Unit 3: Biodiversity Inventory of the School Grounds

In this unit, students will understand the importance of biodiversity and use a biodiversity inventory to collect data and make observations representing the plants and animals on their school grounds, which they will then use to tell a story. The lessons would be good preparation for students to organize and participate in an Eco-Meet or BioBlitz.

Please read the introduction to this curriculum before beginning any lessons.

Grade Level:

• 6 - 12 grade or equivalent

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Performance Expectations:

Middle and high school:

• Asking questions and defining problems

• Planning and carrying out investigations

• Analyzing and interpreting data

• Using mathematics and computational thinking

• Constructing explanations and designing solutions

• Engaging in argument from evidence

• Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

5E Unit Element:

• Explain

Ecological Society of America 4DEE Framework:

• Human-Environment Interactions

• Cross-Cutting Themes

• Ecology Practices

• Core Ecological Concepts

Enduring Understandings (the Big Ideas)

Students will understand that:

• Biodiversity is essential to support the ecological processes that ensure life on Earth continues.

• Biodiversity is valued by many cultures and is vital to ensure that we can continue to appreciate nature for its intrinsic value.

• Biodiversity inventories are used to measure the flora and fauna in a prescribed area to provide data for management decisions.

Essential Questions

• What is biodiversity and why is it essential for healthy ecosystems?

• How does biodiversity contribute to the intrinsic value of nature?

• Why is it important to provide biodiversity inventory data to inform management decisions?

Assessments:

• Contributions to class discussion

• Quality of teamwork while observing on the school grounds

• Descriptions of observations in student journals

• Small group work

• Biodiversity data sheets

• Pre-assessment question (entrance slip)

• School grounds map

• Accuracy of biodiversity index calculations

• Data visualizations

• Claim-Evidence-Reasoning posters

• Journal entries describing key takeaways from this lesson

• Preparation of slide(s) for presentation in Lesson 5