A River Puzzle

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

Students brainstorm how land is used along a river in their watershed. They arrange pieces representing places along a river from source to mouth, and discuss impacts "downstream" in a watershed.

Science (2015) Grade(s): 09-12 - Environmental Science

SC15.ES.11

Engage in argument from evidence to defend how coastal, marine, and freshwater sources (e.g., estuaries, marshes, tidal pools, wetlands, beaches, inlets, rivers, lakes, oceans, coral reefs) support biodiversity, economic stability, and human recreation.

UP:SC15.ES.11

Vocabulary

  • estuary
  • marsh
  • tidal pool
  • wetlands
  • beaches
  • inlet
  • river
  • lake
  • ocean
  • coral reef
  • biodiversity
  • economic stability
  • coastal
  • marine
  • freshwater
  • fisheries
  • oil
  • natural gas
  • offshore industries
  • transportation
  • tourism

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Classification of aquatic ecosystems.
  • Components and functions of wetlands, marine ecosystems, freshwater ecosystems, estuaries, and coral reefs.
  • Management strategies of aquatic sources.
  • Knowledge of abiotic and biotic factors and their interactions in aquatic biomes.
  • Economic stability is sustained by a multitude of factors, including, but not limited to, offshore drilling, fishing industry, tourism, transportation.
  • Environmental benefits of aquatic sources include critical habitats, breeding sites, and migratory paths for a wide variety of species.
  • Many humans rely on coastal, marine, and freshwater sources for food, recreation, and jobs.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Argue from evidence to defend how coastal, marine, and freshwater sources support biodiversity, economic stability, and human recreation.
  • Apply scientific reasoning, theory, and/or models to link evidence to claims to assess the extent to which the reasoning and data support how aquatic resources support biodiversity, economic stability, and human recreation.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Coastal, freshwater, and marine sources support biodiversity, economic stability, and human recreation.
  • The sustainability of human societies and the biodiversity that supports them requires responsible management of natural resources.
  • Change and rates of change to systems can be quantified over short or long periods of time, and some system changes are irreversible.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Crosscutting Concepts

Structure and Function

CR Resource Type

Learning Activity

Resource Provider

National Geographic

License Type

Custom

Accessibility

Text Resources: Content is organized under headings and subheadings
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