Download Science Barge/ConEd Outreach Program 2010

Science Barge/ConEd Outreach Program 2010
Pre-Visit Information for Teachers
Below please find information regarding upcoming in-class instruction hosted by
the Science Barge education staff in conjunction with ConEdison of NY. Each visit
will last roughly 45-50 minutes long. Please review the vocabulary listed below
before each visit to help ensure student participation.
Lesson One: Biodiversity
Subject Areas: English, Earth Science, Ecology of the Hudson River
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Students will discuss the nature of a food web.
Students will begin to answer the question, what is food? They will
determine that food is a relationship between two or more organisms.
They will correctly identify different food sources for different organisms
by playing roles in the Food Web Twister activity. They will understand
the nature of the web is consistent with the nature of biodiversity.
Students will appreciate the role each organism plays in the web of life.
Vocabulary: biodiversity, extinction, species, omnivore, herbivore, carnivore,
predator, prey, vegan, vegetarian, producer, consumer
Lesson Two: Carbon Footprint
Subject Areas: Social Studies, Math, Geography, English
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Students will compare and contrast the health and diets of people around
the world.
Students will begin to answer the question, where does my food come
from? They will be given the opportunity to evaluate the carbon cost of
transporting food around the world by participating in the “How Many
Miles are on my Menu?” activity.
They will correctly identify different states in the US and their knowledge
of the processes of importing and exporting food will become important in
completing the activity.
Vocabulary: carbon footprint, carbon cost, import, export, urban, rural
Lesson Three: Food Waste and Composting with Worms
Subject Areas: Ecology, Math, Science, English
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Students will acknowledge the importance of composting waste as a
means to reduce landfill trash and as a means of creating nutrient rich
worm castings to use as fertilizer for growing food.
Students will recognize the critical role decomposers play in the food web,
(review of lesson one).
Students will use their reading comprehension skills to answer questions
based on a short story.
Vocabulary: decomposers, organic matter, carbon, nitrogen, bacteria, compost,
compost tea, humus, fertilizer, landfill