vii
© REGION 4 EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
TABLE of Contents
UNIT 1: Introduction..........................................................2
A Word to the Student ..............................................................................2
Lesson 1: Gateways to Science ..................................................................4
Lesson 2: Safety .......................................................................................6
UNIT 2: Existence of Life and Environments ..................12
Introduction .............................................................................................12
Lesson 1: What Allows Life to Exist? ......................................................14
Lesson 2: Dichotomous Key ...................................................................18
Lesson 3: Schoolyard Microhabitat .........................................................23
Lesson 4: Environments and Organisms ................................................27
Lesson 5: Flow of
Energy .......................................................................38
Lesson 6: Biodiversity .............................................................................47
Lesson 7: Cycling of Matter ....................................................................51
Lesson 8: Variations within Populations ..................................................59
Lesson 9: Natural Selection ....................................................................67
UNIT 3: Impacting Earth’s Systems ................................76
Introduction .............................................................................................76
Lesson 1: Catastrophic Events ...............................................................78
Lesson 2: Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition .....................................90
Lesson 3: Groundwater and Surface Water ..........................................102
Lesson 4: Ecological Succession ..........................................................111
© REGION 4 EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
TABLE of Contents
UNIT 1: Introduction..........................................................2
A Word to the Student ..............................................................................2
Lesson 1: Gateways to Science ..................................................................4
Lesson 2: Safety .......................................................................................6
UNIT 2: Existence of Life and Environments ..................12
Introduction .............................................................................................12
Lesson 1: What Allows Life to Exist? ......................................................14
Lesson 2: Dichotomous Key ...................................................................18
Lesson 3: Schoolyard Microhabitat .........................................................23
Lesson 4: Environments and Organisms ................................................27
Lesson 5: Flow of
Energy .......................................................................38
Lesson 6: Biodiversity .............................................................................47
Lesson 7: Cycling of Matter ....................................................................51
Lesson 8: Variations within Populations ..................................................59
Lesson 9: Natural Selection ....................................................................67
UNIT 3: Impacting Earth’s Systems ................................76
Introduction .............................................................................................76
Lesson 1: Catastrophic Events ...............................................................78
Lesson 2: Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition .....................................90
Lesson 3: Groundwater and Surface Water ..........................................102
Lesson 4: Ecological Succession ..........................................................111
