GK-12 at Harper Creek Community Schools
What's New!
This semester, we are focusing on developing a teaching greenhouse at Harper Creek High School. The greenhouse will function as an indoor ecological inquiry area that can be used throughout the school year. It will house a permanent collection of plants for use in the Physical Sciences, Biology, and Chemistry classroom (thanks in large part to donations from MSU's Plant Biology Department), and will maintain space for student plant-based experiments. Once the greenhouse is up and running, we will be developing lessons to insure the continued use of the space. In the future, a course will be offered in which enrolled students get to learn how to take care of the collection. Check back soon to see pictures of our progress! |
Project Overview
During the Fall 2007 semester, we implemented a wetland simulating microcosm project we call “The Living Machine Experiment.” A living machine consists of a series of interconnected five-gallon water tanks with a bubbler to provide circulation (below left). The first tank represents a terrestrial wetland habitat much like a Michigan marsh, and is planted with plants typically found in that habitat. The second tank represents a transitional zone between terrestrial and aquatic habitats, containing floating plants and algae. The last tank represents an open water lake or stream, and can contain aquatic organisms such as fish, invertebrates, etc. In each classroom, we have built enough living machines to allow small groups of 4-5 students to each manage their own machine. Students can manipulate their machines in various ways and then observe the results. This model is extremely useful for demonstrating some of the ecosystem functions provided by our valuable wetland ecosystems. We performed two experiments during the Fall 2007 semester. The first was a fertilizer pollution experiment in which students compared the effects of a large single spill (point source pollutant) to continuous small over application of fertilizer (non-point source pollution). The second experiment involved an acid rain simulation and how the buffering capacity of different bedrocks can affect the acidification of wetlands.
The machines give us a unique opportunity to develop inquiry projects in this classroom. We try to guide the students to think about specific topics and course content, but they are largely in charge of the experiments. We are also using this project to address a major district goal of improving writing skills in our students. Each experiment culminates in some form of written summary that challenges the students' communication skills. For example, in the fertilizer experiment, students prepared a poster that contained all of the components of a typical lab report. Then we held a scientific poster session in which students rated each other's work.
This semester, we are continuing to implement and refine this project, and have been applying for several small grants to support its improvement. We are also preparing a manuscript for submission to Science Teacher about the project.
|
|
|
An example of a 3-celled living machine |
9th grade Physical Science students at Harper Creek building their own living machine |
Visit Harper Creek Community School's website
GK-12 Fellows
Partner Teachers
|
|
Sandy Erwin, Justin Kunkle, Steve Barry, and Amy Estry at the 2006 KBS K-12 Summer Institute. |
|
Harper Creek Middle School |
|
|
Alissa Ellis - ellisa@harpercreek.net |
|
|
|
Alissa Renner - rennera@harpercreek.net |
|
|
|
|
Harper Creek High School |
|
|
Steve Barry (Mentor) - barrys@harpercreek.net |
|
|
|
Sandra Erwin (Mentor) - erwins@harpercreek.net |
|
|
|
Amy Estry (Mentor) - estrya@harpercreek.net |
|
|
|
Emily Subers - suberse@harpercreek.net |
|
Lesson Plans
Ecology of disturbance: Implications for the water and nitrogen cycles
Abstract: Students will be introduced to using data in Excel, specifically in the context of how humans impact different natural processes. The exercise uses data from Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest to show the impacts of clear cutting on stream flow and nutrient dynamics. Students will make graphs and develop interpretations based on those graphs about the impact of humans on nitrogen and water cycling.
Files: Lesson Plan, Excel Data File, Extensions
Optimal Foraging
Abstract: This activity introduces the idea of foraging behavior and optimality, as well as the context dependence of behavior. After a short introduction, students will forage for candy in groups, and results from the initial activity will be the focus for further discussion.
Files: Optimal Foraging Lesson Plan, Optimal Foraging Worksheet
|