Did you know that more than 42,100 species (animal, fungi and plant) have been assessed to be under threat of extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCP)?

Year 5’s attention has been drawn to this Red List as they have been acquainting themselves with endangered animals and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The Red List defines the severity and specific causes of a species’ threat of extinction and has seven levels of conservation: least concern, near threatened, vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered, extinct in the wild, and extinct.

Endangered means to be under threat or near extinction and Year 5 focused their attention on researching an animal of their choice that is disappearing fast or has a very small population – not large enough to survive. They researched characteristics of their endangered animal and identified its threats, many of which they realised, were due to unstainable human-led activities.

Creating informative, attention grabbing sketchbook pages filled with facts and drawings, Year 5 drew attention to the awesomeness of animals. Using drawing pencils, applying their mark making and tonal techniques and observation skills, the children drew their endangered animals with attention to detail and a renewed awareness of the natural world around them.