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Welcome - all of my 2025/2026 curriculum and resources for 7th grade science will be posted here! (Work in Progress)
Essential Question: From Chat GPT
How does the loss of the American Chestnut Tree impact the biodiversity and health of Eastern US ecosystems, and what strategies can we use to restore this species and promote ecosystem resilience?
The story of the American Chestnut Tree is important for seventh grade students to learn about as it provides an opportunity to explore the concept of biodiversity and its critical role in healthy ecosystems. Through studying this topic, students can understand how the loss of a single species can have far-reaching impacts on the ecosystem, as well as on the cultural and economic practices that rely on it. Furthermore, learning about restoration efforts can empower students to think critically about ways they can contribute to conservation and sustainability efforts in their own communities. Overall, studying the American Chestnut Tree can foster a sense of ecological responsibility and encourage students to appreciate the interconnectedness of living systems.
American Chestnut - From Chat GPT
The American Chestnut Tree was an important species in the eastern United States, known for its tall height, straight trunk, and abundant production of edible nuts that were a vital food source for wildlife and humans. Unfortunately, in the early 20th century, a devastating fungus called Chestnut blight was introduced to North America, which rapidly spread and killed an estimated 4 billion American chestnut trees.
Efforts to restore the American Chestnut Tree have been ongoing for decades, and involve using various methods such as genetic engineering, backcross breeding, and cross-pollination with resistant Asian chestnut species. These efforts aim to create a tree that retains the desirable characteristics of the American chestnut while also having resistance to the blight.
In addition to the scientific efforts, there are also educational and outreach programs aimed at raising awareness of the American Chestnut Tree's importance in the ecosystem and its potential for restoration. These efforts involve engaging with the public, promoting sustainable forestry practices, and encouraging the planting of American chestnut trees in suitable habitats. Although restoration efforts have faced some setbacks, there is hope that the American Chestnut Tree can once again become a thriving and integral part of eastern forests.
7.MS-LS2-1. Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of periods of abundant and scarce resources on the growth of organisms and the size of populations in an ecosystem.
7.MS-LS2-2. Describe how relationships among and between organisms in an ecosystem can be competitive, predatory, parasitic, and mutually beneficial and that these interactions are found across multiple ecosystems.
7.MS-LS2-4. Analyze data to provide evidence that disruptions (natural or human-made) to any physical or biological component of an ecosystem can lead to shifts in all its populations.
7.MS-LS2-5. Evaluate competing design solutions for protecting an ecosystem. Discuss benefits and limitations of each design.*
7.MS-LS2-6(MA). Explain how changes to the biodiversity of an ecosystem—the variety of species found in the ecosystem—may limit the availability of resources humans use.
7.MS-LS1-4. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures increase the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants.
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