Get Outside!

Changing Climate: Ecological Effects

Class Description

To understand why energy conservation matters we need to understand the connection between energy consumption, atmosphere, climate and ecology. Using observation, theatrics and representative models the class explores how earth's changing atmosphere affects earth's climate, and the effects of climate change on the ecology of earth. Taught during green seasons. See also Climate Change and Energy Choices.

Ecological change is the major focus of this class. Photography provides a means for students to document the plants and animals that call Wolf Ridge home. Students also look for phenology (calendar of natural events such as flowering). A changing climate affects both the presence or absence of species and their phenology. Students construct a photographic Ecological Stamp. This Ecological Stamp provides a means to examine ecological change over time. Scientists worry that if the climate changes too fast ecological systems could face major extinctions if the ecology can’t adapt at the same rate. Learn some ways scientists think we can help people and other life adapt to this quickly changing climate.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the Energy Choices class students will be able to:

  • Understand that all aspects of activity on earth deal with energy as a currency.
  • Identify and investigate environmental issues and potential solutions.
  • Define climate, want, need, resource, energy, power.
  • Examine phenology events and compare this to the current climate, to understand how large scale climate change can affect biology.
  • Construct a digital snapshot of phenology.
  • Understand cause and affect relationships through scientific data.

Minnesota Graduation Standards

Wolf Ridge has aligned the Center's entire curriculum to Minnesota Department of Education Academic Standards. As the primary student audience at Wolf Ridge is from 4th-12th grade, the matrices address these grade levels. Teachers may request that their students focus upon a specific benchmark while attending Wolf Ridge. The Wolf Ridge Curriculum Standards Matrix addresses benchmarks in

  • Science
  • Math
  • History and Social Science
  • Language Arts
  • Arts

Wolf Ridge Curriculum Concepts

  • Those individuals or species with broad or flexible requirements are more able to adjust to environmental change.
  • The sun is the primary source of energy for life on earth.
  • Renewable resources must be used at a sustainable level to remain available.
  • A growing human population is making increasing demands on natural resources.
  • Humans have a great ability to alter natural systems, and a responsibility to consider the effects of our actions.
  • Gases (O2, CO2, air), minerals (N, Ca, Fe, rocks, soil), energy and life all change location and form in a predictable cyclic pattern.
  • A growing human population is making increasing demands on natural resources.
  • See entire Wolf Ridge Curriculum Framework


photo1

Time
3 hours total
45 minutes outdoors

Audience
4th grade - adult

Activity level
easy

Travel
1/4 mile

Total uphill travel
possible 200 ft.

150 px wide please