Instructors: Sue Quist & Julie Greene
Field Ecology will focus on the interactions between plants, animals and their environment. We will spend a lot of time in the field—parks, rivers and natural areas close to school—examining how humans impact water quality, animal and plant diversity and other resources. Students will do field investigations, testing, recording and analyzing data collected throughout the trimester.
Class topics
Impact of natural resources availability and human activities on the environment
-Examine how human activities can change climate
-Evaluate natural resource availability
-Interpret recent scientific evidence on global warming
-Determine what this evidence means for future generations of humans, plants and animals
-Evaluate solutions and consequences
Cycling of matter and flow of energy through an ecosystem
-Define how nutrients cycle and diagram
-Explain biotic and abiotic effects on ecosystems.
-Create diagrams to define cycle of matter
Current issues and their impact on the environment. What can we do?
-Make connections between the concepts studies and their own environment
-Research current policies for improving the environment
-Determine some ways we can change our lifestyles to help prevent the deterioration of our environment
MN state standards
The student will discuss the impact of the use of natural resources and other human activities on the environment.
The student will identify and research an environmental issue and evaluate its impact
The student will be able to describe and explain the cycling of matter and flow of energy through an ecosystem’s living and non-living components
