Biodiversity
Environmental Science
Embedded Files
Literacy / Driving Question Board Connections
Nonfiction Science Literacy Resources
Graphic Organizers / Thinking Maps
Driving Question Boards
Multilingual Learner Language Expectations
Biodiversity: Overview
In this unit, students will learn about biodiversity and how the diversity of habitats and ecosystems has influenced the abundance of species on Earth.
Chapter 4 explores how biodiversity and evolution are vital to sustaining life.
Chapter 5 focuses on the relationships among individuals and populations in ecosystems.
Chapter 6 identifies connections among Earth’s systems, focusing primarily on the major types of ecosystems and their climates.
Engineering Project 2 explores ways to assess and monitor a local species.
Unit Standards
What is the NGSS & 3 Dimensional Science Learning and Why is it Important?
Science Practices - Disciplinary Core Ideas - Crosscutting Concepts
HS-LS2-1: Carrying Capacity of Ecosystems
Use mathematical and/or computational representations to support explanations of factors that affect carrying capacity of ecosystems at different scales. (Scale, Proportion, and Quantity)
Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on quantitative analysis and comparison of the relationships among interdependent factors including boundaries, resources, climate, and competition. Examples of mathematical comparisons could include graphs, charts, histograms, and population changes gathered from simulations or historical data sets.
Boundary Statement: Assessment does not include deriving mathematical equations to make comparisons.
HS-LS2-2: Biodiversity and Populations in Ecosystems
Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales. (Scale, Proportion, and Quantity)
Clarification Statement: Examples of mathematical representations include finding the average, determining trends, and using graphical comparisons of multiple sets of data.
Boundary Statement: Assessment is limited to provided data.
HS-LS2-6: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience
Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
Clarification Statement: Examples of changes in ecosystem conditions could include modest biological or physical changes, such as moderate hunting or a seasonal flood; and extreme changes, such as volcanic eruption or sea level rise.
Boundary Statement: none
HS-LS2-7: Human Impact Reduction Solution
Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity. (Stability and Change)
Clarification Statement: Examples of human activities can include urbanization, building dams, and dissemination of invasive species.
Boundary Statement: none
HS-LS4-5: Environmental Change - Speciation and Extinction
Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species. (Cause and Effect)
Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on determining cause and effect relationships for how changes to the environment such as deforestation, fishing, application of fertilizers, drought, flood, and the rate of change of the environment affect distribution or disappearance of traits in species.
Boundary Statement: none
Learning Objectives / Career Connections
Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Evolution
Chapter 4 touches on how the biodiversity found in genes, species, ecosystems, and ecosystem processes is vital to sustaining life on Earth.
Each species plays a specific ecological role, called its niche, in the ecosystems where it is found.
As environmental conditions change, the genes in some individuals mutate and give those individuals genetic traits that enhance their abilities to survive and to produce offspring with these traits.
The degree of balance between speciation and extinction in response to changing environmental conditions determines Earth’s biodiversity, which helps to sustain Earth’s life and human economies.
Chapter 5 Species Interactions, Ecological Succession, and Population Control
Chapter 5 emphasizes the relationships among individuals and populations in ecosystems.
Certain interactions among species affect their use of resources and their population sizes.
The species composition and population sizes of a community or ecosystem can change in response to changing environmental conditions through a process called ecological succession.
There are always limits to population growth in nature.
Chapter 6 Ecosystems and Climate
Chapter 6 makes connections among Earth’s systems, focusing especially on the major types of ecosystems and their climates.
Differences in climate and vegetation determine the types and locations of Earth’s deserts, grasslands, and forests.
Saltwater and freshwater aquatic systems cover almost three-fourths of Earth’s surface, and oceans dominate the planet.
Earth’s terrestrial and aquatic systems provide important ecosystem and economic services that are being degraded and disrupted by human activities.
Using ChatGPT to find local Colorado Phenomena
Use the following prompt, adjust accordingly. "I am a high school science teacher looking for a local Colorado phenomena to address NGSS standard (enter standard you are looking for... example HS-LS1-6)"
Career Connections
Connecting what students are learning to careers not only deepens their engagement in school but also helps them make more informed choices about their future. Browse the following related career profiles to discover what scientists really do on the job and what it takes to prepare for these careers. For additional profiles visit your Year at a Glance Page.
Hands On, Minds On Connections
Hands-On Labs / Lab Safety
Ocean First Education - Online Courses
St Vrain Science Center
Simulations
GIZMOS
Nearpod Lessons / Activities / Videos
LabXchange Lessons / Activities / Videos
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