Download Kentucky`s Natural Regions: Diversity of Place

Kentucky’s Natural Regions: Diversity of Place
SCIENCE; SOCIAL STUDIES
Unity & Diversity/Biological Change, Energy Transformations (Unifying Concepts),
Interdependence (Unifying Concepts); Kentucky: The Land, Climate & Regions/
Geography—Regions
Grades: 4-6
Program of Studies:
Elementary School: SC-04-UD-U-1, SC-04-UD-U-2, SC-04-UD-U-3, SC-04-UD-S-1,
SC-04-UD-S-2, SC-04-UD-S-5, SC-05-BC-U-2, SC-05-BC-U-3, SC-05-BC-S-2, SC-05-BC-S-3,
SC-05-BC-S-4, SC-04-ET-U-1, SC-04-ET-S-1, SC-04-ET-S-2, SC-04-I-U-1, SC-04-I-U-2,
SC-04-I-U-3, SC-04-I-U-4, SC-04-I-S-1, SC-04-I-S-2, SC-04-I-S-2, SC-04-I-S-2, SC-04-I-S-2,
SC-04-I-S-6, SC-05-I-U-1, SC-05-I-U-2, SC-05-I-U-3, SC-05-I-S-1, SC-05-I-S-2, SC-05-I-S-3,
SC-05-I-S-4;
SS-E-G-U-1, SS-E-G-U-3, SS-E-G-S-1, SS-E-G-S-2
Middle School: SC-06-BC-U-1, SC-06-BC-S-1, SC-06-I-U-1, SC-06-I-U-2, SC-06-I-S-1,
SC-06-I-S-2, SC-06-I-S-3;
SS-06-G-U-1, SS-06-G-U-4, SS-06-G-S-1, SS-06-G-S-2, SS-06-G-S-3
Core Content:
Elementary School: SC-04-3.4.1, SC-04-3.4.2, SC-05-3.5.1, SC-05-3.5.2, SC-04-4.6.1,
SC-04-4.7.1, SC-04-4.7.2;
SS-E-4.1.1, SS-E-4.2.1
Middle School: SC-06-3.5.1, SC-06-4.7.1;
SS-06-4.1.1, SS-06-4.1.2, SS-06-4.2.1
Purpose:
Students will focus their understanding of Kentucky’s geographic regions on landscape,
ecosystem, and species diversity, identifying plant and animal species and grouping the species
according to ecosystem.
Estimated Time for Activity:
At least two class periods.
Background:
The natural beauty of the state is the most astonishing feature, from one end of Kentucky
to the other. The mountains in eastern Kentucky…the magnificent, incredible great
waterways. And you know we have the longest cave system in all the world. We have
Mammoth Cave.
--The Honorable Sara Combs, judge and former Kentucky First Lady, quoted in
KentuckyShow!
KentuckyShow! Classroom Activities Guide, Lesson 3, page 1
Unified under the second theme of the film, PLACE, KentuckyShow! explores all of Kentucky’s
regions and celebrates the geographic diversity of the Commonwealth, providing an effective
overview of the geography theme of Place—the physical and human characteristics of Kentucky.
The film transports viewers to the Appalachian mountain forests cloaked in early-morning fog, to
the fertile farmlands of the Bluegrass, to the primordial wetlands of western Kentucky, and to the
mysterious subterranean environments of the world’s most magnificent cave.
The production manager scouted every region of the state to discover scenes that would reflect
the diversity of Kentucky’s regions. Then the crew returned to shoot a variety of scenes that
would help to tell the story of Kentucky in KentuckyShow! Some of those shoots took the crew
to views that people rarely see, as they required long hikes up mountain trails or waiting out
thunderstorms to get just the right image of the sun setting over western Kentucky farmland, for
example. Many of these moments, though they required long days from sunup to sundown and
were physically exhausting, will remain unforgettable for the film crew. Special experiences
such as these are the reason why some crew members have chosen the profession of filmmaking.
Kentucky’s tremendous variety of place makes connections beyond geography, however. It helps
define Kentucky’s biodiversity—the amazing variety of living organisms and the natural
connections that link them together as populations, communities, and ecosystems. There are
approximately 3,000 different plants, 230 fishes, 53 amphibians, 52 reptiles, 364 birds, 70
mammals, and an unknown number of invertebrates (including thousands of insects!) living in
Kentucky. Nationally, Kentucky is ranked #3 in freshwater diversity, #11 in amphibian diversity,
and # 20 in reptile diversity.
Consider these facts:
Kentucky is located at the center of the world’s richest temperate deciduous forest.
Remnants of the vast North American prairie are still found here.
Western Kentucky has thousands of acres of protected wetlands—one of the most
biodiverse ecosystems on the planet.
Our state is internationally recognized as a hotspot for freshwater biodiversity, with
thousands of miles of streams and one of the highest numbers of fish, mussel, and
crayfish species in North America.
Home to Mammoth Cave—the world’s longest cave system—Kentucky’s biodiversity
includes these sensitive and very unique habitats, with creatures specially adapted to live
only in caves.
Essential Questions:
How do the physical characteristics (land features, water, soil, plants and animals, etc.) of
Kentucky’s regions help define Kentucky as a unique place? How did KentuckyShow! capture
the diversity of the state’s landscapes, ecosystems, and species? What are the key ecosystems of
Kentucky? Which habitats and natural regions support particular plant and animal communities?
Materials:
your classroom map of Kentucky’s six regions
access to the Internet
color printer, transparency film (optional)
KentuckyShow! Classroom Activities Guide, Lesson 3, page 2
graphics linked in this lesson plan, “Ecosystems of Kentucky,” “Natural Regions of
Kentucky,” and “Landscape Diversity”
copies of the worksheet, “Kentucky Biodiversity Plant & Animal Match”
Procedure:
1. Spend one class period after the KentuckyShow! field trip in discussion and brainstorming,
beginning with the questions: One theme of KentuckyShow! was PLACE. What kind of places did
you “visit” while watching the film? Which regions were filmed? What places make Kentucky
unique? Visit the Photo Gallery on the KentuckyShow! web site to view a selection of images
from the film. Can you identify images that are likely from specific regions in Kentucky? How
many different habitats or ecosystems can you find in the gallery? Kentucky is a place with great
ecosystem diversity and great landscape diversity. The variety of landscapes, ecosystems, and
species are all part of biodiversity, the variety of living things and their communities and
habitats. (Diversity is another word for variety.) Not all states have mountains, hills, and flat
lands, deepwater swamps, thousands of miles of streams, and vast caves! Have you visited a
state—perhaps on a driving trip—where you did not see much landscape variety?
2. Graphics for this activity are reproduced from the Kentucky Biodiversity web site, “The
Mosaic of Life,” located at the following addresses: www.kybiodiversity.org
OR
http://www.jefferson.k12.ky.us/Projects/Mosaic/. “The Mosaic of Life” was a project of the 2007
Kentucky State Fair, with Stephen Sebree as graphic designer. These graphics are reproduced
with permission. The Web site is an online exhibition with more than 100 printable graphics that
explore Kentucky habitats and species, as well as related lesson plans.
Click here to print the graphic, “Ecosystems of Kentucky.” (You may wish to create color
transparencies of the graphics.) Five key ecosystems are illustrated: forests, wetlands, streams,
caves, and grasslands. Ask students to recall places depicted in KentuckyShow! or places they
have visited in Kentucky that fit these ecosystem categories. Review the basic needs of
organisms (e.g., plants need air, water, nutrients, light, and food). How do each of these
ecosystems meet the basic needs of the plants and animals that live there? What other habitats
support plant and animal communities? Consider habitats that humans have changed or helped
create, such as farms, lakes, parks, or backyards.
Explain that each of these five ecosystems may be found in all regions of Kentucky, but some
regions may have more wetlands or forested areas than other regions, for example. View the
Kentucky geographic regions map that students have used in the classroom. Ask if they associate
particular regions with particular ecosystems. Click here to open a map depicting the state’s
natural regions. Compare the geographic regions map with this “Natural Regions of Kentucky”
map. What are the similarities and differences of these two maps of Kentucky?
Students will notice that there are eight natural regions—the Jackson Purchase is divided into the
Mississippi Alluvial Plain and Coastal Plain; and the Eastern Coal Fields are divided into the
Cumberland Plateau and Cumberland Mountains. Click here to open an overview of “Landscape
Diversity,” with brief descriptions of the Natural Regions of Kentucky. Ask students to compare
the names of the natural regions with the region names they have studied. Regions are defined by
land features and topography, water, terrain and elevations, soils, rocks, climate, and native
KentuckyShow! Classroom Activities Guide, Lesson 3, page 3
plants and animals. Natural regions focus on how these physical features support the plant and
animal communities, and this is why some of the region names are different.
3. Distribute the worksheet, “Kentucky Biodiversity Plant & Animal Match.” Point out to
students that they will find clues to help them make the matches in some of the species names
and some of the descriptions. Some plants and animals are only, or most often, found in certain
habitats, but other species may be found in all regions of the state. Brainstorm to develop a list of
plants and animals that may be found throughout Kentucky, in all regions.
Culminating Activity:
Choose one of the four habitats from the worksheet (or another Kentucky habitat) and create a
food web or an ecological food pyramid, highlighting several species.
Outdoor Extension:
Visit various places around your community that illustrate landscape and ecosystem diversity.
Take photographs and write descriptions of the features you observe (terrain, soils, rocks, plants,
animals).
Word Bank:
biodiversity, cave, communities, ecosystem, forest, grassland, habitat, landscape diversity,
natural regions, physical geography, populations, regions, species, stream, wetland
KentuckyShow! Classroom Activities Guide, Lesson 3, page 4
KENTUCKY BIODIVERSITY PLANT & ANIMAL MATCH
NAME:________________________
Match each animal or plant species to the best description and
write the letter on the corresponding blank.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
black bear
American beaver
Indiana bat
mountain laurel
eastern harvest mouse
southern cavefish
g. southern bald cypress
h. eastern woodrat
i. Kentucky warbler
j. thoroughbred
k. wood duck
l. cave salamander
m. barn owl
n. Kentucky bluegrass
o. American lotus
p. wood frog
1. _____ this member of the water lily family has umbrella-like leaves and large yellow flowers
2. _____ Ky’s largest wild mammal is an omnivore that loves nuts, berries, insects, and rodents
3. _____ this amphibian’s young grows slowly because of the cool water and limited food
available in its habitat
4. _____ these endangered mammals help humans by eating vast numbers of insects; they help
other animals in their winter habitats, where their droppings are a major food source
5. _____ as its name hints, this small rodent eats seeds; it may be eaten by snakes and owls
6. _____ first brought to Kentucky by explorers and settlers, this non-native mammal is
important to recreation, farming, and sport today
7. _____ growing in wet habitats, this tree needs a spreading trunk near the ground to help
anchor it in the water-saturated soil
8. _____ a rodent that spends time in many habitats, this animal carries vegetation (an important
food) into underground ecosystems where no plants can grow
9. _____ this amphibian spends winter hibernating in the leaf litter and soil of the forest floor
10. _____ this evergreen understory shrub with pink flower clusters grows on slopes & valleys
11. _____ young hatchlings of this species take to the water right away, but need to steer clear of
snapping turtles who may want to eat them
12. _____ first discovered in KY, this bird builds nests on or near the ground using dead leaves
13. _____ European settlers brought seeds of this non-native plant to Kentucky to grow pasture
for their cattle and horses, but it’s famous here now
KentuckyShow! Classroom Activities Guide, Lesson 3, page 5
14. _____ this furry, water-loving rodent builds dams of wood and sticks
15. _____ this large predatory bird is beneficial to humans, for it eats lots of pesky rodents
16. _____ because there is very little light in its habitat, this aquatic creature has unique
adaptations: no functioning eyes and no coloration or camouflage
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
black bear
American beaver
Indiana bat
mountain laurel
eastern harvest mouse
southern cavefish
g. southern bald cypress
h. eastern woodrat
i. Kentucky warbler
j. thoroughbred
k. wood duck
l. cave salamander
m. barn owl
n. Kentucky bluegrass
o. American lotus
p. wood frog
Next, form animal and plant communities by matching each species to the best choice KY
habitat (ecosystem). Write the name of each species on one of the blank lines below.
CYPRESS SWAMP, WESTERN KY.
Natural Regions: Mississippi Alluvial Plain & Coastal Plain (Jackson Purchase)
Characteristics: bottomlands of the Mississippi & Ohio Rivers, forested wetlands with graycolored, wet soils, attracts water-loving species
_________________ , _________________ , _________________ , _________________
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN FOREST, EASTERN KENTUCKY
Natural Regions: Cumberland Plateau & Mountains (Eastern Coal Fields)
Characteristics: rugged mountains, temperate forest (distinct cool & warm seasons), deciduous &
evergreen trees, rich and moist soil, very diverse plants and animals
_________________ , _________________ , _________________ , _________________
MAMMOTH CAVE
Natural Region: Pennyroyal
Characteristics: part of KY’s karst landscape, dark and moist habitat, constant cool temperature,
limited food resources, underground streams, some species can live nowhere else
_________________ , _________________ , _________________ , _________________
HORSE FARM
Natural Region: Bluegrass
Characteristics: gently rolling hills, rich limestone soils, native grasslands & woodlands were
converted to farms, non-native crops & animals were introduced, open farmlands support wild
species, too, especially grassland species
_________________ , _________________ , _________________ , _________________
KentuckyShow! Classroom Activities Guide, Lesson 3, page 6