Unit 4 - Organization of Life -- populations communities ecosystems and biomes)

In the last unit we looked has how life on earth is classified or grouped by similarities and structure and function from the simplest organisms to the most complex. In this unit we will take a close look at relationships between the organisms of the various groups and how they are further organized into populations, communities, ecosystems, and biomes.

SB4a. Investigate the relationships among organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and biomes.

Assignment 1: View the video below on "Environment, Ecosystems,and Habitat" with your class. Participate in class discussion and complete the definitions of the vocabulary terms on Environment and Ecology worksheet on the as you go. Click here to view worksheet.
(Note: below you can view the video again on your own if you need to)


Watch the following video to obtain the definitions of the terms"Biotic and Abiotic."


Assignment 2: Populations -- mini-lecture. Take notes and continue to define the vocabulary words on the worksheet.

Click here to view a video version of the lecture.

Finally, watch the following video entitled "Populations - Biotic Potential."


Assignment 3: Relationships between Populations in a Community --power point lesson. View lesson together as a class. Participate in class discussion. Complete applicable sections of the Environment and Ecology worksheet as you go. Click here to see power point lesson.

Assignment 3: Ecological Succession -- power point. Take notes and participate in class discussion afterwards. Complete the Ecological Succession worksheet as you go. (Click here to view worksheet) (Click here to begin power point)

Watch this video to review the difference between Primary vs. Secondary Succession.




Assignment 4: View the two videos below entitled "Biomes - introduction" and "Biomes." Learn about the major terrestrial biomes. Fill in the appropriate information in the Biome worksheet as you go. Click here to see worksheet.





Assignment 5: Mini-lecture on the Aquatic Biomes. Take notes and fill-in new vocabulary on your Environment and Ecology Worksheet.

Watch the following video entitled "Aquatic Ecosystems" to recap what you have learned about aquatic biomes.



To help review what you have learned about biomes, click here to see a photo quiz on biomes. Your goal is to be able to identify the biome pictured on each slide by the animals, plants and climate you observe in the photograph. Be prepared to match biomes with their corresponding climate, animals, and plants in a practice exercise later in the week. Use the worksheet and photo quiz as a study guide.



Quiz: Quiz will cover what we learned about the interactions between the populations, communities, and environment within ecosystems, biomes and during ecological succession.

Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry

Biology, the study of life. As we study living things we are often required to make observations, measurements, and even conduct experiments. To do this efficiently, we must often be familiar with various laboratory procedures, measuring equipment, and the fundamentals of the metric system. So, in this unit we will then learn about the metric system, measuring instruments, lab safety procedures, and then learn the basic steps of the scientific method. Finally, we will use this knowledge to conduct a scientific inquiry (experiment), analyze the results, and learn to write a lab report.

SCSh2. Students will use standard safety practices for all classroom laboratory and field investigations.

SCSh4. Students will use tools and instruments for observing, measuring, and manipulating scientific equipment and materials.

SCSh5. Students will demonstrate the computation and estimation skills necessary for analyzing data and developing reasonable scientific explanations.

Assignment 1: Listen and participate in a brief class discussion and demonstration on lab safety.

Assignment 2: Watch video on Metrics and Measurement (class activity). Take notes.

Assignment 3: Scientific Measurements and Density Lab (we will complete this activity together as a class).

Assignment 4: Obtain handouts on metrics and measurements from Dr. Maudsley. Listen to mini-lecture on Metric Conversions. Take notes. Complete metric conversions and measurements worksheet.

Assignment 5: Watch video on Accuracy vs. Precision. Participate in class discussion following video. Write down everything written on the board during the discussion.

Assignment 6: Significant Figures and Scientific Notation-mini-lecture. Listen carefully, take notes, and complete practice problems as we go.

Quiz: Measurements and the Metric System. Quiz on what we learned about metrics and scientific measurements including: measuring devices, how to do metric to metric conversions, temperature conversions, and universal conversions. Also know how to read and write numbers in scientific notation, recognize significant figures and know the difference between precision and accuracy.

SCSh3a-f. Students will identify and investigate problems scientifically.

SCSh6a. Students will write clear, coherent laboratory reports related to scientific investigations.

Assignment 7: Listen to the mini-lecture on the acquisition of knowledge and the Scientific Method. Take notes and participate in the class discussion that follows.

Click here to view video version of the lecture.

Assignment 8: Conduct a scientific inquiry (experiment). We will do this together in small groups of 4-5 students.

Assignment 9: Obtain a copy of "How to Write a Lab Report" from your instructor. Write a lab report based on the experiment conducted above for assignment 8. Type your report in Microsoft Word, save it as a file with your name on it (example: lab report - Keisha), and place a copy in your instructor's Drop Box.

Quiz: Quiz (paper) --Acquisition of Knowledge and the Scientific Method

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