LEARN NC

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

Preserving health through biological diversity

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=438

A lesson plan for Grades 9–12 Advanced Placement Earth and Environmental Science and Advanced Placement Biology

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

About this resource

Appropriate grades
9–12
Subjects
science (environmental science), thinking skills (critical literacy, information literacy)
Provider
American Association for the Advancement of Science

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This lesson introduces students to the idea that diversity within and among species is important. The activity on biodiversity strengthens student awareness about the kinds of relationships that exist among organisms, the kinds of physical conditions that organisms must cope with, the kinds of environments created by the interaction of organisms with one another and their physical surroundings, and the complexity of such systems. Once students have conducted online research, they answer questions and participate in a class discussion about their findings. Science NetLinks provides student handouts, teacher resources, links to articles about the interdependence of ecosystems, and questions to engage students in discussion about the topic. This lesson also contains links to the Ecological Society of America website on biodiversity and human health, an online book about biodiversity, and an analysis of the relationships between human population and the environment, provided by the AAAS.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Science (2005)

Grades 9–12 — Advanced Placement Biology

  • Goal 7: The learner will develop an understanding of basic ecological principles.
    • Objective 7.02: Examine the actions and interactions of communities and ecosystems.
      • Analyze energy flow.
      • Examine trophic structure.
      • Investigate water and element cycling.
      • Assess affects of abiotic and biotic factors.
      • Analyze relationships with in communities and ecosystems.
      • Recommended laboratory - Dissolved Oxygen and Aquatic Primary Production

Grades 9–12 — Advanced Placement Earth and Environmental Science

  • Goal 2: The learner will build an understanding of the interdependence of Earth's systems.
    • Objective 2.03: Investigate the solid Earth.
      • Earth history and the geologic time scale.
      • Influences of plate tectonics on evolution and biodiversity.
      • Volcanism.
      • The rock cycle.
      • Soil formation.
    • 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 4.04: Analyze biological resources.
      • Benefits of biodiversity.
      • Threats to biodiversity.
      • Endangered species management.
      • Nutrition and food supplies.
      • Green revolution.