Course title

N/A

Pre-requisite

Biology and Alg 1 or concurrent enrollent

Course description

This course is designed to introduce students to the study of ecology; a science that explores interrelationships betweem organisms amd t their enviornment. Course activities will include book work; laboratory work; and activities; related videos; fieldwork; and research.

Essential Questions: 1st quarter

Skill Focus: Physical Environment
Soils-
Guide to Texture by feel Lab
Soil Profile Card
Soil Characterization Labs
Berlese Funnel Lab
Winogradsky Column Lab

Temperatures-
Winogradsky Column Lab
Cicada Case Study

Water-
Watershed lab
Water Cycle Game
East Verde Water Quality Survey

Geography-
Graph temp/perception (climate diagrams) for various geography areas
Arizona Deserts

Climate-
Climate Diagram
Ecosystem Surveys-

Soil ID lab
Merriam Powell Project

Resources-
Guest Speakers
Soil Samples
Soil Sample Key
Carpet Tape
Soil Card (USDA)
Berlese Funnels
Empty Milk Jugs
Heat or Bright Lamps
Alcohol
Clean soda bottle (2l)
Plastic wrap
Egg (hard boiled)
Shredded paper
Rubber bands
Newspaper
Food coloring
Water cycle game
Poster paper
Info on various climates
Universal Indicator
Soil test kit
Topographic maps
http://www.mpcer.nau.edu/gradient/index.html

Water test kit for:
Nitrate
Dissolved O2
Chlorine
Phosphate
pH
turbidity
temperature
flow rate

Kick nets
Buckets
Magnifying glasses
Tape measure

Assessments-
Lab Reports
Eco-Issues
Journal Entries
Chapter Questions

High School Science Standards:
[S1C1PO1]; [S1C1PO2]; [S1C1PO3]; [S1C1PO4]; [S1C2PO2]; [S1C2PO3]; [S1C2PO5]; [S1C2PO5]; [S1C3PO1];[S1C3PO3]; [S1C3PO5]; [S1C4PO1]; [S1C4PO2]; [S1C4PO3]; [S1C4PO4];
[S3C1PO1]; [S3C1PO2]; [S3C1PO3]; [S3C1PO4]; [S3C2PO4]; [S3C2PO5]
[S4C3PO2]; [S4C4PO4]; [S4C5PO3]
[S5C1PO1]; [S5C1PO4];
[S6C1PO1]; [S6C1PO5]; [S6C2PO3]; [S6C2PO15]; [S6C2PO16]

Essential Questions: 2nd quarter

Skill Focus: Populations
Hardy-Weinberg
Exponential Growth
Carrying Capacity
Distribution
Dynamics (age)
Emigration
Bottleneck/founder affect
Sampling

Suggested Activities/Technology
٭ Population Growth Lab
٭ Now what’s a billion activity
٭ Doubling Time
٭ Estimating Carrying Capacity
٭ Quadrate Analysis of a plant community Lab
٭ Berlese Funnel Lab
٭ Cemetery Lab
٭ Microbial Pie
٭ Winogradsky Column Lab
٭ Gram Stain Lab
٭ Acid Fast Lab
٭ Yeast Population Curve
٭ Hybridization of Quercus

Resources:
Guest Speakers
Oak leaves from 8 trees
Yeast
Sugar
Test tubes
flasks
Spectrophotometer
Meter sticks
Berlese funnel
Old milk jug
Heat/bright light
Alcohol
Cemetery
Petri dishes
Autoclave
Incubator
Nutrient agar
Bacteria stains
Bunsen burners / alcohol burners
Inoculating loops
Forceps
Nutrient broth
Microscope
Slides
Slide covers
Immersion Oil

Assessments:
Lab Reports
Eco-Issues
Journal Entries
Chapter Questions

High School Science Standards:
S1C2PO5]; [S1C3PO4]; [S1C3PO6]; [S1C3PO7]; [S1C4PO1]; [S1C4PO2]; [S1C4PO3]; [S1C4PO4];[S3C3PO1]; [S3C3PO2]; [S3C3PO3]
[S4C3PO1]; [S4C3PO2]; [S4C3PO3]; [S4C5PO5]

Essential Questions: 3rd quarter

Skill Focus: Species Interactions

Competition & Avoiding & Niche –
Plant Competition Lab
Predators/Prey –
Owl and Mice
Animal Skull Identification Lab
Parasitism/mutualism/commensalism –
Mycorrhizal Bean Plant Growth Project
Mycorrhizal credibility research
Mistletoe
Introduced and invasive species –
Antimicrobial effects of native plants and spices

Resources:
Guest Speakers
Soil
Marigold seeds
Zinnia seeds
Plant pots
Beans
Bean inoculate
Vermiculite / sterile soil
Test tubes
Nutrient agar
Nutrient broth
Autoclave
Incubator
Bacteria sample
Antibiotic test discs
Inoculating loops
Bunsen burner / alcohol burner
Small rulers
Spices
http://www.d91.k12.id.us/skyline/teachers/robertsd/skulls.htm
Computer Lab

Assessments:
Lab Reports
Eco-Issues
Journal Entries
Chapter Questions

High School Science Standards:
[S1C1PO3]; [S1C2PO3]; [S1C2PO4]; [S1C2PO5]; [S1C3PO3]; [S1C3PO7]; [S1C4PO1]; [S1C4PO2]; [S1C4PO3]; [S1C4PO4];
[S2C2PO2]; [S2C2PO3]
[S3C2PO3]
[S4C3PO1]; [S4C3PO2]; [S4C3PO3]; [S4C4PO4]; [S4C5PO2];

Essential Questions: 4th quarter

Skills Focus: Communities & Ecosystems & Human Ecology

Communities: Food webs; Key-Stone Species; Diversity; Succession –
How important is this tree?
Arthropod Biodiversity Lab
Antimicrobial effects of native plants
Plant/Insect Collection
Ecosystems; Transition Zones; Rain Shadow; Fire; Energy & Flow; 1º Production;
Bio-Geo-Chem Cycles –
Primary Production Lab
Carbon Cycle Game
Water Cycle Game
Human Ecology; Sustainability; Agriculture; Conservation; Climate Change –
Surface Mining Simulation Lab
Ecological Impacts of Rice Farming
Sustainable Island Game
Improving on Nature
Little Ice Age Video

Resources:
Measuring equipment
Plant press
Moth balls
Pins
Insect and plant ID book
Triple beam balances
Grass seed
Trays
Drying trays
Dryer
Carbon cycle game
Water cycle game
6 inch deep container
beans
fake landscape (mini)
different kinds of rice
Little Ice Age DVD

Assessments:
Lab Reports
Eco-Issues
Journal Entries
Chapter Questions

High School Science Standards:
[S1C3PO5]; [S1C4PO1]; [S1C4PO2]; [S1C4PO3]; [S1C4PO4];
[S2C1PO1]; [S2C1PO2]; [S2C1PO3]; [S2C1PO4]; [S2C2PO2]; [SC2PO4]
[S3C1PO1]; [S3C1PO2]; [S3C1PO3]; [S3C1PO4]; [S3C1PO5]; [S3C2PO1]; [S3C2PO4]
[S4C3PO1]; [S4C3PO2]; [S4C5PO4]; [S4C5PO4]; [S4C5PO5]
[S6C1PO2]; [S6C2PO9]; [S6C2PO14]; [S6C2PO16]

School Country

United States

School state

Arizona

School city

Payson

High school

Payson High School

School Address

PO 919

School zip code

85547

Date submitted

04/8/2016

Approved

Yes

Approved competency code

• LADV
• Advanced science

• LBIO
• Biology

Approved date

04/13/2016

Online / Virtual

No