GEORGIA TECH BETSY SANFORD LOST MOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL

GEORGIA TECH BETSY SANFORD, LOST MOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL KAREN KLINE, KENNESAW MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL

CURRICULUM RESOURCES A GA Tech and NSF partnership to promote STEM engagement and interest in regional middle school students: • https: //ampitup. gatech. edu/curricula/ms/science • 6 th Grade = “Molten Madness”, “Snow Day”, and “Shake and Break” • 7 th Grade = “Under the Sea”, “Don’t Wreck the Reef”, “Oil Spill Drill” • 8 th Grade = “Riding the Concrete Ocean Part I”, “Riding the Concrete Ocean Part II”, “Ocean Blizzard”

DON’T WRECK THE REEF • The module covers some basic concepts of ecosystems, food web/chains, and predator prey relationships, seeding further exploration of these standards for later in the semester or year. • This module features Dr. Mark Hay’s work in the School of Biology on coral reef degradation. • Georgia Standards of Excellence, 7 th Grade Life Science - The student has…(Ecology S 7 L 4. c) • Obtained information to examine the interdependence of organisms with one another and their environments. • Evaluated information in examination of the interdependence of organisms with one another and their environments. • Communicated information in examination of the interdependence of organisms with one another and their environments. • Analyzed data to provide evidence for how resource availability, disease, climate, and human activity affect individual organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems. • Interpreted data to provide evidence for how resource availability, disease, climate, and human activity affect individual organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems.

DON’T WRECK THE REEF STUDENTS… • …engage as biologists advising the government and citizens of Fiji on recent acceleration in the death of coral reefs around Fiji. • …investigate a model of the food web at the coral reef to generate and then project species population data. • …combine their knowledge of ecology with the economic needs of different regions in Fiji to make recommendations about fishing permits.

BAITING THE HOOK & CASTING THE LINE • Betsy’s science website, https: //betsysanford. weebly. com/ • All presentations files posted on Betsy’s daily blog • NOAA’s Get to Know Your Seafood from Ocean to Plate video (4: 38) • NGS’s Coral Reefs 101 video (3: 37) • NGS’s Great Barrier Reef video (4: 14) • Video Notes Handout • Checklist Grading Sheet • Discussion Handout

SECTION 1 - THE CORAL REEF CHALLENGE • Read the material (as a class, silently or aloud). • View videos (as a class – 31 seconds and 55 seconds). • Teacher leads the discussion using the color photos and introductory videos.

SECTION 2 - ADD TO YOUR UNDERSTANDING • Read the material (as a class, silently or aloud). • Teacher leads the discussion in response to embedded questions.

SECTION 3 - INVESTIGATE THE FOOD CHAIN • Complete the Goby food web simulation (in groups). • Analyze the results of the simulation (in groups). • Share and discuss (as a class or within the groups). Math Extension: • Graph the data and determine a line of best fit (Math 7/8 and Algebra I). – Is it linear or exponential? • Explain the what the line of best fit tells you about the food web in this ecosystem.

SECTION 4 – MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON DATA • Read about permitting (as a class, silently or aloud). • Read about each region of the reef (as a class, silently or aloud). • Teacher leads the discussion in response to embedded questions. • Complete the simulation for each regions (in groups). • Predict region health based on permitting (in groups). • Make final recommendations for permitting (in groups).

MATERIALS NOTES • Amazon carries the bingo chips. • Dollar Tree carries the small plastic containers. • Any grocery store carries the aluminum trays, small containers, and baggies. • Colored construction paper and Ziplock baggies can be used as an alternative to the bingo chips and the containers.

WHERE’S THE STEM? • Science – ecology (food webs) and scientific research process/technique • Technology – videos and MS Excel spreadsheet (tools for learning) • Engineering – permitting decisions (determining the best use of each reef section to maximize sustainable usage) • Math – survey data and permitting decision (survey data collection and MS Excel spreadsheets) • Any Questions? Betsy. Sanford@cobbk 12. org • Thank you for attending! Karen. Kline@cobbk 12. org