A very simple card game for young children to learn the names of the four great apes (chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan and bonobo).

http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/rainforest_teacher.htm

Over thirty links to teacher lesson plans, activity sheets and resources for Tropical Rainforests. Both primary and intermediate levels. Covers economics, cross-cultural relationships, exploitation, habitat destruction, biodiversity and ecology. Some of the links are broken.

http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/events/fow/fowtfkv3n2/htm/z1_htm/z2_htm/brain.htm

Matching game. Requires Internet access but could be easily replicated in a classroom.

http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/events/fow/fowtfkv3n2/htm/start.htm

Directed at parents and children. Activities include building primate habitat at home and simple behavioural data collection.

http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/prcya.html

Reading materials and videos about primates. Some links broken.

http://www.theteachersguide.com/Mammals.html

Resources for primary and intermediate level students. Everything for teachers related to mammals. Use the search feature and enter "ape" or "apes".

http://www.greenteacher.com/articles/59planet.html

A brief guide for teaching students of all ages about apes and environmental issues.

http://www.sfzoo.org/education/teacherResources.htm

A web site from the San Francisco Zoo. All age levels are included. Beside great apes there are also offered classrooms on almost all animals living in he zoo, but focused on gorillas and other primates. There are classes for children, teens, and adults and an extra web page for schools and teachers.

http://www.pbs.org/safarchive/4_class/45_pguides/pguide_504/4554_idx.html

Learn to be a monkey: social problems and how you keep peace in a primate group, behaviour and social tasks of apes. Lesson plans and discussion questions.

INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL (Approximate age 9 - 14)

http://www.ssrvideo.com/images/tg/11_3.pdf

A video for classroom is summarised in the following .PDF format, discussion questions and short glossary. The "Science Screen Reports" recommend the video for classes for behaviour and ecology of pets and also chimpanzees.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/

Two kinds of interactive, multimedia maps focused on biodiversity as a whole. Shows the priority conservation areas and the 867 eco-regions of the world, distribution and range of species, climate and ecological features.

http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/greatapes/index.html

Lesson plan for discussing primate intelligence and behaviour. Lesson requires classroom internet access.

http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/rainforest_teacher.htm

Over thirty links to teacher lesson plans, activity sheets and resources for Tropical Rainforests; primary and intermediate levels. Covers economics, cross-cultural relationships, exploitation, habitat destruction, biodiversity and ecology. Some of the links are broken.

http://www.lessonsforhope.org/

Supported and initiated by the Jane Goodall Foundation to increase the knowledge about great ape conservation. Huge interactive site for teachers and students, with excellent multi-media resources (requires Adobe Acrobat, MediaPlayer programmes etc.).

http://www.field-trips.org/sci/endanger/index.htm

Endangered species field trip (not specifically primates). American and international information.

http://www.howstuffworks.com/question660.htm

Simple page discussing the differences between monkeys and apes.

http://www.pbs.org/edens/madagascar/class1.htm

Lesson plan. Students compare human and lemur jumping abilities and discuss reasons for the differences. Requires lemur video or internet access.

http://www.petsandvets.com/wordprimates.htm

Primate word search game.

http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/prcya.html

Reading materials and videos about primates. Some links broken.

http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/subjects/apes/chimp/

Commercial site, with brief information on chimpanzees. A quiz about chimps to print out (solutions are provided also) and colouring pictures.

http://www.theteachersguide.com/Mammals.html

Resources for primary and intermediate level students. Everything for teachers related to mammals. Use the search feature and enter "ape" or "apes".

http://www.greenteacher.com/articles/59planet.html

A brief guide for teaching students of all ages about apes and environmental issues.

http://www.sfzoo.org/education/teacherResources.htm

http://www.uft.org/?fid=79&tf=196

Learn about social structure, behaviour and physical characteristics of great apes, and thereby encourage greater respect for them. Discusses threats, abuses, research and conservation efforts. The site is provided by the United Federation of Teachers (New York, USA).

http://teacher.scholastic.com/researchtools/articlearchives/animals/primates.htm

A basic summary of primate diet and general behaviour in question and answer format from a zoo nutritionist.

SECONDARY SCHOOL AND ABOVE (Approximate age 14 - 18)

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/3220/

General primatology information, vocabulary and some research. Contains link to The Primates Ring webrings http://www.bomis.com/rings/primates/ (linking primate-related webpages together) with some useful pages.

http://www.sciencenorth.on.ca/chimp/resources.htm

"Discovering Chimpanzees" provides lists of primate-related books and videos, as well as links to other organisation and resources about primates. Be aware of northern bias and outdated development ideas in some of the attached links.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/

Two kinds of interactive, multimedia maps focused on biodiversity as a whole. Shows the priority conservation areas and the 867 ecoregions of the world, distribution and range of species, climate and ecological features.

http://www.woodrow.org/teachers/bi/1995/simulation_molecular.html

Molecular Biology and Primate Phylogenetics. Intended for advanced biology students who will compare genetic differences between primates and make inferences about evolutionary history and relatedness.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/primer/phylo.html

An introduction to phylogenetics for advanced students.

http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/slidesets/ and http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/prcya/slidesets.html

Can borrow a set of slides and educational materials ($12 US by mail) from University of Wisconsin. Discusses behaviour, taxonomy and conservation of primates.

http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/puzzle.html

Primate crossword puzzle. Quite challenging, requires depth and breadth of knowledge

http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/~reffland/anthropology/anthro2003/origins/primates/

Lesson plans. Discusses phylogenetic relationships between primates (inluding humans) and provides information on anatomy, ecology, evolution and behaviour.

http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEC/AEF/1996/bornstein_research.html

Lesson plans to examine paleoanthropology. Requires dissection, skull drawing and analysis of primary research articles.

http://anthro.palomar.edu/primate/

Resources for teaching taxonomy and anatomy of primates. Includes glossary, flashcards and links.

http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/prcya.html

Reading materials and videos about primates. Some links broken.

http://discoveryschools.com.au/guides/apes/overview.html

Video on biology, endangered animals, evolution and animal behaviour. Links include curriculum ideas, vocabulary, activities and resources.

http://anthro.palomar.edu/primate/prim_7.htm

A short summary about all apes, including range, evolution, ecology and behaviour. Also included are maps, pictures and graphics to illustrate the topics. Orang-utans are somewhat underrepresented. Short quiz at the end.

http://www.4apes.com/bushmeat/report/bushmeat.pdf

A in-depth PDF document about bushmeat and apes in Africa. Good distribution maps of apes and background information about bushmeat. Scientific in nature, therefore suitable for university level students.

http://www.aza.org/ConEd/

"American Zoological Association (AZA)": A page with conservation education is provided. Mostly background information and recommendations for teachers, but also opportunities to get involved as Education Liaisons. Includes sample survival plans and outlines for understanding associated legislation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/animals_a_z.shtml

A list of almost all mammals, birds and some bugs o the world. Here you find the great apes links:

- http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/361.shtml -- Gorilla

- http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/299.shtml -- Bonobo

- http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/300.shtml -- Chimpanzee

- http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/302.shtml -- Orangutan

- Also see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/mammals/further/teachers1.shtml

http://www.greenteacher.com/articles/59planet.html

A brief guide for teaching students of all ages about apes and environmental issues.

http://www.sfzoo.org/education/teacherResources.htm

http://www.actionbioscience.org/lessondirectory.html

Recommended. Lesson plans, tests etc. are used in association with peer-reviewed journal articles and original scientific research.

http://www.verkehrshaus.ch/de/information/pdf/schimpansen.pdf

A good pre-vision of the IMAX about Chimpanzees in Switzerland. Unfortunately only in German.

http://www.uft.org/?fid=79&tf=196

FRENCH RESOURCES

http://membres.lycos.fr/sosinges/

Site aux Singes. Associated with Jane Goodall Institute.

http://www.4apes.com/

The Ape Alliance (German, French and English). Provides a discussion forum and extensive list of links (some broken).

GERMAN RESOURCES

http://www.wilhelma.de/

The Stuttgart Zoo, Germany. Provides some information about primates in both German and English.

http://www.4apes.com/

The Ape Alliance (German, French and English). Provides a discussion forum and extensive list of links (some broken).

BOOKS AND ARTICLES ABOUT PRIMATOLOGY

There are hundreds of books available on the marked in all UN languages. A small compilation of English and French books is listed under Literature about Great Apes .