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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

About a tree: The life and work of Emerging Explorer Mark Olson

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/06/g912/molson.html

A lesson plan for grades 9–12 Science

Provider: National Geographic


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In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore Mark Olson’s efforts to identify extinct or nearly extinct plants, and the reasons for the plant losses, and consider the issues surrounding conservation efforts in these dry tropical regions. Activities in this lesson engage students in development of media literacy skills, online learning, and small group collaboration.

Students will:

  • learn about the life and work of Mark Olson;
  • explain how Olson’s cultural and life experiences influence his perceptions of plants and plant study;
  • identify the cultural and experiential influences on people’s perceptions of tropical regions and their plant life; and
  • compare and contrast information on conservation and agriculture to form an opinion about how to resolve a specific conflict over plant preservation.

Xpeditions provides detailed instructions for completing the lesson, assessment and extension activities, and links to helpful web resources.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Science (2005)

Grade 9–12 — AP Earth and Environmental Science

  • Goal 1: The learner will develop abilities necessary to do and understand scientific inquiry.
    • Objective 1.01: Identify questions and problems in the earth and environmental sciences that can be answered through scientific investigations.
    • Objective 1.02: Design and conduct scientific investigations to answer questions related to earth and environmental science.
      • Create testable hypotheses.
      • Identify variables.
      • Use a control or comparison group when appropriate.
      • Select and use appropriate measurement tools.
      • Observe and measure real phenomena.
      • Collect and record data.
      • Organize data into charts and graphs.
      • Analyze and interpret data.
      • Communicate findings.
    • Objective 1.03: Formulate and revise scientific explanations and models using logic and evidence to:
      • Explain observations.
      • Make inferences and predictions from data and observations.
      • Explain the relationship between evidence and explanation.
      • Communicate results, including suggested ways to improve experiments and proposed questions for further study.
      • Objective 1.05: Analyze reports of scientific investigations of phenomena from an informed scientifically literate viewpoints including considerations of:
        • Adequacy of experimental controls.
        • Replication of findings.
        • Alternative interpretations of the data.
    • Goal 2: The learner will build an understanding of the interdependence of Earth's systems.
      • Objective 2.05: Investigate the biosphere.
        • Organisms: adaptations to their environment.
        • Populations and communities: exponential growth and carrying capacity.
        • Ecosystems and change: biomass, energy transfer, succession.
        • Evolution of life: natural selection, extinction.
        • Biomes: global distribution.
    • Goal 4: The learner will build an understanding of the distribution, ownership, use and degradation of renewable and nonrenewable resources.
      • Objective 4.01: Analyze sources and uses of freshwater and oceans.
        • Renewal rates.
        • Agricultural, industrial and domestic water uses.
        • Increasing water supplies: Dams and desalination.
        • Fisheries and aquaculture.
        • Water management and conservation.
      • Objective 4.03: Analyze local, regional and global soil aspects.
        • Soil composition and profiles.
        • Soil characteristics.
        • Soil types.
        • Erosion and conservation.
      • Objective 4.04: Analyze biological resources.
        • Benefits of biodiversity.
        • Threats to biodiversity.
        • Endangered species management.
        • Nutrition and food supplies.
        • Green revolution.
      • Objective 4.06: Analyze land types and uses.
        • Residential and commercial, land use planning.
        • Agricultural and forestry.
        • Recreational and wilderness.
        • Ecotourism, Parks and preserves.
    • Goal 6: The learner will build an understanding of global changes and their consequences.
      • Objective 6.03: Investigate effects and consequences on biota:
        • Habitat fragmentation and destruction.
        • Introduced species.
        • Overharvesting.
    • Goal 7: The learner will build an understanding of environmental decision making.
      • Objective 7.02: Analyze cultural and ethical considerations regarding the environment.
        • Environmental worldviews.
        • Indigenous peoples.
        • Sustainable development.
      • Objective 7.03: Recognize significance of major environmental laws and regulations: regional, national and international.
        • Clean Air Act.
        • Clean Water Act.
        • Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act.
        • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
        • Endangered Species Act.
        • Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Control Act.
        • Kyoto Protocol.
        • Lacey Act.
        • Mining Act.
        • Montreal Protocol.
        • National Environmental Policy Act.
        • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
        • Wilderness Act.
      • Objective 7.04: Develop an awareness of environmental options.
        • Conservation.
        • Preservation.
        • Restoration.
        • Remediation.
        • Mitigation.