Course Description. An introduction to the elements of high school ecology for special needs students. Students are taught how to perform scientific measurements, and how to tabulate, graph, and interpret their data. Students are also taught: how to do basic research on an ecology topic of their interest, especially topics that apply to themselves, their home, neighborhood, or family, or the country of birth; how to write a basic scientific paper on their topic; and how to make oral presentations about their research.
Course Outline.
- Scientific Measurements, Scientific notation, Metric conversions
- The scientific method
- Biomes
- Living Things in Ecosystems: Competition, Predator/prey, Commensalism, Mutualism, Parasitism, Evolution, Natural Selection, and Adaptation
- The food chain, Food web and the Roles of animals and plants
- Energy pyramid
- Water cycle
- Carbon cycle
- Nitrogen cycle
- Our atmosphere
- Water resources
- Agriculture, Pests and pesticides, and Human nutrition
- Land use planning
- Air and water pollution and solid waste
- Global issues
Course Objectives. Upon successful completion of ecology, students will be able to understand the interconnectedness and interdependence of living things, and to see themselves in relation to the natural world, which can evade the life experiences of urban youth. Students will develop a concern for the interrelationships among components of the natural and human-made world. Students will comprehend disciplines of ecology, natural resources, the importance of agriculture, and the impact of human actions on natural systems. Students will comprehend the scientific method and use scientific measurements and data evaluation techniques to draw scientific conclusions. Students will learn scientific research and how to successfully achieve both written and oral communication of their research.
