4.2+Ecology

Feb 1 TEKS 8.9 a,b,c Vocab: In Class Activity: Plate tectonics test and ecology pretest

Homework: none

Key Questions:

Feb 2 TEKS 8.9a,b,c Vocab:

In Class Activity: Go over test, "groundhog writing" about humans impact on earth

Homework: none

Key Questions:

Feb 3 TEKS 8.11a Vocab: predator, prey

In Class Activity:

Homework:

Key Questions: What factors influence population size?

Feb 4 - SNOW DAY

Feb 7 TEKS 8.11a Vocab: predator, prey, estivation, hibernationo, symbiosis, muturalism, commensalism, prasitism

In Class Activity: Unit Vocab Wheel

Homework:

Key Questions: What terms are used to describe various relationships in the environment? What are some examples of each of the terms defined?

Feb 8 TEKS Vocab: mutualism, parasitism, commensalism, symbiosis

In Class Activity: white boards and notes

Homework: due Thursday

Key Questions: Why would species "want" to form symbiotic relationships? What types of relationships do we have with other organisms and people?

Feb 9 TEKS 8.11c Vocab: runoff

In Class Activity: Identifying sources of pollution

Homework:

Key Questions: How might different sources of pollution affect marine environments?

Feb 10 TEKS 8.11b Vocab: habitat, limiting factor

In Class Activity: Oh deer! graph with claim and evidence sentence about carrying capacity

Homework: Symbiosis due

Key Questions: What are the 4 components of a habitat? How might habitat limit the size of a population? How many deer can our "Deerpark Forest" hold? Are habitat components biotic or abiotic?

Feb 11 TEKS 8.11c Vocab: runoff

In class Activity: Graphing pollution types and possible source

Homework: due Wednesday

Key Questions: What is the ulimate energy source for food webs on earth? How might ocean pollution impact ocean food webs? How are humans dependent on the ocean?

Feb 14 - 15 TEKS: 8.11b Vocab: abiotic, migrate

In Class Activity:

Homework: none

Key questions: What is the greatest abiotic factor impacting Whooping Crane populations?

Feb 16 TEKS: 8.11b

Vocab: abiotic, migrate

In Class Activity:

Homework: due Friday

Key Questions: How can biotic and abiotic factors impact the success of an ecosystem?

Feb 17 TEKS 8.11b Vocab: competition, resources, niche

In Class Activity: Two species occupying similar niches compete for food.

Homework:

Key Questions: How does this activity demonstrate different types competiton? Where the species competing for biotic or abiotic resources? Long term, what impact will the Sika population have on the deer? Do you think people should be allowed to bring wildlife from other areas to the US?

Feb 18 TEKS 8.11

Vocab:

In Class Activity: Quiz and lab summaries

Key Questions: What is the relationship between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem? How does availability of resources resultin comptetion among organisms?

Feb 21 TEKS: 8.11c

Vocab: Dead zone, run off

In Class Activity: []

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Key Questions: How have humans modified the Mississippi River Delta? What impact does this have on the marine ecosystem?

22-23

TEKS: all 6-8th TEKS

In Class Activity: Released TAKS test

Feb 24

HS orientation in the Lecture Hall

Feb 25

TEKS 8.11c

In class: pros and cons for artifical reefs

March 3

TEKS: 8.11

In class: Test review

March 4

TEKS: 8.11 In class: Ecology Test and Astro pretest

March 7

TEKS:

In class: go over Ecology and released TAKS test

HW: hurricane sheet