WOODLAND HILLS HIGH SCHOOL LESSON PLAN
SAS and Understanding by Design Template
Name: Mr. Dan Schuller Date: 10/17 –10/21/11 Length of Lesson: 22 days Content Area: AP Env. Science – Unit 2
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STAGE I – DESIRED RESULTS
LESSON TOPIC:

Succession

Geology: Hazards and Soils
UNDERSTANDING GOALS (CONCEPTS):
Students will understand:

Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition

Minerals, Rocks, and the Rock Cycle

Natural Hazards: Earthquakes and Volcanic eruptions

Soils: Formation, Erosion, and Degradation

Soil Conservation
VOCABULARY:
ecological succession; primary succession; secondary succession;
pioneer species; early successional plant species; midsuccessional plant
species; late successional plant species; facilitation; inhibition; tolerance;
disturbance; intermediate disturbance hypothesis; climax community;
balance-of-nature; stability; inertia; constancy; resilience; mineral;
erosion; weathering; sedimentary rock; metamorphic rock; igneous rock;
rock cycle; fault; focus; epicenter; magnitude; aftershocks; tsunamis;
volcanos; ejecta; earthquake; soil; soil horizons; soil profile; humus; soil
erosion; salinization; bedrock; infiltration; leaching; clay; silt; sand;
gravel; soil texture; loams; soil porosity; soil structure; desertification;
waterlogging; soil conservation; conventional tillage; conservation
tillage; terracing; contour farming; strip cropping; alley cropping;
windbreaks; organic fertilizer; animal manure; green manure; compost;
crop rotation; commercial inorganic fertilizer
BIG IDEAS:
(Content standards, assessment anchors, eligible content) objectives,
and skill focus)
MODULE B—Continuity and Unity of Life
ASSESSMENT ANCHOR BIO.B.4 Ecology
PA Standards – 4.3: Environmental Health; 4.8: Humans and their
Environment
SAI 1: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

What are the stages of succession for natural communities?

What factors influence and direct succession?

What is the rock cycle and why is it important?

What are the hazards from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions?

What are soils, how are they eroded, and how can we reduce soil
erosion?
STUDENT OBJECTIVES (COMPETENCIES/OUTCOMES):
Students will be able to:







Explain the meanings of the all of the vocabulary terms.
Describe the progression of succession in a community
Explain the difference between primary and secondary succession
Explain the types of rocks and how they are connected in the rock cycle?
Explain the make-up of soil
Explain the qualities of soil that affect it’s make-up
Distinguish between soil found in different biomes.
STAGE II – ASSESSMENT EVIDENCE
PERFORMANCE TASKS:
 Study Packet: Key vocabulary/Case Studies/ Guest
Essays/Review Questions/Critical Thinking.
 Chapter Guided Note Packets
 Investigation 9: Soil Analysis
 Making volcanoes
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS:
 Classroom discussion
 Graphic organizers-visual representation
 Open ended questioning
STAGE III: LEARNING PLAN
INSTRUCTIONAL
PROCEDURES:
 Power Point Notes/Class
discussion
 Lab investigations
 Assignments (Class &
Home)
ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT
USED:
 Note taking
 Partnering
 Concept sketches
 Case Studies
SCAFFOLDING USED:
 Chunking
 Visual support
 Teacher Prompting
MATERIALS AND
RESOURCES:
 Computer
 Computer projector
 Textbooks
 Folders
 Handouts
 Lab Materials
CONTENT AREA
READING:
 Chapters 8 & 10 text
selections
 Outside Reading: Natural
Disaster Article
INTERVENTIONS:
 Redirection during class.
 1-to-1 assistance.
 Moving seat to a more
productive location.
 After class/school tutoring.
 Corrections on
assignment/exam.
 Extension to complete
assignment.
 Conference with other staff.
(Counselors or
administrators)
 Conference with parent.
ASSIGNMENTS:
 Chapter Study Packet
 Lab write ups/reports
 Lab investigation
handouts.
 Case Studies
 AP Exam Practice:
Multiple Choice.
 AP Exam Practice: Free
Response.
 Current events.
MINI LESSONS
NUMBER/DATE
TOPIC
OBJECTIVE(S) By the
end of the lesson each
student will be able to:
PROCEDURES /
TECHNIQUES
To reach objectives
Homework:
DAY
Monday
2
10/17
MCM/Geology
DAY
Tuesday
3
10/18
Plate
Tectonics
DAY
Wednesday
DAY
Thursday
4
10/19
Journaling/Plate
Tectonics
5
10/20
Volcanoes/
Earthquakes
DAY
Friday
6
10/21
Plate
Tectonics
Explain the theory
of plate tectonics
Correlate geologic
events to tectonic
plate boundaries.
Correlate geologic
events to tectonic plate
boundaries.
Explain the processes
of volcanoes and
earthquakes.
Correlate geologic
events to tectonic
plate boundaries.
Multiple Choice
Monday.
Work on Inv. 2 with
Plate Tectonics.
Use the laptops.
Work on Inv. 2 with
Plate Tectonics.
Use the laptops.
Journal: Environmental
Situations.
Work on Inv. 2 with
Plate Tectonics.
Use the laptops.
Power Point notes on
Volcanoes and
Earthquakes.
Work on Inv. 2
with Plate
Tectonics.
Use the laptops.
Finish plotting 25
most recent
earthquakes.