Biology students are just wrapping up their very first unit of GPA Biology, the Sustainability unit. During this unit we covered the issues faced in different cultures and environments and how those issues impact the three dimensions of sustainability- society, economy and environment.
We began by exploring two communities, BedZED in the UK and Darewadi in India.
Next, we compared those communities with the lifestyles of the students as we examined their own ecological footprints. Students calculated their footprints on the website www.earthday.org using the "footprint calculator" and used that data to create a visual representation of their lifestyles and resource usage.
Then, we focused on the human impacts on a freshwater ecosystem, Jaffrey Lake, and specifically the levels of phosphates and nitrates in the lake and what those levels correlated with. Students then took that information and, in small groups, created plans for improving the quality of the lake. They wrote formal reports and presented their ideas and reasoning back out to the class.
Students extended their study of water contamination with an exploration of how antimicrobial substances from soaps and other personal care products have changed the biodiversity of microorganisms in freshwater ecosystems.
We began by exploring two communities, BedZED in the UK and Darewadi in India.
Next, we compared those communities with the lifestyles of the students as we examined their own ecological footprints. Students calculated their footprints on the website www.earthday.org using the "footprint calculator" and used that data to create a visual representation of their lifestyles and resource usage.
Then, we focused on the human impacts on a freshwater ecosystem, Jaffrey Lake, and specifically the levels of phosphates and nitrates in the lake and what those levels correlated with. Students then took that information and, in small groups, created plans for improving the quality of the lake. They wrote formal reports and presented their ideas and reasoning back out to the class.
Students extended their study of water contamination with an exploration of how antimicrobial substances from soaps and other personal care products have changed the biodiversity of microorganisms in freshwater ecosystems.
modified_sust._act._3.docx |
sustainability_aq_3.docx |
ecological_footprint_visual_representation.docx |
jaffrey_6_grading_rubrics.docx |