Investigating Habitats: Human's Influence on the Land

1) Students will identify the diversity of a naturally existing habitat to that of a man altered habitat (golf course)

2) Students will work in teams of 3

3) Students will measure/mark an observation site within each habitat.

4) Students will observe/record/report on their findings of different plants/insects.

Vocabulary Words: habitat. conservation, preservation,

This field study takes approximately 1 hr. Have students work in teams of 2-3. Give each team a habitat marker (ex: hula-hoop), an insect and plant field guide, and a note book for recording their findings (you may also provide a means for collecting (petri-dish). It is important that students understand your expectations for working in teams in an unstructured setting. Allow teams adequate time to be complete. This investigation will offer a basis for discussing our impact on the earth and how that extends to other plants and animals.

I would take my class to Fort Ridgely State Park (any setting where you have a natural habitat and an altered habitat close to each other will do). Fort Ridgely works well because of the preserved habitats of the park as well as a beautifully kept golf course. I would have my students divided into team of 2-3. Each team is equipped with a hula-hoop, an insect and plant guide, magnifying glass, petri-dish, and a notebook. The objective of this investigation is to identify differences in diversity. Where the students conduct their observation within the habitat is up to them. We will have many locations of collections as I have each team do three different observations in each habitat. Their task is to toss the ring and identify every plant and insect within the marker. We will later develop a list of everyone's findings from both habitats (this piece is best conducted in the classroom). Your findings should show quite a bit more diversity within the naturally existing habitat as opposed to the habitat influenced by human activity. These findings will then lead into a discussion on how human impact influences the habitat around us.

- Investigate the the two habitats ahead of time and be aware of dangerous plants and animals.

- Allow time for students to investigate the farthest possible point.

- Allow for at least three observations from each group to gain a useful number of samples.

- Naturally existing (is probably conserved/preserved/restored habitat) Be sure to discuss the difference with your students.

1) I would collect each teams list of findings from their observations.

2) A comment on a completed list developed by input from all groups would be our final assessment. An "exit question" - What does the difference in diversity mean to you?

5.3.4.3.1

Compare the impact of different individual decisions on natural systems.