Click on any number to launch the unit of instruction. Students learn most from this module if they have first completed the Cells Are Us module and the Organ Systems module.
You may go through the units in any sequence, but we suggest first exploring Unit 1, Natural Selection.
This "Ecosystems" module has four units of instruction. Clicking on the unit titles will take you to the topic.
Each module has a "Hazards" link that leads to a menu of study units on various environmental hazards (such as oil spills, farm runoff, insecticides, and so on).
Famous Scientists: Click here if you want to review the short biographies of famous scientists mentioned in "Cells Are Us," "Organ Systems," and "Ecosystems."
Toxic Hazards: Click here to see an index of common toxic hazards that are explained in the various instructional units.
Electronic flash card self quizzing: Click here when you have finished the lessons and are ready for self-study using the Get Smart self-study test set. Note that you will be prompted to download the Macromedia player software if it is not already on your computer.
Natural
Selection | Population Balance
| Exchange Cycles | Environmental
Protection
Teacher's
Pages | PEER Curriculum
| PEER Home
Ecosystems
Glossary
Sponsored by a grant from the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Teacher Note:
Teachers should visit the Teacher Pages before beginning the instructional units. Access to Teacher Pages is password protected. Click here to get a password.
The Module is not intended to replace current curricula, but the units will hopefully provide useful resources and learning activities to complement and enrich current teaching practices. The content is designed for middle-school students, but some of the content may be useful in high school.
Each
instructional unit
includes
topics on:
- Introduction
- "Why Does It Matter" to explain the significance of the facts
- "How We Find Out" to explain how under- standing develops
- "What We Know" to summarize the main facts
- "Story Time" a short biosketch on famous scientists, emphasizing, where possible, their childhood
- Activities, Assignments for hands-on learning
- Major Hazards and their effects on cell functions
- Activities, Assignments
- On-line self-study system, Get Smart, that operates like flash cards," but additionally allows teacher to provide feedback