Living Organisms, 3days

Transcription

1 This course links content from the Biology syllabus into a progressive and practical course in the outdoors. Students will undertake practical and out-of-classroom activities based on the areas of the syllabus: Section I: Characteristics and classification of living organisms Section II: Organisation and maintenance of the organism Section IV: Relationships of organisms with one another and with their environment They will have the opportunity to develop their investigative and practical skills by: Using observations, evidence and fundamental ideas to ask scientific questions Designing and carrying out an investigation, including risk assessments Making measurements, selecting data and collecting secondary data Presenting, analysing and interpreting data to form conclusions Evaluating methodology, evidence, data and societal aspects of scientific evidence Please visit For alternative courses covering Cambridge igcse Science Fieldwork

2 COURSE LENGTH 3 Days (2 nights with 6 teaching sessions) Monday / Wednesday Tuesday / Thursday Wednesday / Friday Friday Saturday Sunday Arrive for lunch. Afternoon and evening sessions Morning, afternoon and evening sessions Morning session. Depart after Lunch OR Arrive for evening meal. Evening session Morning, afternoon and evening sessions Morning and afternoon sessions. COURSE TIMETABLE DAY MORNING AFTERNOON EVENING Arrival (approx. 12-1pm) 1 Welcome and outline of the course Tour of Centre Settle into rooms Allocate kit (i.e. waterproofs) Air Pollution 2 Environmental Change: How organic pollution changes a freshwater habitat 3 Woodland Depart after lunch Please note: to ensure safe and quality learning experiences for students the timetable may alter depending on weather conditions and local factors at.

3 COURSE CONTENT Air Pollution This module will allow students to understand the current composition of the atmosphere. They will be introduced to the common pollutants, their sources and effects. The students will be led though the importance of environmental monitoring with the use of abiotic and biotic sampling techniques. The students will develop fieldwork skills in data collection and planning of an investigation, including the interpretation of their own results and secondary data. They will gather primary data on indicator species (lichens) and gain an understanding of their distribution and mutual symbiotic relation. Throughout the module, the importance of biodiversity will be covered and linked into understanding populations, ecosystems and adaptations. The module will conclude with a discussion on what measures can be taken to reduce air pollution locally and nationally. Environmental Change Freshwater ecosystems, such as ponds and streams, are extremely important as habitats, supporting a wide variety of plants and animals. These freshwater ecosystems can become polluted through eutrophication. Students will use a scientific approach to design and implement an investigation of the health of a freshwater ecosystem. They will use a variety of equipment and techniques (including quadrats, nets and digital meters) to sample the communities of invertebrates, and other life, as well as the chemical and physical properties of water (including temperature, oxygen and nitrate concentrations). Using the Five Kingdoms system of classification, students will use keys and microscopes to identify organisms. The quality of the water will then be assessed by looking at the groups of aquatic invertebrates and using them as indicators to assess the level of water pollution and concentration of dissolved oxygen. Using microscopes and film clips during the day, students will investigate how different groups of organisms are adapted to the environmental conditions in the habitat, and how those adaptations allow them to survive. Students will have the opportunity to use ICT to graphically present and analyse the data. Primary and secondary data and images will be used to enable the students to draw conclusions and review their hypothesis about the environmental conditions and how these have affected the ecosystem. Students will evaluate the study, taking into account the limitations of methodology and evidence. Students will use information collected during the day and from secondary sources to make decisions about how the site could be managed to improve the health of the ecosystem and increase biodiversity. Woodland Woodland ecosystems support a very high level of biodiversity and provide an excellent opportunity to appreciate the interdependence of plants and animals. Students will use a scientific approach to design and carry out an investigation of the effects of differing abiotic factors on the distribution and abundance of organisms within woodland. They will use a variety of equipment and techniques (including quadrats, pitfall traps and mammal traps) to sample the communities of plants and animals, and a variety of meters to measure abiotic factors (including temperature, light and humidity). Indicator species will be used to assess levels of air pollution. Using the Five Kingdoms system of classification, students will use keys to identify organisms, consider how different groups of organisms are adapted to the environmental conditions in the habitat, and how those adaptations allow them to survive. Primary and secondary data and images will be used to enable the students to draw conclusions and review their hypothesis about the environmental conditions and how these have affected the ecosystem. Students will evaluate the study, taking into account the limitations of methodology and evidence. Students will use information collected during the day and from secondary sources to make decisions about how the site could be managed to improve the health of the ecosystem and increase biodiversity.

4 SPECIFICATION LINKS Air Pollution Biology Section I: Characteristics and classification of living organisms 2. Classification and diversity of living organisms 3. Simple keys Section II: Organisation and maintenance of the organism Photosynthesis IV: Relationships of organisms with one another and with their environment 5. Human influences on the ecosystem List the undesirable effects of deforestation (to include extinction, loss of soil, flooding, carbon dioxide build up) Outline the effects of humans on ecosystems, with emphasis on examples of international importance (tropical rain forests, oceans and important rivers) 5.2 Pollution Describe the undesirable effects of pollution to include: Air pollution by sulphur dioxide Air pollution by greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and methane) contributing to global warming Discuss the causes and effects on the environment of acid rain, and the measures that might be taken to reduce its incidence 5.3 Conservation Describe the need for conservation of: Species and their habitats Also links to the Chemistry syllabus 11. Air and water Describe the composition of clean air as being approximately 79% nitrogen, 20% oxygen and the remainder as being a mixture of noble gases, water vapour and carbon dioxide Name the common pollutants in the air as being carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and lead compounds State the source of each of these pollutants: o Carbon monoxide from the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing substances o Sulphur dioxide from the combustion of fossil fuels which contain sulphur compounds (leading to acid rain see section 13) o Oxides of nitrogen from car exhausts State the adverse effect of common pollutants on buildings and on health Environmental Change Biology Section I: Characteristics and classification of living organisms 2. Classification and diversity of living organisms 3. Simple keys IV: Relationships of organisms with one another and with their environment 5. Human influences on the ecosystem Describe the undesirable effects of overuse of fertilizers (to include eutrophication of lakes and rivers) 5.2 Pollution Describe the undesirable effects of pollution to include: Water pollution by sewage and chemical waste 5.3 Conservation Describe the need for conservation of species and their habitats

5 Woodland Biology Section I: Characteristics and classification of living organisms 2. Classification and diversity of living organisms 3. Simple keys Biology Section II: Organisation and maintenance of the organism Photosynthesis IV: Relationships of organisms with one another and with their environment 2. Food chains and food webs Explain why food chains usually have fewer than five topic levels 3. Nutrient cycles Water, carbon and nitrogen cycle 5. Human influences on the ecosystem List the undesirable effects of deforestation (to include extinction, loss of soil, flooding, carbon dioxide build up) Outline the effects of humans on ecosystems, with emphasis on examples of international importance (tropical rain forests, oceans and important rivers) 5.3 Conservation Describe the need for conservation of: Species and their habitats

6 FSC CENTRES This course is offered at our residential listed below, set in some of the most stunning locations in the UK. FSC Centres that offer this course: BL Blencathra Tel: DF Dale Fort Tel: DG Derrygonnelly Tel: FM Flatford Mill Tel: JH Juniper Hall Tel: KD Kindrogan Tel: MT Malham Tarn Tel: MA Margam Tel: NC Nettlecombe Tel: OR Orielton Tel: PM Preston Montford Tel: RC Rhyd-y-creuau Tel: SL Slapton Ley Tel: TO BOOK THIS COURSE, SIMPLY: 1. Choose the time of the year you would like to attend 2. Pick the centre/ of interest 3. Check availability online or contact head office using the details at the bottom of the page or contact the centre of your choice *Please note to book this course the minimum size of your group must be 12 students and 1 member of staff Please visit For alternative Key Stage 4 courses