Objectives:

• Creating awareness of the importance of nature conservation, in general, and the conservation of biodiversity, in particular
• Increasing the number of active TiME members, and encouraging new members to take an active part in TiME and other wildlife conservation organizations

Materials:

• internet connection
• computers

Procedure:

1. Introducing biodiversity conservation and TiME’s project – short opening lecture explaining the need for biodiversity conservation, the location of habitats worth preserving, and the mechanism of TiME’s project. What activities occur in conservation areas and how can each and every one affect them?
2. What is the problem – using the short movie of “There is a Rang Tan in my bedroom“. While watching, stop at the 32-second mark and ask why is it really happening? After listening to some answers from students, continue watching. Discuss the outcomes of such an event: the loss of open spaces.
3. Simple illustration – bringing awareness to and simple understanding of the problem and the need to act NOW! Using one of the most exciting findings of the last century – bringing back 14 wolves to Yellowstone Park – ask the following questions:
   • Name one of the animal chains mentioned. What animals and plants are typical for this habitat?
   • What was the first action the wolves did after they were reintroduced to the reserve?
   • Why did the birds return? What did the birds need?
   • Why did the rivers change their path? What helped it happened?
4. Getting familiar with important concepts – using Kahoot.
5. Getting to know TiME’s conservation sites and prioritizing them – exploring the sites in small groups – structured discussion on one of TiME’s habitats, during which the participants will summarize information on numerous aspects, including the biological, environmental, financial, and other threats to the site. The information will be presented to the other groups in a table, presented on the teacher’s white/black board or PowerPoint. Two representatives of each group will come to the front of the class/group and persuade their friends why the habitat they were researching should be prioritized for conservation. A class/group vote will take place.
6. Class debate – each group will try to convince the others why their habitat should be protected, according to scaffolds such as:
   • What are the unique habitats in this region?
   • Name at least 5 unique species.
   • What are the risk categories for species in this habitat?
   • What are the main threats to this habitat?
   • Name one animal that can’t survive in another habitat and explain why. You can use the internet to find the unique characteristics of those species.
   • Make a final statement: why do you think it is important to protect this habitat? Make at least 4 statements. (You can use an opposing argumentation).
   • Concept connection – try to use at least five concepts (e.g., biodiversity hotspot, edge effect, keystone species, Critically Endangered species) in your arguments.
7. Voting in real time for the most worthy conservation site – assemble all the TiME Day participants to vote on the TiME website. During the voting, the data updates live.

At the end of the TiME Day, each participant receives a special “active TiME member” (e.g., certificate, hat).