In this lesson, students will study plant growth in soils with different nutrients and physical compositions. By examining data, students will come to understand the effects of nutrient depletion in the Amazon and the impact of tree and plant removal from Amazon soils.
Next Generation Science Standards
| Grade | Discipline | Core Idea |
|---|---|---|
| 6-8 | ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems |
Energy flows and matter cycles within and among Earth's systems, including the sun and Earth's interior as primary energy sources. Plate tectonics is one result of these processes. |
| 6-8 | ESS3.A: Natural resources |
Humans depend on Earth's land, ocean, atmosphere, and biosphere for different resources, many of which are limited or not renewable. Resources are distributed unevenly around the planet as a result of past geologic processes. |
| 6-8 | ESS3.C: Human impacts on Earth systems |
Human activities have altered the biosphere, sometimes damaging it, although changes to environments can have different impacts for different living things. Activities and technologies can be engineered to reduce people's impacts on Earth. |
| 6-8 | LS2.A: Interdependent relationships in ecosystems |
Organisms and populations are dependent on their environmental interactions both with other living things and with nonliving factors, any of which can limit their growth. Competitive, predatory, and mutually beneficial interactions vary across ecosystems but the patterns are shared. |
| 6-8 | LS2.C: Ecosystem dynamics | |
| 6-8 |
Energy flows and matter cycles within and among Earth's systems, including the sun and Earth's interior as primary energy sources. Plate tectonics is one result of these processes. |
|
| 6-8 |
Energy flows and matter cycles within and among Earth's systems, including the sun and Earth's interior as primary energy sources. Plate tectonics is one result of these processes. |
|
| 9-12 | ESS2.A: Earth materials and systems |
Feedback effects exist within and among Earth's systems. |
| 9-12 | ESS3.A: Natural resources |
Resource availability has guided the development of human society and use of natural resources has associated costs, risks, and benefits. |
| 9-12 | ESS3.C: Human impacts on Earth systems |
Sustainability of human societies and the biodiversity that supports them requires responsible management of natural resources, including the development of technologies. |
| 9-12 | LS2.A: Interdependent relationships in ecosystems |
Ecosystems have carrying capacities resulting from biotic and abiotic factors. The fundamental tension between resource availability and organism populations affects the abundance of species in any given ecosystem. |
| 9-12 | LS2.C: Ecosystem dynamics | |
| 9-12 |
Feedback effects exist within and among Earth's systems. |
|
| 9-12 |
Feedback effects exist within and among Earth's systems. |