Human Activities Help Sustain Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Changing World
developed by:
Julie Allender (OMSD), Colleen Duncan (Redlands USD), Dr. Vickie Harri (OMSD), Sara Yeh (OMSD)
Lesson 4: Seasons and Kelp Growth (MS-ESS1-1, MS-PS4-2)
ESS1-1: Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons. [Clarification Statement: Examples of models can be physical, graphical, or conceptual.]
PS4-2: Develop and use a model to describe phenomena that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on both light and mechanical waves. Examples of models could include drawings, simulations, and written descriptions.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment is limited to qualitative applications pertaining to light and mechanical waves.]
PS4-2: Develop and use a model to describe phenomena that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on both light and mechanical waves. Examples of models could include drawings, simulations, and written descriptions.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment is limited to qualitative applications pertaining to light and mechanical waves.]
Main Learning Goal: Students will learn how seasons occur, how seasons influence growth of plants and then of kelp and finally will explore the relationship between seasons and tides. Intensity of light waves reflected determines seasons and kelp growth.
Focus question for the lesson: How does the amount of light determine how much a kelp forest will grow?
Ideal student response to the focus question: As the amount of light increases, the water temperature increases, which allows kelp to grow more. There is a maximum temperature for optimal kelp growth, as if water temperatures are too high, kelp growth declines. Therefore, during summer months, kelp forests decline |
Science content storyline: Students have learned about various types of waves, including light waves. They will use what they know about the reflection, absorption and transmission of light waves to learn how the amount of light determines seasons and kelp growth. This learning will lead students into learning about other factors that affect kelp growth.
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Linking Question: How are kelp forests affected by seasons, tides and natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis?