Interview a Wildlife Rescue Worker

Social Studies/Science

Students will prepare interview questions to ask during a classroom visit by a representative of a wildlife rescue organization, and then record the representative's answers.

What You Need

• A classroom visit by a representative of a local wildlife rescue organization
• Index cards and pencils

What To Do

1. Invite a representative of a local wildlife rescue organization to visit the classroom. Explain that you plan to have the class prepare questions to ask the representative in an interview format. You may want to see if it's possible for the representative to bring along some live rescued animals on the day of the classroom visit.
2. Before the scheduled visit, help students brainstorm a series of interview questions to ask the rescue worker. Try to generate a wide variety of questions related to wildlife rescue: kinds of animals most often rescued, unusual animals rescued, treatments or care provided to injured or baby animals, habitats to which animals are released, the rescue worker's job duties, the history of the rescue organization, and so on. Ideally, you should have enough questions so that each student can ask one. Select students to write the questions on separate index cards, using only one side of each card. Point out that other side will be used to record the rescue worker's answer.
3. Upon the rescue worker's arrival, distribute the question cards to the class. Introduce the representative and ask him or her to make some opening remarks. Then have students take turns asking questions from their interview cards. Remind questioners to record the answers on the backs of the cards.
4. Ask the rescue worker to wrap up with some closing remarks or with a less structured question-and-answer session with the students.
5. Once the rescue worker has left, collect the index cards. Keep them handy in the classroom for student reference.