Mifflin County School District Planned Instruction Title of Planned Instruction: Ecology of Mifflin County Subject Area: Science Grade Levels: 10-12 Prerequisites: none Course Description: Students will become acquainted with the ecology and environmental issues facing Mifflin County. These issues will be approached from a scientific perspective while also examining local social, economic, and political impacts. We will focus on these real life scenarios by refining problem solving skills and the course will be heavily project-based, using the most up-to-date research and articles, including traditional and non-traditional texts. Additionally, the course will include an introduction to the native flora and fauna that inhabit the area. Required Time: 18 weeks Course Credit:.5 credit Texts and Resources: and Ecology for Pennsylvania. (2003). Pearson Education, Inc. Parsippany, NJ. Google Classroom: Google Apps for education, which helps teachers create and organize assignments Names of District Subject Area Curriculum Writing Committee: Seth Hartman, Ray Hoppel, Nathan King, Deanna Russler Amended: Seth Hartman, Nathan King Date of Board Approval: January 28, 2016 1
Introduction to Ecology of Mifflin County Unifying Concepts Populations, communities, ecosystems, and biomes Ecology and Standards PA 4.1.10.A Course Objectives Describe the relationships between biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem. Materials cycles PA 4.1.10.B Explain the consequences of interrupting natural cycles. Research solutions to problems caused by interrupting natural cycles. Energy flow PA 4.1.10.C Evaluate the efficiency of energy flow within a food web. Describe how energy is converted from one form to another as it moves through a food web. Research how humans affect energy flow within an ecosystem. Biodiversity PA 4.1.10.D Analyze the effects of new and emerging technologies on biodiversity in specific ecosystems. Succession PA 4.1.10.E Analyze how Humans influence the pattern of natural changes (e.g. primary / secondary succession and Performance Indicators Compare and contrast different biomes and their characteristics. Describe symbiotic and predator/ prey relationships. Describe the impact of industrial, agricultural, and commercial enterprises on an ecosystem. Evaluate the impact of laws and regulations on reducing the number of threatened and endangered species. Vocabulary Abiotic Biotic Biomes Carrying capacity Ecosystem Predator Prey Population dynamics Symbiotic Biogeochemical Water cycle Consumer Decomposer Food web Producer Biological diversity Diversity index Limiting factor Succession 2
desertification) in ecosystems over time. Research solutions Addressing human impacts on ecosystems over time. Resources: and Ecology For Pennsylvania: Chapter 6, pages 145-178 BSN: Science A, Unit 2 Activities: T:Drive, MCHS, Biology, al Science: Ecosystem Poster Intro to Ecology Webquest Intro to Ecology Study Guide Carbon Cycle Driving Game - http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/climate/carbon_cycle.html Succession Story Board Assignment- http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/product/succession- Storyboard-Assignment-356654 Biodiversity study- Analyze study plots (http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/product/biodiversity- Study-Plots-277657) It s In the Genes- Turkeys, Genes, and Biodiversity Article Analysis on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Threatened, Endangered, and Extinct Species Assignment; Article and Webquest Mifflin County Natural History Ecology and Course Objectives Unifying Concepts Standards Flora/Fauna PA 4.1.10.D Research practices that impact biodiversity in specific ecosystems. Importance of Agriculture 4.4.10.B. Research and analyze the social, political, economic, and environmental factors that affect agricultural systems. Performance Indicators Analyze the relationship between habitat changes to plant and animal population fluctuations. Vocabulary Habitat Niche Organism Invasive species Endemic Agriculture Monoculture Eutrophication of 4.2.12.A. Examine Topography 3
the Chesapeake Bay Watersheds: The Kishacoquillas 4.2.10.A. environmental laws related to land use management and its impact on the water quality and flow within a watershed. Examine the interactions between abiotic and biotic factors within a watershed. Describe how Topography influences the flow of water in a watershed. Describe how vegetation affects water runoff. Investigate and analyze the effects of land use on the quality of water in a watershed Stream order Buffer Lotic Lenthic Watershed Waste stream Wetlands Resources: and Ecology For Pennsylvania: Chapter 1, pages 1-36 Activities: T:Drive, MCHS, Biology, al Science: Tree and Wildflower identification Pennsylvania Watershed Reading, Map, Questions Watershed Table (Text Book Lab page 8-9) Topographic Map/Watershed Discovery Lab Watershed study of Kishacoquillas Creek Animal furs and footprints Juniata College SIM Mifflin County Invasive/Endemic Species Research Soil Composition Testing Labs Comparing Agriculture in Developed and Developing Countries Pesticide use and integrated pest management Farming pros and cons Wetlands Brochure Wetlands Scavenger Hunt Wetlands Module, Juniata College, Raystown Field Station Natural Resources of Mifflin County Unifying Concepts Use of Natural Resources Ecology and Standards 4.3.10.A. Course Objectives Evaluate factors affecting the use of natural resources. Performance Indicators Evaluate the effect of consumer Vocabulary Matter Natural resources 4
Availability of Natural Resources Traditional vs. Alternative Sources of Energy Local agencies and policies 4.3.10.B. 4.3.12.A. 4.3.10.A. 4.1.12.A. Analyze how humans manage and distribute natural resources. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using renewable and nonrenewable resources. Evaluate factors affecting the use of natural resources. Analyze the significance of biological diversity in an ecosystem. demands on the use of natural resources. Analyze how Technologies such as modern mining, harvesting, and transportation equipment affect the use of our natural resources. Describe the use of a natural resource with an emphasis on the environmental consequences of extracting, processing, transporting, using, and disposing of it. Analyze the impact of technology on the management, distribution, and disposal of natural resources. Explain how consumption rate affects the sustainability of resource use. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using renewable resources such as solar power, wind power, and biofuels. Evaluate the effect of consumer demands on the use of natural resources. Describe how local and state agencies manage natural resources. Explain how species adapt to limiting factors in an ecosystem. Analyze the differences between natural Recycling Biofuels Renewable resources Non-renewable resources Hydraulic fracturing Regulation Risk management 5
causes and human causes of extinction. Research wildlife management laws and their effects on biodiversity Resources: and Ecology For Pennsylvania: Chapter 2, pages 37-66 BSN: Science, Unit 8 Activities: T:Drive, MCHS, Biology, al Science: School Energy Survey, NEEDS Project Materials Energy Games and Icebreakers; NEEDS Project Materials Exploring Oil and Gas; NEEDS Project Materials KidWind Wind Challenge with Wind Energy Teacher Guide; NEED project materials Hydroelectricity Teacher Guide; NEEDS Project Materials Exploring Nuclear Energy; NEEDS Project Materials Exploring Photovoltaics Teacher Guide; NEEDS Project Materials SUNPOWER Houses Passive Solar Heating Labs Pros and Cons Fracking Debate Nonrenewable Energy Poster Geothermal Energy Pamphlet Alternative Energy Wiki Alternative Energy Webquest Marcellus Shale Teacher guide with video and assignments; pbs.org http://www-cache.pbs.org/newshour/spc/thenews/materials/fracking%20-%20.sci%20- %20Sci%20Lesson%20Plans.pdf Exploreshale.org Natural Resource Use Reading and Worksheet 6
Suggested Unit Outline Introduction to Ecology (8 weeks) A. Populations, communities, ecosystems, and biomes B. Material Cycles C. Energy Flow D. Biodiversity E. Succession Mifflin County Natural History (8 weeks) A. Flora/Fauna B. Importance of Agriculture C. Eutrophication of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed D. Watershed/Aquatic ecosystem Project Natural Resources of Mifflin County (2 weeks) A. Use of Natural Resources B. Availability of Natural Resources C. Traditional vs. Alternative Sources of Energy D. Local agencies and policies 7