This is a living page, and new material will appear periodically. Contact me if you have questions or comments.
Adaptation
Plants versus animals!
Perhaps you once had a biology class where you learned about the great Trophic Chain of Being--plants make their sugars (and more complex molecules) from sunlight and carbon dioxide, and all animals get their sugar (and more complex molecules) by eating plants or each other. This cheerful view is a good introduction to trophic concepts (see the illustrations by the talented students of RN Harris Elementary in the slideshow at the top of the page) but it is also an oversimplification of some pretty interesting plant-animal interactions.
Perhaps you once had a biology class where you learned about the great Trophic Chain of Being--plants make their sugars (and more complex molecules) from sunlight and carbon dioxide, and all animals get their sugar (and more complex molecules) by eating plants or each other. This cheerful view is a good introduction to trophic concepts (see the illustrations by the talented students of RN Harris Elementary in the slideshow at the top of the page) but it is also an oversimplification of some pretty interesting plant-animal interactions.
As it turns out, most plants prefer to keep their hard-earned sugars for purposes other than nourishing the likes of us, purposes like growing and reproducing. Many plants have evolved nasty structures and chemicals to either totally prevent animals from eating their precious vegetable bodies, or to make animals really sorry that they tried. Of course, certain animals have responded by evolving body structures or behaviors that allow them to ignore, work around, or even enjoy those nasty plant traits. It's hard to say who wins or loses, but all the players change over time--it's evolution! |
|
The lesson plans and activities are written to meet elementary and middle school NC science and math standards (download the Lesson Plan for the specific standards), but the information and examples may also be useful for high school teachers seeking easily accessible models of adaptation and coevolution (download the Teacher Background document). Topics covered include: producers, consumers, traits, adaptations, adaptations that plants employ to prevent animals from eating them (physical and chemical defenses), adaptations that animals uses to eat plants anyway, and pollinators. I have put together a presentation (available as PDF file or powerpoint file) which can be used in the classroom, or as background reading for the teacher. There is an exercise that demonstrates how physical defenses protect plants against different sizes of animals, with a worksheet and accompanying answer key (download the worksheet and answer key). One of the most important things to learn about adaptation is that a particular trait is only helpful under a particular set of circumstances. Thorny stems are a good adaptation for a plant if most of the animals trying to eat it have large, soft mouths--like deer. Thorns will not prevent smaller animals, like beetles, from flying to the leaves and chowing down. To drive home this point--that there is no complete defense for a plant and no universally successful feeding strategy for an animal--I have devised a game of Plants versus Animals. Each student gets a copy of the game worksheet, to illustrate and cut out the game cards, and to fill out the 'Animals versus Plants' chart (download the game). There are several suggested iterations of the game in the Teacher Instructions sheet (download the instructions). The full rules of play and answers to the questions are on page 7 and 8 of the Answer Key (which you can download again here). This set of presentations and classroom activities was initially developed for SciREN, which encourages researchers to develop materials and demonstrations for teachers to use in their classrooms. All of the material developed for this project is for educational use only. |
|
Climate Change
How will temperature changes affect animal populations?
This presentation was assembled for a high school audience. It includes an opportunity for a short exercise or experiment in how temperature affects isopod activity. You can collect isopods in spring, summer, and fall from gardens or lawns--they are soil dwellers, so look under logs and stones. Store them in dishes with some
The presentation gives examples of animals (isopods, snails, butterflies, dragonflies, salmon, salamanders, sea turtles, and birds) that have already been or will be affected by climate change and rising temperatures.
There are examples, pictures, and references to sources. You may view and download the powerpoint file here:
|
|
Can we remove excess carbon from the atmosphere?
Humans have increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels and changing ecosystems (e.g., cutting down trees). Is there a way to put some of that carbon back into ecosystems? This presentation introduces the student to carbon storage in living systems, particularly in trees and soils.
There is also an opportunity for students to go outside, measure trees, and then use the Tree Benefits Calculator to compute how many pounds of carbon the tree stores per year. This exercise is a great way to get students outside while giving them practice in collecting, calculating, and comparing data.
This presentation was assembled for a high school audience, but I have also conducted the tree benefits exercise with middleschoolers as well. The exercise includes mathematical concepts of circumference and diameter. You may download the slides as a powerpoint file below, as well as the worksheet we use for the tree carbon activity (created based on a worksheet by Laura Datko-Williams).
Humans have increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels and changing ecosystems (e.g., cutting down trees). Is there a way to put some of that carbon back into ecosystems? This presentation introduces the student to carbon storage in living systems, particularly in trees and soils.
There is also an opportunity for students to go outside, measure trees, and then use the Tree Benefits Calculator to compute how many pounds of carbon the tree stores per year. This exercise is a great way to get students outside while giving them practice in collecting, calculating, and comparing data.
This presentation was assembled for a high school audience, but I have also conducted the tree benefits exercise with middleschoolers as well. The exercise includes mathematical concepts of circumference and diameter. You may download the slides as a powerpoint file below, as well as the worksheet we use for the tree carbon activity (created based on a worksheet by Laura Datko-Williams).
|
|