WOODLAND HILLS HIGH SCHOOL LESSON PLAN
SAS and Understanding by Design Template
Name: Mr. Dan Schuller Date: 4/22 – 4/26/13
Edline was updated this week: Y
Length of Lesson:25 days Content Area:AP Env. Science – Unit 9
My Class website was updated this week: Y
STAGE I – DESIRED RESULTS
LESSON TOPIC:

Biogeography: Climate, Biomes and Terrestrial Biodiversity

Aquatic Ecology: Biodiversity in Aquatic Systems
UNDERSTANDING GOALS (CONCEPTS):
Students will understand:

Weather and Climate

Biomes

Desert Biomes

Grassland, Tundra and Chaparral Biomes

Forest Biomes

Mountain Biomes

Aquatic Environments

Saltwater Life zones

Freshwater Life zones

Sustainability
VOCABULARY:
Weather; front; warm front; cold front; thunderheads; high; low;
tornadoes; tropical cyclones; hurricanes; typhoons; climate; upwelling;
ENSO; La Nina; greenhouse gases; greenhouse effect; thermal cap;
microclimates; rain shadow effect; heat island effect; sea breeze; land
breeze; biomes; latitude; altitude; succulent plants; broadleaf evergreen
plants; broadleaf deciduous plants; coniferous evergreen plants; desert
tropical desert; temperate desert; cold desert; semi desert; grassland;
tropical grassland; grazing; browsing; temperate grasslands; polar
grasslands; permafrost; alpine tundra; chaparral; forest; tropical rain
forests; canopy; understory; shrub layer; forest floor; lianas; epiphytes;
buttresses; tropical deciduous forests; tropical scrub forests; temperate
deciduous forests; evergreen coniferous forests; muskegs; coastal
coniferous forests; tree farms; snow line; islands of biodiversity; coral
reefs; polyps; zooxanthellae; coral bleaching; aquatic life zones; salinity;
saltwater; freshwater; plankton; nekton; benthos; decomposers;
phytoplankton; nanoplankton; zooplankton; filter feeders; baleen;
eutrophic zone; coastal zone; continental shelf; estuary; coastal wetlands;
intertidal zones; barrier islands; open sea; bathyal zone; abyssal zone;
deposit feeders; freshwater life zones; lentic; lotic; lakes; littoral zones;
limnetic zones; profundal zones; benthic zones; oligotrophic lake;
eutrophic lake; mesotrophic lake; cultural eutrophication; thermal
stratification; epilimnion; thermocline; hypolimnion; fall/spring
overturn; surface water; runoff; watershed; source zone; transition zone;
floodplain zone; inland wetlands; marshes; swamps; prairie potholes;
bogs;
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 – 4.6: Ecosystems and their Interactions; 4.7 Threatened,
Endangered and Extinct Species; 4.8: Humans and their Environment
SAI 1: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

What key factors determine the earth’s weather and climate?

How does climate determine the major geographic patterns of
ecology (biomes) on the earth?

What are the major types of desert biomes and how are they being
affected by human activities?

What are the major types of grassland biomes and how are they
being affected by human activities?

What are the major types of forest biomes and how are they being
affected by human activities?

Why are mountain biomes and arctic biomes important and how are
they being affected by human activities?

What lessons can be learned from a geographic perspective of
ecology?

What are the basic types of aquatic life zones and what factors
influence the kinds of life they contain?

What are the major types of saltwater life zones and how are they
being affected by human activities?

What are the major types of freshwater life zones and how are they
being affected by human activities?

How can we help sustain aquatic life zones?
STUDENT OBJECTIVES (COMPETENCIES/OUTCOMES):
Students will be able to:






Explain the meanings of the all of the vocabulary terms.
Understand the factors that influence weather.
Understand the factors that influence an areas climate.
Compare and contrast the major types of land biomes and the categories in
each type.
Compare and contrast the major types of aquatic life zones and the categories
in each type.
Explain the importance of sustainablity of both land biomes and aquatic life
zones.
STAGE II – ASSESSMENT EVIDENCE
PERFORMANCE TASKS:
 Study Packet: Key vocabulary/Case Studies/ Guest
Essays/Review Questions/Critical Thinking.
 Video on Atmospheric Circulation
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS:
 Classroom discussion
 Graphic organizers-visual representation
 Open ended questioning


OTHER EVIDENCE:
 AP Exam Practice: Multiple Choice.
 AP Exam Practice: Free Response.
 Current events
 Class participation
 Unit Exam
Investigation 4: The formation of Deserts
Fairchild Challenge.
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
MINI LESSON:
 Chapter Study Packet
 Inv. 4 : Deserts
 Videos on Biomes
 Fairchild Challenge.
DAY
MINI LESSONS
NUMBER/DATE
TOPIC
OBJECTIVE(S) By the
end of the lesson each
student will be able to:
PROCEDURES /
TECHNIQUES
To reach objectives
MATERIALS AND
RESOURCES:
 Computer
 Computer projector
 Textbooks
 Folders
 Handouts
 Lab Materials
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.
CONTENT AREA
READING:
 Chapter text
 Outside Reading
Monday
150
4/22
Active
Readings
DAY
Tuesday
151
4/23
Ecosystem
Biographies
Presentations
DAY
Wednesday
152
4/24
Ecosystem
Biographies
Presentations
DAY
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.
Thursday
153
4/25
Ecosystem
Biographies
Presentations
DAY
Friday
154
4/26
Article
Comprehend a
nonfiction article and
respond to questions.
Present their
ecosystem
biographies to the
class.
Present their ecosystem
biographies to the class.
Present their
ecosystem
biographies to the
class.
Comprehend a
nonfiction article
and respond to
questions.
Complete two active
readings.
Class Presentations.
Class Presentations.
Class Presentations.
Presentation
Quizzes.
Presentation Quizzes.
Presentation
Quizzes.
Check Study Packets.
Article: “Protected
Paradise.”
Question sheet.
Homework:
Chapter 8 Study
Packet pgs. 3-5 Due
on Thurs.
Chapter 8 Study Packet
pgs. 3-5 Due on Thurs.
Lab
A –Ecosystem
Presentations.
B – No Lab.
A –Ecosystem
Presentations.
Questions are due at
the end of the
period.
B – No Lab.