LEARN NC

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

Advanced Placement Earth and Environmental Science

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.

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

Resources on the web

The spread of AIDS
In this lesson, from Xpeditions, students research the spread of AIDS and how it has been affected by changes in global transportation and trade. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science and Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
Preserving health through biological diversity
In this Science NetLinks lesson, students gain a greater understanding of why diversity within and among species is important. After participating in a discussion about the benefits of biodiversity, students explore biodiversity as it relates to health. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Oceanographic specialties
In this lesson, from Xpeditions, students learn about the five primary subdisciplines of oceanography and think of questions that each type of oceanographer might ask when conducting research in his or her field. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
The history of evolutionary theory
The goal of this Science NetLinks lesson is for students to have the opportunity to examine how evolution has been scientifically explained historically. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Exploring manatee conservation in Latin America
During this virtual tour, your students will have access to real-life, current examples of manatee conservation. Through this web site, your students will have the opportunity to experience research as it takes place and to develop a broader understanding... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 and 8–12 Science and Social Studies)
Provided by: Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Estuaries: Finding the balance
In this Xpeditions lesson, students examine the conflict between development and the environment, and the attempt to find a sound compromise. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic
Comparing theories: Lamarck and Darwin
This Science NetLinks lesson provides an opportunity for students to compare the theories of two historically important evolutionary scientists: Jean Baptiste Lamarck and Charles Darwin. In this lesson, students explore the basic principles behind Darwin's... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Burrowing owls
This Science NetLinks lesson gives students an example of how human activities impacted a specific community of Burrowing Owls. This lesson uses the example of the Burrowing Owl to illustrate how human activities can control the fate of a species. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
About a tree: The life and work of Emerging Explorer Mark Olson
In this Xpeditions lesson, students learn about National Geographic Emerging Explorer Mark Olson's efforts to identify extinct or nearly extinct plants and the reasons for the plant losses. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)
Provided by: National Geographic