Overview & Lesson Sequence

Focus on Standards & Assessment

Materials Needed, Preparation & Planning, Management Strategies

Background Info

Intro Activity
Why Study Populations?

Meet the Aphids

Research Project
Aphid Population Growth

Data Analysis I

Data Analysis II

Optional Activity
The Power of Exponential Growth

References

Glossary

Suppliers

Resource Sheets

Great Gravidity Home

CISEO Home

Focus on Standards

Benchmarks for Science Literacy

Benchmark 7c, Social Change. The size and rate of growth of the human population in any location is affected by economic, political, religious, technological, and environmental factors. Some of these factors, in turn, are influenced by the size and rate of growth of the population.

Benchmark 9d, Uncertainty. The way data are displayed can make a big difference in how they are interpreted. A physical or mathematical model can be used to estimate the probability of real-world events.

National Science Education Standards

Content Standard A (9-12). As a result of activities in grades

9-12, all students should develop understandings and abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry, i.e.,

- identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigations;

- design and conduct scientific investigations;

- use technology and mathematics to improve investigations and communications;

- formulate and revise scientific explanations and models using logic and evidence;

- recognize and analyze alternative explanations and models; - communicate and defend a scientific argument.

Content Standard F (9-12). As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop an understanding of ... population growth, natural resources, environmental quality, ... and science and technology in local, national, and global challenges.

Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics

Standard 10, Statistics (9-12). The student will construct and draw inferences from charts, tables and graphs that summarize data from real-world situations and will transform data to aid in data interpretation and prediction.

Learning Objectives

The student will be able to:

• collect, analyze and use data to
• describe population growth.
• use proper laboratory techniques to establish and
• maintain a population of organisms.
• describe carrying capacity as the relationship between a
• population of organisms and its environment.
• interpret population growth
• rates using graphical analysis.
• predict a growth rate and test
• the prediction using research techniques

Prior Knowledge Needed

• some familiarity with insect anatomy, reproductive biology, and environmental needs.
• mathematics skills for data analysis and graphing.
• use of a dissecting microscope or magnifying lens.

Assessment

In order to gather information about what your students know and can do, we encourage you to use a variety of assessment tools such as: observe students while they are engaged in the activities, keep portfolios of each student's work, and evaluate their performance while completing new tasks such as drawing a concept map or engaging in a problem solving activity. You may want to use a checklist to help score their performance (see Observation Checklist) or create a rubric to help score their performance (see Rubric for Group Presentations). For more ideas and strategies for assessing your students see Authentic Assessment: A Handbook for Educators listed in the references at the end of this lesson.