Jennifer Perry

Resources and Human Impact: Grades 9-12

Fri, Nov 18, 2011 4:16 AM
Resources and Human Impact: Grades 9-12

This SciGuide has some great ideas. The topics of the lesson plans would be such an eye opener for my students. Unfortunately, so many of the links did not work for me, including the human footprint, how much water do you use, where did all the waer go, and the biosphere lesson. Several weeks ago I saw a lesson here that I would like to do with my students about tracing the source of a pollutant using an imaginary community with a map grid and toxicity measurements. I just looked for it again and could not find it. I think it was called a grave mistake. I am not sure if the problem is with my computer, but if not, I hope they fix the links in this SciGuide, because the lesson plan topics sound very interesting.

Coral Reef Ecosystems

Fri, Nov 18, 2011 3:31 AM
Coral Reef Ecosystems SciGuide

This SciGuide highlights NOAA and NOS resources with tutorials and hands on lesson plans. It is organized into three sections. The first section is the biology of the coral organism, the polyp and its symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae. There are links to the different types of coral and where they can be found. The second section focuses on the population, habitat and interdependence of coral ecosystems. The third section discusses the threats to our coral reefs and what we can do to protect them through monitoring and conservation efforts. I find the overall design of this guide well done and easy to follow. Information is up to date, reliable, contains diagrams, simulations and graphics and focuses on the real world importance of science learning. It also includes a roadmap which complements the tutorials and links you to specific online coral data and information from NOAA and the National Ocean Service.