Ecosystems

What is the best design solution for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services?

That's what our 6th graders are trying to find out! Ecosystems is a life science unit taught to our FCPS 6th grader students (learn more here). During the school year students will participate in an Outdoor School field experience that will allow them to evaluate the biodiversity in our local forests, wetlands, rivers, and streams. These ecosystems are prevalent in Frederick County, MD.

Students will use their outdoor school studies to:

Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems. MS-LS2-2

Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations. MS-LS2-4

Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms. MS-LS1-5

Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services. MS-LS2-5

The Vision for FCPS Middle School Science:

The FCPS secondary science program is designed to foster scientific literacy in all learners.

Students learn science by acquiring knowledge and constructing explanations of natural phenomena. Then they test those explanations and communicate their findings both in oral and written forms. Through this process, students develop a deep understanding of science that combines knowledge and facts with reasoning and critical thinking.

These learning experiences, which incorporate a variety of instructional resources and technology, ensure that students are successful on local, state and national assessments. They also help develop successful and productive citizens who understand the impact of science on their daily lives.