Swift Fox Curriculum Unit

This life science curriculum unit for grades 7-12 uses research data from the swift fox restoration program at Badlands National Park to explore topics such as populations, ecological interdependence, and the job of wildlife biologists. The lessons offer real world examples of science in action.

Students will research the natural history of swift foxes, meet with park rangers via videoconference, and draw conclusions based on the information they have gathered. For more information or to schedule the distance learning videoconference portion of the program, please contact the park's Education Specialist.

Swift Fox Curriculum (803 KB PDF)

Views

Views of the National Parks (Views) is a multimedia education program that presents stories of the natural, historical, and cultural wonders associated with national parks. Views includes a Badlands Virtual Experience (1.6 MB PDF). Your classroom’s journey through this virtual experience will teach you about the past and present of Badlands National Park. See life as it is today, and learn how geologists and paleontologists use scientific information to understand what life was like in the distant past. However, this is only a part of the Badlands story. Native Americans, homesteaders, artists, and tourists have also frequented this unique area.

The Views Teacher Resource Center offers standards-based lesson plans and other resources. Please contact the park to request the program on CD.

“Walking the Badlands” Health & Fitness Program

In 2007, Badlands National Park received funding to develop a public health program designed to raise awareness of diabetes among Native American elementary school students living on or near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, adjacent to Badlands National Park. Over 100 students successfully completed the program.

Thank you for the wonderful program “I’m Walking the Badlands” and the awesome rewards and fun we had with it. We hope you do this great program with other schools. --- The Mighty Walkers Team

Thank you so much for allowing our students the opportunity to participate in Walking the Badlands program. The time and effort that all of you put into the program was greatly appreciated. The program, the prizes, and the picnic provided our students with some physical rewards but more importantly an awareness of their physical well-being.  --- Interior School Teachers

The program can be adapted for use in any classroom. Students log their daily exercise, convert the minutes to miles, and then chart an imaginary journey through Badlands National Park. As individuals or teams walk through Badlands National Park, they learn about the park while increasing their physical activity level.

"Walking the Badlands" Log book (1.7 MB PDF)

Badlands National Park Official Map (360 KB PDF)