Alternate Perspectives of Ecosystem Services and
Conservation Efforts
Overview:
The goals of this lesson are to look through different lenses on how humans
manage our ecosystem and persuade others to follow your plan of
conservation
Keywords:
Ecosystem Services, Human Impact, Conservation
Subject:
Life Science (Ecology)
Age / Grade Range:
7th Grade
Background:
This lesson will begin with a review of the ecosystem services. The teacher
will need to know human impacts in our ecosystem and current conservation
efforts in our ecosystem. It is also helpful if the teacher has knowledge of
various species in our ecosystem
http://www.idahoconservation.org/issues
Common Core and
Idaho Content
Standards:
Goals:
7.S.5.3.1 Identify alternative sources of energy. (641.03.a)
7.S.3.2.2 Describe how the availability of resources (matter and energy) limits the
distribution and abundance of organisms. (638.01.b)
Students will have previously completed the Ecosystem Services Lesson, and
will now write a narrative from the point of view of a species in our
ecosystem. They will research their species prior to writing. Students will
describe the services that animal receives from the ecosystem, how humans
have impacted their environment, and an explanation of their daily life.
Students will learn current conservation efforts
Students will learn how humans have impacted the environment and how
that affects other species
Objectives:
Students will identify how humans have impacted (good or bad) our
ecosystem
Students will learn current conservation efforts to maintain and improve
wildlife ecosystems
Materials:
Set up:



Poster Paper
Markers
Computers
The teacher will need to have a background in current conservation efforts
http://www.idahoconservation.org/issues and access to computers
Time/ Duration:
One and a half class periods will be needed, plus homework time.
Introduction
(Engage):
Students will view powerpoint and listen to facts about the impact garbage has had
on the environment. Discussion about other ways humans have negatively
impacted the environment. Introduce the term, “Conservation” and discuss
examples
Activity (Explore):
Students will research a species in our ecosystem. They will write a narrative from
the point of view of that animal and how it values the ecosystem services. It will
also show how that animal views humans and human impact in their life.
Comparing and contrasting their organism and humans would also be helpful.
Explanation:
Students will present their poster (Evaluation/Assessment) to the class. The goal is
to persuade the class in their why their conservation effort is the most important in
our ecosystem.
Discussion of the most important issues, values, and conservation ideas the
students came up with.
Elaboration:
Show students the current conservation efforts in our ecosystem.
http://www.idahoconservation.org/issues explains many different ways we
are trying to create a better ecosystem for the wildlife and ourselves.
Land Feature
Issue
Solution
Water
Phosphorus is leaking The Dixie Drain
into our rivers and
lakes from agriculture
land
Land
The Boulder-White
Make the BoulderCloud Mountains are
White Cloud
unprotected and
Mountains into a
allows many uses
national monument
Wildlife
Bighorn Sheep
Scientists wish to
populations are
separate Bighorn and
declining due to
domestic sheep to
diseases carried by
regain the Bighorn
domestic sheep
population
Climate
Carbon-based energy
Increase clean energy
is causing climate
efforts
change in our
ecosystem
Mining
Mining byproducts are Reform the 1872
releasing toxins into
Mining Law
the Boise River
Watershed
Evaluation/
Assessment:
Students will create a promotional poster from the viewpoint of an animal or
human stakeholder on an ecosystem service that they value, how humans
impact their life, and ways that humans can help improve their ecosystem in
conservation efforts. Students will present and try to persuade the other
students why their environmental issue is the most important.
Additional resources: http://www.idahoconservation.org/ Visit the Actions and
Issues section to see the current projects the Idaho Conservation League is working
on
Family/ Community Connections: You can email your local representative to see
what you can do to help out