Central Question: What steps do you need to take to ensure you are successful on the coming test?

Guiding Thought Question: How do humans fit in as working within an ecosystem as a part of it, and as outsiders who are non-native to it?

Today's Learning Objective: Students will prepare for the upcoming end of unit test by playing a review game designed to engage their prior learning and review topics.

Central Question: What does the world lose when a            species goes extinct?

Guiding Thought Question: First make a prediction at the connection between changes in physical geography and the extinction of species.  After making your prediction watch the youtube video on the sixth mass extinction and explain how changes in landscapes can trigger mass dies offs of species.

Today's Learning Objective: Students will learn about the importance of preserving species and making a case for the continued protection of all by designing informative 

Case Study: Why is it so important to maintain populations of all types of species?

Guiding Thought Question: Choose an animal of some type (reptile, bird, insect, mammal, etc...) and make a case for removing it from the planet. (NO CHOOSING HUMANS)
     Part 2 - Go on someone else's post and make a counter         argument on why that species should be protected and           kept.

Today's Learning Objective: Students will examine population dynamics by examining a case study of wolves and moose on Isle Royale and how one species can impact another, and how the removal of one can have a drastic effect on the landscape and potential ecosystem collapse. 

Central Question: What impact can the introduction of new species have on an ecosystem?

Guiding Thought Question: While working as a state forestry specialist you notice the growth of a non-native weed start growing in your conservation area. As the weed spreads further local farmers introduce non-native rabbits to the area that are known to feed on the plants to protect their crops from the encroaching weeds, but they quickly multiply and start eating other plants as well, resulting in numbers on non-native rabbits decreasing. How do you address the issue? What recommendations do you make?

Today's Learning Objective: Students will analyze critical effects of the introduction of invasive species on an ecosystem and the distributions of native species by looking at case studies and acting out the introduction 

Central Question: How can other natural forces (Fire and Ice) have an effect on speciation?

Guiding Thought Question: Should humans intervene and interfere in natural events, such as wildfires, or should they allow them to take their course? Explain your reasoning.

Today's Learning Objective: Students will examine the processes through which fire and glaciers can change and develop an ecosystem. 

Central Question: Why are islands such important fields of study in biogeography? 

Guiding Thought Question: Apply the ideas from the article "Effects of Climate Changer on Biodiversity" to explain why  island species especially are so critically endangered due to climate change.

Today's Learning Objective: Students will gain a basic understanding of the importance of islands in their study of biogeography, and the type of work that is being done to understand them better by focusing specifically on the Galapagos and Madagascar.

Central Question: Why is it important to preserve our planet species? Not matter big or small

Guiding Thought Question: In your own words explain what biodiversity is, why it is important, and provide an example to support your point.

Today's Learning Objective: Students will learn about the ideas of biodiversity and their areas of concern my completing a map lab regarding the topic, then examining specific issues related to biodiversity.