Great Barrier Reef
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g912/geoactreef.html
A lesson plan for grades 9–12 Science
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This Xpeditions lesson will help students understand the environmental importance of coral reefs and the threats to reefs’ conservation. Through the process of gathering geographic information about a place (in this case, the Great Barrier Reef), students will learn how a “geographic focus” can sharpen their insights about a conservation issue.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 9–12 — Biology
- Goal 5: The learner will develop an understanding of the ecological relationships among organisms.
- Objective 5.01: Investigate and analyze the interrelationships among organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems.
- Techniques of field ecology.
- Abiotic and biotic factors.
- Carrying capacity.
- Objective 5.03: Assess human population and its impact on local ecosystems and global environments:
- Historic and potential changes in population.
- Factors associated with those changes.
- Climate change.
- Resource use.
- Sustainable practices/stewardship.
- Objective 5.01: Investigate and analyze the interrelationships among organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems.
Grade 9–12 — Earth/Environmental Science
- Goal 1: The learner will develop abilities necessary to do and understand scientific inquiry in the earth and environmental sciences.
- Objective 1.06: Identify and evaluate a range of possible solutions to earth and environmental issues at the local, national, and global level including considerations of:
- Interdependent human and natural systems.
- Diverse perspectives.
- Short and long range impacts.
- Economic development, environmental quality and sustainability.
- Opportunities for and consequences of personal decisions.
- Risks and benefits of technological advances.
- Objective 1.06: Identify and evaluate a range of possible solutions to earth and environmental issues at the local, national, and global level including considerations of:
- Goal 4: The learner will build an understanding of the hydrosphere and its interactions and influences on the lithosphere, the atmosphere, and environmental quality.
- Objective 4.04: Evaluate water resources:
- Storage and movement of groundwater.
- Ecological services provided by the ocean
- Environmental impacts of a growing human population.
- Causes of natural and manmade contamination.
- Objective 4.04: Evaluate water resources:
