AP Env. Science A Course Resources
Module 3: Biodiversity - Fragile Ecosystems
Instructor Information
Email: Emily.Kroutil@gavirtualschool.org
Phone: 470-238-8663 (voicemail)
Biodiversity Study Guide
ASSIGNMENT RESOURCES AND TIPS
DISCUSSION: Fragile Earth
- Use this RUBRIC to help you write a discussion posting that will earn full points.
- Make sure when you respond to your classmates that you post AT LEAST a 2-3 sentence response. "I agree with..." or "I disagree with..." is not enough to earn full points for a response. You must say why you agree or disagree and back up your reasoning.
Assignment: Biome Concept Map
- The instructions for this assignment is on page 4 of the module.
- Please be sure to read the rubric for this assignment closely to help you earn full points.
Create a concept map on a particular biome. The project will contain various images, a graph, a world map, other factors that are interesting or unique, and pictures of characteristic plants and animals in this particular biome. The following content, (images/climate graph) and concepts should include:
1. World Location (include latitude/longitude) and a map that illustrates its location.
2. Select a representative city for the climate (Average annual temperature, seasonal temperature, and precipitation)
a. you will complete a climate graph for the biome selected
b. Watch this video to learn how to create a climate graph in Excel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNsVv9lotLc; Read this handout to learn how to make a climate graph in Google Sheets:
3. Other Environmental Factors (soil, tides, salinity, etc.)
4. Representative flora and fauna found in this biome.
5. Correct documentation for all sources must be used. You may upload a separate word document listing your sources and what you obtained from each source.
The project should be created using concept mapping software or may be hand drawn and then scanned into the document you will upload. Images must be included, either digitally created by you, or pulled from the Internet with proper citation for content.
Q: Should my concept map be made on Word like listed down a page? Or how should it be formatted?
A: You can make it however you'd like as long as it is a concept map format. Word is a good option. Powerpoint is also good and I have better luck with moving images around in Powerpoint. But some students draw them by hand and then just include the printout of the graph or an extra submission file with the graph in it.
Q: If we do a tundra for the concept map, is it fine if I do precipitation? Because I'm not sure if its rainfall or snow
A: Precipitation is fine :)
LAB: Ecosystem Field Walk
- The handout for this lab can be found on page 6 of the module. Please be sure to you read the rubric to help you earn full points on your lab.
- Make sure to answer all questions and to include your drawings.
- This site (https://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx) is a great resource for creating a graph. Excel is also a popular choice. This VIDEO shows you how to create a graph with Excel.
Project: Endangered Species
- The instructions for this lab can be found on page 8 of the module.
Choose 3 endangered species, one of them may be an extinct species.
One of your species must be a plant, one must be native to Georgia, and one must be native to the US (outside of Georgia). If one of your chosen species fills two of these categories at the same time (ex. an endangered plant species in Georgia), then the third species may be of your choosing (ex. a panda bear). Do research on your chosen species and be sure to include the following:
- Background/historical information about the species.
- Threats or causes of the extinction/endangerment.
- Solutions, successes, possible courses of action for protectoin.
- Include the legislation that protects or would have protected each species selected.
- Include the scientific name and the common name.
- Include at least one picture of your species
- Include a picture of the natural habitat.
- Include a bibliography for your sources in APA format. Depending on the format of your presentation, the bibliography may be submitted separately.
You must use at least 3 different types of sources (including, but not limited to, internet, textbook, periodical, interview, TV documentary, etc.)
Clarification: if your periodical is accessed on the internet, it will count as a periodical and not as an internet source. For example, an article from time.com or nytimes.com would be a periodical.
Once you have gathered this information, create a multimedia presentation. You may also consider creating a brochure or story. Submit your completed assignment when finished.
- Q: In the example on the instructions page, if you pick a native endangered Georgian plant, do you only do two species?
- A: You will still need to do three species, but you can do whatever you want for your third species.
- Q: How many slides should the endangered species project be?
- A: The number of slides isn't as important as covering all of the concepts requested in the handout and rubric. If you can fit them on one slide per species, great! If you want to do a separate slide for each piece of information, great!
- Q: Do we need to cite all of the pictures in our bibliography?
- A: Please cite the pictures if they aren't in the public domain.
- Q: How should we represent the habitat our organisms live in? Should it be a picture of say a swamp or a region of the United States??
- A: For the habitat, you can write it or post a picture. So for a panda, you could say "bamboo forest in China" or put a picture of a bamboo forest. But definitely let me know that the picture is supposed to be the habitat, if that's what you're doing.
FRQ: 2010 Deadly Pollutants Kill Children
- To receive full credit for the free response question, you will need to show all steps necessary to explain how the answer was found.
- The College Board used to offer 11 possible points for each FRQ, but a student can never earn more than 10 points on an FRQ. So your FRQs will be graded out of 10 points.
- Watch these videos for help answering FRQs: FRQ Tips and Tricks Part 1, FRQ Tips and Tricks Part 2
- FRQs may NOT be resubmitted for a higher grade.
TEST: Biodiversity
- Check the feedback on your two quizzes from this module BEFORE you begin the test and review those weak areas BEFORE you begin the test.
- This test covers the following topics (not an exhaustive list):
- Biodiversity patterns
- speciation
- evolution
- natural selection
- Species interactions/relationships
- Biodiversity loss/conservation/extinction
- This test has 1 FRQ.