Course Syllabus

Welcome scientists!

Please join us on ConferZoom. You can find the meeting under the left side menu bar, under Day 1. Please message use through the inbox or our individual emails if you need assistance : simone@sciencefromscientists.org and esther@sciencefromscientists.org

 

Course Description / Overview:

Explore the incredibly beautiful, diverse and amazing world of the Amazon Rainforest!  Think like a scientist and engage in hands-on lessons to investigate how plants and animals grow and survive through games, by building and using models, and with a real owl pellet dissection.  By the end of the course, you will have developed an understanding of a range of scientific practices and content covered in ecological and life science related pathways. 

Class Goals/Outcomes:

  • Students will have a better grasp of ecological principles 
  • Students will 
    • Engage in argument from evidence
    • Construct explanations
    • Use models
    • Analyze and interpret data
    • Plan and conduct investigations
    • Design solutions

Course Outline:

Day 1

Photosynthesis 

  • Introductions 
  • Solve a puzzle to observe the equation for photosynthesis
  • Build different molecules using origami
  • Look at Amazonian plants and identify their adaptations for life in the rainforest 
Day 2

Plant Structure & Function 

  • Learn about the main structures of a flowering plant (root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit) and discuss the function of each component
  • Observe and sketch common edible plants to locate relevant plant parts and make everyday connections with plant anatomy
Day 3

Food Webs 

  • Construct a food web model that represents a simplified version of the Amazon Rainforest ecosystem 
  • Simulate what would happen to the ecosystem if the food web were disrupted by the removal of a native species and/or the introduction of an invasive species
Day 4

Populations 

  • Play a game to learn more about how ecosystems are affected by the number of resources, prey and predator species
Day 5

Camouflage & Mimicry

  • Play a hunting game to simulate the problems different adaptations pose for predators
  • Explore different examples of camouflage and mimicry
Day 6

Owl Pellet Dissection 

  • Learn about the adaptations owls have that allow them to swallow their prey whole – bones, fur, and teeth! 
  • Dissect an owl pellet to gather data about the owl’s diet
  • Create your own apex predator
Day 7

Invasive Species

  • Explore what it means for species to be native, non-native, or invasive by using a game-model with different environments 
  • Discuss potential real world solutions for invasive species 
Day 8

Sustainability

  • Use a fishing game to explore the concepts of sustainability and the Tragedy of the Commons
  • Devise strategies that will allow you to fish sustainably 
  • Find solutions for real world examples and share them with the group 

 

Student Expectations / Classroom Policies:

  • Students will be respectful 
  • Students will be curious 
  • Students will be brave young scientists  
  • Students will sign into the ConferZoom feature each day for instruction
  • Students can contact instructors privately through Canvas’ inbox feature
  • Students who wish to communicate with the class will use the chat window or raise their hand to be called on
  • Students will turn on your video if possible
  • Students will mute themselves when not speaking to the class
  • Students will receive an email the night before with a list of materials needed for the next day

What Should I bring to Class?

  •  Day 1 
    • Scrap paper 
    • Pencil
    • Black paper 
    • White paper 
    • Red paper 
    • Yellow paper 
  • Day 2
    • Plant specimens (celery, apple, spinach, flower, carrot, pepper)
    • Pencil 
    • Printed worksheet
  • Day 3
    • Markers
    • Poster paper 
    • Printed animal cards 
    • Scrap paper 
  • Day 4
    • Markers 
    • Paper
  • Day 5
    • Markers 
    • Paper
  • Day 6
    • Owl pellet
  • Day 7
    • Scrap paper
    • Pencil
  • Day 8 
    • n/a