United States Department of Agriculture
Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12
Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA)
Dr. Allen Talbert and Sonya Lord
STAR Academy at Arsenal Tech High School, Indianapolis, IN
G RADE 9S ONYA L ORD
T ITLE OF L ESSON : I NTRODUCTION TO N ATURAL R ESOURCES M ODULE
L ENGTH OF L ESSON : 5 D AYS
B RIEF S UMMARY /P URPOSE OF THE L ESSON :
This lesson will serve as an in-depth introduction to the Natural Resources Module. The importance of natural resources and conservation is shared through multiple perspectives.
Students will learn about conservation through history and also the different types of resources. The final day of the lesson is an opportunity for a guest speaker to come and speak with students more about natural resources as well as share their experiences in a natural resource related career.
S TANDARD ( S ):
A.
Indiana State Standards
1.
IAFNR: Domain: Natural Resources
Core Standard 5 Students confirm the importance of preserving and replenishing our natural resources through natural resource management.
IAFNR 5.1-Explain interrelationships between natural resources and humans necessary to conduct management activities in natural environments
2.
Biology: Standard 4: Interdependence
Core Standard Describe the relationship between living and nonliving components of ecosystems and describe how that relationship is in flux due to natural changes and human actions.
B.4.1Explain that the amount of life environments can support is limited by the available energy, water, oxygen and minerals and by the ability of ecosystems to recycle the remains of dead organisms.
B.4.2- Describe how human activities and natural phenomena can change the flow and of matter and energy in an ecosystem and how those changes impact other species.
B.
Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects
1.
LS.2: Key Ideas and Textual Support: Grade 9-10
9-10.LST.2.2:
Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; trace the text’s explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurate, objective summary of the text.
L
EARNING
O
BJECTIVES
:
A.
My students will be able to
1.
Define the concept of Natural Resources

United States Department of Agriculture
Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12
Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA)
Dr. Allen Talbert and Sonya Lord
STAR Academy at Arsenal Tech High School, Indianapolis, IN
2.
Explain why Natural Resources are important
3.
Discuss Natural Resource management and balance
R EFERENCES :
Camp, W., & Heath-Camp, B. (2009) Managing our Natural Resources. New York: Delmar.
Reardon, M., & Derner, S. (2004) Strategies for Great Teaching. Chicago: Zephyr Press
M ATERIALS :

Lesson plan and attachments

Composition book

Writing utensil
P
ROCEDURES
:
A.
Bell-Ringer
1.
Day 1-Word of the Day: Natural Resources
2.
Day 2-Bell-Ringer Activity: Class Discussion a.
Why should we care about our Natural Resources?
3.
Day 3-Word of the Day: Conservation
4.
Day 4-Bell-Ringer Activity a.
Discuss with one partner what you think the difference is between these three types of resources i.
Nonexhaustible Resources ii.
Renewable Resources iii.
Exhaustible Resources
5.
Day 5-Bell-Ringer Activity: Questions for Guest Speaker a.
Write down three or four questions you’d ask a natural resource expert
B.
Motivation-Go and Get it!
1.
Prior to the start of class: a.
Place short passages (newspaper articles, notecards with vocabulary words on them, magazines, small books) all over the room and in fun places (under desks, chairs, up high, down low).
2.
Starting the Activity: a.
Explain the activity by telling students they have a limited amount of time to locate the information (you decide 30-60 seconds). Once students have located a piece of information, they are to sit back down and glance over it for another minute or two. When everyone is seated begin having each student share what they found.
C.
Day 1 Procedure:
1.
Introduction to Natural Resources Presentation a.
What are natural resources? b.
What are we learning about in this module?
2.
Class Discussion a.
What is your role in this ecosystem? b.
What do you do to protect our environment?

United States Department of Agriculture
Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12
Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA)
Dr. Allen Talbert and Sonya Lord
STAR Academy at Arsenal Tech High School, Indianapolis, IN i.
Other Ideas?
D.
Day 1 Closing:
1.
Exit Ticket a.
What are you most excited to learn about in the Natural Resources
Module?
E.
Day 2 Procedure:
1.
Conservation Presentation a.
What is conservation? b.
Why do we need to conserve resources? c.
In what ways are we acting upon conservation?
2.
Conservation Video-“The Thin Green Line” a.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie4WSdeXTnM
F.
Day 2 Closing:
1.
Exit Ticket a.
Are you a conservationist? Answer yes or no and describe how and what you conserve in a few short sentences.
G.
Day 3 Procedure:
1.
Introduce Conservation Group Project Scenario a.
See Handout IAFNR.NR.4.HO.1.0 b.
Allow students 20-30 minutes for planning c.
Groups will present a 2-minute solution to scenario
H.
Day 3 Closing:
1.
Exit Ticket a.
Choose one group (not your own) that you think had the best solution to the scenario and explain why in a short paragraph.
I.
Day 4 Procedure:
1.
Natural Resource Management Presentation a.
What types of natural resources are there? b.
What does it mean to think ecologically? c.
Why is it important to manage our resources?
2.
Short Class Discussion on “Balance” a.
Is balance possible in nature? i.
Why or Why not? b.
How do humans affect balance? c.
Can humans help create balance?
J.
Day 4 Closing:
1.
Exit Ticket a.
Write down any questions you may have about what we have learned so far this week
K.
Day 5 Procedure:
1.
Welcome Guest Speaker a.
Allow Students to ask questions from Bell-Ringer Activity

United States Department of Agriculture
Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12
Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA)
Dr. Allen Talbert and Sonya Lord
STAR Academy at Arsenal Tech High School, Indianapolis, IN
2.
If extra time, introduce topics of lessons for next two weeks and Final Project
Presentation a.
Lesson Topics- Specific resources covered daily i.
For Monday: Soil and Land b.
Final Project- Handout IAFNR.NR.4.HO.1.1
L.
Day 5 Closing:
1.
Exit Ticket a.
Share with a partner one new thing you learned about today
A SSESSMENT :
Formative:
A.
Group Conservation Project
B.
Class discussion and participation
S
UPPORTS AND
A
CCOMMODATIONS FOR
S
PECIAL
N
EEDS
A.
IEP’s
1.
Group Conservation Project a.
Extra support to groups with IEP students by teacher or aid