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What are national parks? |
by Kate Simmons >> more about the author
Wide open spaces and wildlife roaming free. Travel to a national park, and these things you may see! National parks invite us to enjoy our world’s natural beauty, making them great vacation spots. But how is a national park different from the park in your neighborhood?
A national park is a piece of land protected by the government of a country. This land may have interesting wildlife, plant life and natural features, such as waterfalls and mountains. The features of a national park are there for people to enjoy observing, but visitors must respect the wildlife, plants and landforms.
Giving animals space and keeping the land clean are great ways to ensure our national parks stay beautiful! To help make sure the park’s creatures are safe, there may be even areas within the park where people are not allowed to travel.
Yellowstone National Park in the United States, Akan National Park in Japan and the National Park of Abruzzo in Italy are all examples of national parks.
Pretend your backyard is a national park! If you could make a
commercial that let visitors know about the natural wildlife and
features your yard/park has to offer, which creatures, plants and
landforms would you point out?
Think of the
animals you’ve seen in your yard. Are there squirrels? Cardinals?
Woodpeckers? Is the land flat or hilly? Which types of plants do you
see when you’re outside? Are there any trees? Is there a creek or pond
nearby?
Draw a picture of your yard,
pretending it’s a snapshot from the commercial. Make sure you draw the
different creatures and features that make your yard special! Now can
you think of a name for the national park that your backyard has
become?!
