Download Learning Objectives - Northern Lebanon School District

2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL
WILDLIFE OBJECTIVES
Essential Topics
1. Knowledge of MAMMALS
a. Mammal ID –mounts, skins & tracks
b. Mammal characteristics
c. Natural history of mammals
2. Understanding Wildlife Ecology
a. Survival requirements of mammals and how they are met
b. Ecosystem dynamics:
*Predator-prey relationships
*Energy flow-food chain, food web, food pyramid
c. Adaptations
3. Issues Involving Wildlife and Society
a. Endangered and threatened species
b. Habitat loss and fragmentation
c. Human impact (i.e. pesticides, reintroduction of species, wildlife management, etc.)
Learning Objectives
I. KNOWLDEDGE OF MAMMALS
Envirothon students will be able to:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer questions concerning the natural history of various mammals.
Identify mammals from mounted specimens, pictures, skins, skulls, and tracks. See List A
Describe the characteristics which make a mammal a mammal.
Identify specific habitat requirements and food/habitat preferences of mammals within List A.
2. UNDERSTANDING WILDLIFE ECOLOGY
Envirothon students will be able to:
a. Identify basic needs of mammals.
b. Describe and explain different structural & behavioral adaptations and/or strategies that help mammals
survive.
c. Explain carrying capacity and identify natural and human factors which impact carrying capacity.
d. Describe food chains and food webs and be able to cite examples.
e. Describe factors that limit or enhance population growth.
3. ISSUES INVOLVING WILDLIFE AND SOCIETY
Envirothon students will be able to:
a. Identify mammals that are listed as endangered, threatened or candidate species and describe the main
causes that have led to their depleted populations.
b. Identify and explain factors that have led to species endangerment or extinction.
c. Identify and explain factors which can make a species more likely to become endangered and/or
threatened.
d. Describe major causes of habitat loss in PA and how habitat loss affects the mammals in List A
e. Describe ways each person can help in the protection, conservation management and enhancement of
wildlife populations.
f. Cite specific examples/methods used to manage &/or conserve wildlife & wildlife habitat.
Reference Material List:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Wildlife Notes Series (Match species below)
50 Birds and Mammals of PA booklet
Endangered and Threatened Species of PA book
Any Field Guide to Mammals
Tracks brochure or field guide (brochure provided)
PA Mammals – List A
Coyote
Shrews
Black Bear
Weasels
White-tailed Deer
Opossum
Bobcat
Porcupine
Red & Gray Fox
Beaver
Squirrels – Red, Gray, Fox, & Flying
Otter
Raccoon
Minks & Muskrats
Skunk
Elk
Mice & Voles
Bats
2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL
AQUATICS OBJECTIVES
Essential Topics
I.
Knowledge of FISH
a. Fish identification
b. Natural history of fishes
c. Habitat/ecosystem types and associated aquatic life
II. Understanding Aquatic Ecology
a. Survival requirements of fishes and how they are met
b. Ecosystem dynamics:
• Predator-prey relationships
• Energy flow-food chain, food web, food pyramid
• Pond/lake succession – eutrophication
c. Adaptations
d. Population dynamics
III. Conservation and Management of Aquatic habitats
a. Water and fisheries management
b. Improving/managing habitat for fish
IV. Issues Involving fish and Society
a. Endangered and threatened species
b. Habitat loss
c. Managing/planning for people and fish – creel limits, catch & release policies, lures vs. live bait, size
limits, bioaccumulation of toxins & fish consumption limits, etc.
d. Non-native species; invasive species; introduced species
Learning Objectives
Envirothon Students will be able to:
1. Knowledge of Fish
a. Evaluate a specific habitat and select or list species most likely to live there.
b. Describe various roles of fish in their ecosystems and be able to cite examples
c. Identify species from mounted specimens, pictures or silhouettes.
d. Describe ways habitat can be managed/improved for specific fish
2. Understanding Fish Biology
a. What makes a fish a fish? Identify, describe, and explain specific anatomical, physiological and/or
behavioral adaptations of fish to the environment and how they help the animal survive. (i.e. fins,
hibernation, migration/ response to food/water temp, etc.)
b. Identify basic needs required by fish.
c. Describe predator-prey relationships, discuss physical adaptations of predator vs. prey species, and be
able to cite examples.
d. Describe and be able to model food chains, food webs, and be able to cite examples.
e. Describe factors that limit or enhance population growth.
f. Define and explain terms associated with aquatic biology and fish populations.
(i.e. carnivore, niche, herbivore, insectivore, omnivore, producer, primary consumer, secondary
consumer, limiting factor, carrying capacity, territory, home range, population, &.or community.).
3. Conservation and Management of Fish
a. Describe the role of the PA Fish & Boat Commission as the agency responsible for the protection,
conservation, and management of aquatic animals of Pennsylvania.
b. Describe ways each person can help in the protection, conservation management and enhancement of
fish populations.
4. Issues involving fish & society
a. Describe what makes a species more prone to becoming endangered than other species.
b. Define the terms reintroduction, endangered, threatened, extirpated, and extinct.
c. Distinguish between native and non-native/invasive species & explain impact of non-natives on natives.
d. Describe the main causes that have led to the depleted populations and describe measures being taken to
help their recovery.
e. Describe major causes of habitat loss in Pennsylvania and how habitat loss affects fish and other aquatic
species.
FISH ID LIST
Yellow Catfish
Striped Bass
Brown Bullhead Catfish
Walleye
Northern Pike
Johnny Darter
Muskellunge
American Shad
Chain Pickerel
Yellow Perch
Rainbow Trout
Burbot – T
Brook Trout
Stickleback – E
Brown Trout
Creek Chub
Smallmouth Bass
Common Carp
Largemouth Bass
Common Shiner
Sunfish
(Redear, Rock bass, Redbreast, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill)
References Provided: Pennsylvania Fishes book – pages 4-23 & species from List A (pdf file emailed)
All About Fish – Play (1 copy of each provided – more available from Fish & Boat per your request to them)
All About Trout - Play
The Catfish Family – Play
Know Your Sunfish
PA’s Dynamic Darters
Play: The Sunfish Family
Play: Minnows
Play: Pennsylvania’s Plentiful Yellow Perch
Migratory Fish Restoration & Passage on the Susquehanna River
Current PA Fishing Regulations
2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL
SOILS & LAND USE OBJECTIVES
Essential Topics
I Basic Soils Knowledge
a. Formation & Drainage
b. Basic chemical and physical properties of soil
c. Types & Effects of Soil Erosion
d. Observing and identifying soil properties/textures
e. Why soils are important
f. Soil quality indicators
II. Land Use & Conservation
a. Trade offs: economic vs. environmental
b. Land Capabilities: prime farmland, unique lands, preservation
c. Topographic Map features & effects
d. Ways to improve soil quality
III. Application: Using a soil survey
Soil Interpretations
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the soils unit, the students will be able to:
1. Basic Soils Knowledge:
Describe how soils are formed and how soil drainage/percolation is affected depending on soil
types/textures.
Identify the components of soil and how these components determine its function.
Explain how the type of soil and topography effects soil erosion.
Identify the 3 main soil particles by sight, touch, and characteristics.
Identify various types of soil.
2. Land Use:
Identify features/symbols on a topographic map and interpret slope/drainage/land uses.
Apply basic soil knowledge in making environmentally sound land use decisions when given a set of
known facts. (e.g. type of crop or trees to grow in Weikert soil - soil survey charts; OR easiest
route to hike - topographic map)
Identify land capabilities/uses by soil type and topography.
Identify key characteristics in soils which are used in determining the health/quality of the soil.
3. Application:
Use a soil survey to describe and interpret soil uses, soil types, drainage, average temperatures and
rainfall in Lebanon County, crop yields, woodland mgt., building site & sanitary development. (Soil
Survey pp. 96-121).
Reference Materials List – Soil Surveys provided in past, now out of print. Intro to Soils also provided in past.
Lebanon County Soil Survey - http://soils.usda.gov/survey/
Topographic Map - http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/
Introduction to Pennsylvania Soils book – Lebanon Conservation District
Soil Quality Information Sheets (14 total)
Introduction
Sediment on Cropland
Organic Matter
Soil Erosion
Compaction
Infiltration
These are available on websites: http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/ and http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/
2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL
FORESTRY OBJECTIVES
THEME: Common Plants of Lebanon County/ PA
Essential Topics
I. Plant Identification
a. Knowledge of identifying characteristics (leaf, bark, buds, branches) and key terms (List B)
b. Use of a dichotomous key to ID any given plant/flower/shrub in PA from List A
c. Status as Endangered, Threatened, Invasive, Introduced (somewhat recently), Noxious Weed
II. Plant & Flower Parts
a. ID the 6 main parts of a plant & their function
b. Flower parts & their function
III. Plant Benefits & Uses
a. In the home landscape
b. Human health and welfare (medicines, edible, poisonous, welfare/aesthetics)
c. Wildlife
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
1. Plant ID:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Use a dichotomous key to identify common plants of Lebanon County
Analyze plant parts to differentiate between species which will aid in proper ID.
Describe “distinguishing characteristics” which aid in quick ID
Identify by sight and know by name List A and their unique identifying characteristics
Describe the benefits, uses, and habitat requirements for any given plant from List A
Identify the plant as native, introduced, endangered, threatened, invasive, or a noxious weed.
2. Plant & Flower Parts:
a. Identify the 6 main parts of a plant and describe each function.
c. Identify and describe the parts of a flower and describe each part’s function.
3. Plant Benefits & Uses
a. Identify which plants are often used in the home landscape, how more could be used, and why they
should be used (benefits)
b. Identify which plants are/have been used for medicinal purposes & how/which ailment; which are edible
or poisonous to humans, and how they enhance the landscape.
c. Explain how the plants in List A are a benefit or detriment to wildlife.
Reference Materials List
Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide or other Field Guide – specifically x-xvii (scanned & provided)
ID – LIST A
Multi flora rose
Chickweed
Barberry
Jewelweed
Chickory
Queen Ann’s Lace
Bloodroot
Violet
Mayapple
Honeysuckle
Hogweed
Milkweed
Japanese Knotweed
Poison Ivy
Red Raspberry (Wineberry)
Virginia Creeper
Black Raspberry (Blackberry)
Mountain Laurel
Wild Strawberry
Olive (Russian & Autumn)
Purslane
Goldenrod
Ragweed
Mile-A-Minute Weed
Buttercups
Skunk Cabbage
Garlic Mustard
Purple Loosestrife
Key Terms – List B
Opposite
Alternate
Whorled
Toothed
Lobed
Entire
Stem
Regular vs. irregular flowers
Pistil
Stamen
Anther
Raceme
Stigma
Sepal
Petal
Purslane -
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/champaign/homeowners/030726.htmlm/cs/weedsdiseases/a/purslane.htm
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