6th - 8th Grade Module 8 Concept PT

Cycle 1

How can we as resource managers protect and improve biodiversity and ecosystem services?
Cycle Summary

Humans change ecosystems for their use, but these changes may not be what is best for the ecosystem.
Resource managers can assess the biodiversity and ecosystem services of an area and decide how to best maintain or improve the diversity and services. Improving biodiversity can improve ecosystem services in an area.
Humans can benefit from improving biodiversity and ecosystem services in an area.

Session 1
Elicit

Students identify biodiverse areas of land, then identify ecosystem services using nature photos.

Engage

Students use photos of Forest Park to discuss how resource managers changed biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Riparian landscape.

Explore

Students identify an area to estimate biodiversity, then use a biodiversity index to record data.

Session 2
Explain

Students engage in a webquest to research plants native to Missouri and how to create a restored prairie or pond environment.

Session 3
Elaborate

Students create a paper model of a proposed restored area and write out the script for their Pecha-Kucha commercial.

Session 4
Elaborate

Students create a paper model of a proposed restored area and write out the script for their Pecha-Kucha commercial.

Session 5
Evaluate

Students film their Pecha-Kucha commercial to persuade citizens or community establishments to care about habitat restoration and increasing ecosystem services.

Extend
Extend

Students share their Pecha-Kucha commercial with an audience and implement their habitat rehabilitation proposal.