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Bumble Bee

Bumble Bee by Arabella H, Nicole, Matea, and Chela, Ms Rabina's 6th grade class 2014, Thomas Starr King Middle School. Felt, faux fur, and fabric appliqué, with rubber stamps.
Bumble Bee by Matea C, Arabella H, Nicole T, and Chela.  Ms Rabina’s 6th grade class, Thomas Starr King Middle School, 2014. Felt, faux fur, and fabric appliqué, with rubber stamps.

There are 250 known species of Bumble Bee (genus Bombus). They are social animals living in small colonies. Bumble Bees are important pollinators, and are used to pollinate green house plants such as tomatoes, peppers and strawberries. They are increasingly at risk due to climate change, habitat loss, and use of pesticides. The IUCN has formed a Bumblebee Specialist group to study the plight of Bumble Bees world wide, and has listed Franklin’s Bumble Bee as critically endangered.

To learn more about Bumble Bees go to:

http://savethebumblebees.com

http://www.xerces.org/bumblebees/

http://bumblebeeconservation.org/about-bees/why-bees-need-help/

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/environmentalists-sue-to-list-bumble-bee-as-endangered/

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Grey Wolf

Grey Wolf by Corinne, Jasper, Jasmine, and Trixie. Mr Rabina's 6th grade class, 2014. Fabric and faux fur appliqué with rubber stamps.
Grey Wolf by Trixie B, Corinne L, Jasmine S, and Jasper T. Ms Rabina’s 6th grade class, Thomas Starr King Middle School,  2014.  Fabric and faux fur appliqué with rubber stamps.

The Grey Wolf (Canis lupis) evolved in Eurasia during the Pleistocene, and eventually migrated to both Northern Africa and North America. They were once plentiful in the lower 48 states, but were hunted to near extinction by the 1930s. They were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in 1995, and today there are only wolves in Canada, Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, the Northern Rockies and the Great Lakes region.  Grey wolves usually travel in packs consisting of an alpha male and female, and their offspring.

To learn more about the Grey Wolf go to:

http://www.defenders.org/gray-wolf/basic-facts

http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/species/profiles/mammals/wolf_timber_intro/

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/gray_wolves/

To learn about wolves in California go to:

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2014/wolves-california-06-04-2014.html

 

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Emperor Penguin

Emperor Penguin by Nyah, Jiate, Yadira, Yahir. Ms Rabina's 6th grade class, 2014. Thomas Starr King Middle School. Fabric appliqué with rubber stamps.
Emperor Penguin by Nyah B, Jiate M, Yahir P and Yadira S. Ms Rabina’s 6th grade class, Thomas Starr King Middle School, 2014. Felt and fabric appliqué with rubber stamps.

The Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the largest of all penguin species reaching a height of up to 48 inches and weighing as much as 100 pounds. They are capable of diving as deep as 1,850 feet, staying under water for as long as 20 minutes. They survive the harsh arctic winters by using both physiological and social adaptations, including a layer of fat that can be as much as 1 1/2 inches thick, as well as the greatest number of feathers per square inch of any bird. To conserve warmth, Emperor Penguins huddle together in large groups, with individuals taking turns shifting from the inside to the outside as they warm up.

To learn more about the Emperor Penguin go to:

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/emperor-penguin/

http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/penguin

To learn more about their status as an endangered species go to:

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2014/emperor-penguins-01-21-2014.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/10933964/Emperor-Penguins-are-now-endangered-warn-biologists.html

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Florida Panther

Florida Panther by Harout, Mario, Frank, Elijah. Ms Rabina's 6th grade class, 2014. Fabric appliqué, pearl cotton, and rubber stamps.
Florida Panther by Elijah D, Mario F, Harout P, and Frank R.  Ms Rabina’s 6th grade class, Thomas Starr King Middle School, 2014.  Fabric appliqué, pearl cotton, and rubber stamps.

The Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi) was one of the first species named to the Endangered Species Act in 1973. The panther, also known as the cougar, puma, or mountain lion, once roamed throughout most of North and South America and was divided into numerous subspecies. Panthers were feared and hunted to the point where the Florida Panther is the only remaining subspecies in the eastern United States. There are somewhere between 100 and 180 Florida Panthers remaining

To learn more about the Florida panther go to:

http://www.defenders.org/florida-panther/basic-facts

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/Florida_panther/

To take action go to:

https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2539

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Hawaiian Monk Seal

Hawaiian Monk Seal by Arman, Sarai, Isabel, and Dylan. Ms Rabina's 6th grade class, 2014. Thomas Starr King Middle School.
Hawaiian Monk Seal by Sarai A, Dylan D, Arman K, and Isabel M. Ms Rabina’s 6th grade, Thomas Starr King Middle School, 2014. Fabric appliqué and rubber stamps.

The Hawaiian Monk Seal (Monachus schauinslandi) is one of two remaining Monk Seals.  While most seals live in frigid water, Monk Seals live in the warm tropical waters of Hawaii and the Mediterranean.  Hawaiian Monk Seals are solitary animals.  During the day, they haul up onshore to find a shady refuge from the heat and then hunt at night. The Hawaiian Monk Seal is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red list. There were originally 3 Monk Seal species: the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the Hawaiian. The Caribbean monk seal has been extinct since the 1950’s and there are somewhere between 3-6 hundred Mediterranean Monk Seals left.

To learn more about the Hawaiian Monk seal go to:

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/hawaiian-monk-seal/

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/Hawaiian_monk_seal/

http://www.savemonkseals.ucsc.edu

http://www.marine-conservation.org/what-we-do/program-areas/mpas/pacific-islands-conservation/hawaiian-monk-seals/

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Musk Ox

Musk Ox by Daniel, Gerardo, Ramiro, and Joshua. Ms Rabina's 6th grad class, Thomas Starr King Middle School, 2014. Fabric appliqué with needle felting, and rubber stamps.
Musk Ox by Daniel, Ramiro M, Joshua M and Gerardo R.  Ms Rabina’s 6th grade class, Thomas Starr King Middle School, 2014. Fabric appliqué with needle felting, and rubber stamps.

The Musk Ox (Ovibos moschatus) is one of only a few large mammals to have survived the Pleistocene extinctions. With it’s double layered coat of fur, and the ability to slow its  metabolic rate by reducing both oxygen intake and CO2 production, the musk ox is uniquely suited to survive the harshest of winters.  Musk Ox are herd animals with a highly developed social structure. When attacked, they are known to surround their young, elderly, or infirm members, facing horns outward in a protective circle. Hopefully these amazing animals will be able to survive in a warming world.

To learn more about the Musk Ox go to:

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/musk-ox/

For an interesting story on the Musk Ox  go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/science/14angier.html?_r=0

 

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Monarch Butterfly

Monarch Butterfly by Shannon, Eva, Alyson, and Zaya T. Ms Rabina's 6th grade class, 2014. Thomas Starr King Middle School.
Monarch Butterfly by Alyson C, Shannon F, Bayanzaya T, and Eva W. Ms Rabina’s 6th grade class, Thomas Starr King Middle School, 2014. Fabric and felt appliqué, embroidery, and rubber stamps.

The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is capable of amazing migratorial feats of up to 3,000 of miles. There are two distinct Monarch populations in north America. The western population of Monarchs migrate from Mexico to parts of California, while the eastern population migrate as far north as southern Canada. Monarch populations are now threatened by climate change, pesticides, and the loss of the milk weed their larva need to feed on.

To learn more about the Monarch Butterfly go to:

http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/monarch-butterfly

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/monarch-butterfly/

To learn about the effects of pesticides on Monarchs go to:

http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/03/researchers-gm-crops-are-killing-monarch-butterflies-after-all

To learn how you can help go to:

http://www.monarchwatch.org

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Sea Turtle Restoration Project

This is the “extra” panel we made as part of our school quilt project at Thomas Starr King Middle School in the spring of 2013. This panel was not included in either quilt block, but was made specifically for Dr Chris Pincetich, the Outreach and Education Manager at Turtle Island Restoration Network. Students from both classes worked on this panel, and it was delivered to the TIRN offices in Northern California during the summer.

Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle Background made of old jeans sewn together on a 1906 Singer treadle machine. Sea turtle, jellyfish, and plastic bags made from remnant fabric donated by the Center Theater Group Costume Shop. Fabric paint and rubber stamps.
Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle
Background made of old jeans sewn together on a 1906 Singer treadle machine. Sea turtle, jellyfish, and plastic bags made from remnant fabric donated by the Center Theater Group Costume Shop. Fabric paint and rubber stamps.

To learn more about Turtle Island Restoration Network go to:

http://www.tirn.net

or

www.seaturtles.org

 

 

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African Elephant

African Elephant by Declan O, Luca H, Noah G, and Talia B, Ms Rabina's 6th grade class, Thomas Starr King Middle School, 2013. Fabric paint, rubber stamps, and felt applique.
African Elephant by Declan O, Luca H, Noah G, and Talia B.  Ms Rabina’s 6th grade class, Thomas Starr King Middle School, 2013.  Fabric paint, rubber stamps, and felt applique.

The African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the largest living land animal. They are highly intelligent with brains similar in structure and complexity to humans. Their population has long been at risk due to poaching for the ivory in their tusks. They are now also in danger due to the effects of climate change on their habitat.

For more about the African Elephant go to:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/african-elephant/

http://www.defenders.org/elephant/basic-facts

To help Elephants in Africa go to:

http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

For WWF’s Hands Off My Parts page go to:

http://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/hands-off-my-parts

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Blue Spotted Salamander

Blue Spotted Salamander by Asiful A, Charles, and Daniel, Ms Rabina's 6th grade class, 2013. Fabric and ribbon applique, with rubber stamps.
Blue Spotted Salamander by Asiful A, Charles W, and Daniel R.  Ms Rabina’s 6th grade class, 2013. Fabric and ribbon applique, with rubber stamps.

The Blue Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale) is a good example of a species labeled as endangered within its respective area. According to the IUCN Red list they are labeled ‘least concerned’, but are labeled endangered by many states within their habitat.  Amphibians in general are in danger. After being on earth for 300 million years, more than 120 species may have become extinct within the last several decades. At present, 1 out of every 3 species of amphibians is at risk of extinction

To learn more go to:

http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/downloads/cwnj_43.pdf