EOU Exam on Thursday, May 1st

Lesson 8:

Biodiversity

&

Invasive Species

Learning Intention

Students will be able to....

Discuss the global decrease in biodiversity and the threat of invasive species introduced into new ecosystems.

Success Criteria

I am successful when I can...

1) Engage with a video

2) Turn and talk about the biodiversity with my peers.

3) Explore by actively reading about invasive species.

4) Explain by talking with an A.I. friend

5) Elaborate by applying my knowledge of Biodiversity and invasive species to a new situation.

Standards

HS-LS2-7:

Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity

Reminders

Parent teacher conferences are next Thursday evening and Friday afternoon.
Please complete the exit ticket for homework if we do not get to it in class.

Agenda

Activity 1) Review - Something Looks Sus'

Activity 2) Engage - Biodiversity Video

Activity 3) Engage - TN'T x 3

Activity 4) Explore - Active Reading

Activity 5) Explain - Turn n' ChatGPT

Activity 6) Elaborate - Exit Ticket/ Homework / Practice

Activity One

Something Look Sus'

(8 min)

Lesson #8 Warm-Up.pdf

Activity Two

TN'T times Three

(12 min)

Directions:

Step #1) As the video plays, fill out your see 👁️‍🗨️, think 🤔 and wonder ❔ chart.

Step #2) Have three(3) things written in each column.

Round 1: Turn & Talk in your groups and discuss:

1) What did you see👁️‍🗨️ ?

2) What did you think🤔?

3) What did you wonder ❓?

Round 2: Extend the conversation with a 2nd Turn & Talk response to the video. Use as many words as you can from the list below when speaking.

Multi-Subject Vocab

Tier 2

Variety

Decrease

Stable

Collapse

Issue

Science Specific Vocab Tier 3

Biodiversity

Human Impact

Species

Ecosystem

Habitat

Population

Extinct

Round 3: Turn & Talk for a 3rd time creating a series of three statements using the following set of conjunctions:

“Because… But… So…”

Example: Mr. Pinho is tired BECAUSE he was up late making an awesome lesson for his students, BUT it's ok since they appreciate him SO it was totally worth the bags under his eyes this morning 🥱.

Key Concept: Biodiversity means having a lot of different species in an ecosystem. The more biodiversity the stronger (more stable) an ecosystem is. Ecosystems that have a lot of biodiversity are able to handle change. Ecosystems that have little biodiversity can collapse because of change.

Activity Three

Explore through

Active Reading

(15 min)

Discussion: Mr. Pinho saw the video we just watched and got super scared over biodiversity decreasing. To fix the issue, he went online and ordered different species from around the globe. Bugs native to Australia, fish from Asia, herbivores from Africa and many more species. When they arrived, he released them into the forests and ponds in the local area.

Question #1: Did Mr. Pinho help or harm the Staten Island ecosystem by introducing all of these non-native species?

Question #2: Do you know of any non-native species that now live on Staten Island?

Directions:

Step #1) Actively read the passage making SEVEN (7) annotations as you read in the margins.

Step #2) Remember, annotations include:

a) Word Association Game (example: Cellular Respiration - energy, ATP, mitochondria, oxygen, glucose)

b) Making connections between the text and past lessons, your life, books read, movies, video games etc

c) Rewriting important information (key concepts) in your own words

‼️ Does Not Include Underlining or Highlighting ‼️

Lesson #8 Reading

Activity Four

Explain to an A.I. Friend

(5 min)

SchoolAIAI-Powered Tutors and Learning Activities

Activity Five

Exit Ticket / Homework / Practice

Regents-esque Questions

Scenario: Invasive Species Threaten a Local Wetland Ecosystem

A small wetland located near a local park has been home to a diverse range of plant and animal species for many years. Native plants like cattails and water lilies grow in abundance, providing habitat for a variety of animals, including frogs, birds, and insects. The wetland has supported a healthy food web, with native predators controlling populations of smaller animals and insects.

In recent years, however, an invasive species of plant called Japanese knotweed has begun to spread throughout the wetland. This plant grows rapidly and outcompetes the native vegetation, crowding out the cattails and water lilies that many animals depend on. As Japanese knotweed takes over, the habitat for local wildlife shrinks, and the food web becomes unbalanced.

Additionally, an invasive fish species, the northern snakehead, has been introduced into the wetland by anglers. This aggressive predator is known to consume large numbers of small fish, which are an important food source for birds and other animals in the area. The northern snakehead has few natural predators in the wetland, allowing its population to grow unchecked. As a result, local species that rely on these smaller fish for food are struggling to survive.

As these invasive species continue to spread, the wetland’s biodiversity is at risk. The balance of the ecosystem is being disrupted, and native species are being pushed out of their natural habitat. Environmental scientists are now concerned that without intervention, the wetland may undergo irreversible changes, making it much less habitable for the native species that once thrived there.

Multiple Choice Questions

Which of the following is most likely a consequence of the spread of Japanese knotweed in the wetland?
- A) Increased food supply for frogs and birds
- B) Increased space for native plants to grow
- C) Reduced habitat for native wildlife
- D) A balanced food web in the wetland
What impact is the northern snakehead having on the wetland ecosystem?
- A) It provides more food for smaller fish species
- B) It helps control the population of other invasive species
- C) It reduces the number of small fish, affecting the food web
- D) It increases the number of native plants in the area
Why is the northern snakehead able to thrive in the wetland?
- A) It feeds only on plants, leaving other animals unaffected
- B) It has been introduced to the ecosystem by local birds
- C) It has no natural predators in the wetland ecosystem
- D) It has a symbiotic relationship with native fish species
What is the main concern of environmental scientists regarding the wetland?
- A) The wetland is becoming more suitable for invasive species.
- B) The wetland’s biodiversity is being threatened by invasive species.
- C) The wetland’s size is increasing, making it less accessible to animals.
- D) The wetland’s native species are thriving due to fewer predators.

Short Response Questions

How do Japanese knotweed and northern snakehead impact the food web in the wetland? Explain the changes they cause.
If you were an environmental scientist working on this wetland, what action would you recommend to help restore the biodiversity of the ecosystem? Justify your answer.

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