Learning objectives
At the completion of this unit, pupils should be able to:
- Develop observation and interpretation skills
- Formulate their own questions and hypothesis
- Plan, carry out and report on an investigation that can answer their question/ hypothesis
- Specify the dependent, independent and control variables of their designed experiment
- Learn how to record and present data in a table and graph format
- Consider the limitations of the methodology
- Discuss and evaluate both the validity and the reliability of the outcomes of their designed experiments
- Consider conservation of endangered plant species
- Learn relevant ecological terminology
- Consider safety and ethical issues
- Estimate the density of an endangered plant species in a named ecosystem
- Suggest how conservation of specific endangered species can take place.
- Design and perform an experiment for investigating the effect of temperature or any other specifically selected abiotic factor on the development of seeds of a selected plant or its seedlings that can be find in the ecosystem under investigation
- Inquire about the construction of a greenhouse
- Identify living organisms in the local ecosystem
- Construct keys using common features of organisms
- Inquire about scientific classification –taxonomy- of organisms
- Inquire about the life cycle of a living organism
- Inquire about the role of an organism in the ecosystem
- Use genetics to identify common features of organisms
- Discuss the theory of evolution based on DNA homologies
- Learn how to draw a biological diagram using a flower from their local ecosystem
- Understand the significance of biological magnification
- Relate the structure of a flower to seed production, whilst learning relevant terminology, such as, pollination, fertilization. To identify pollen grains using microscopy
- Understand the structure of seeds
- Evaluate the methods used by seed banks in the conservation of endangered plants
- Inquire about the life cycle of a named insect and its role in pollination
- Collect pollen from flowers and observe them under a microscope
- Inquire about the effects of Global warming in seasonal flowering, pollination and seed biology
- Design and perform an experiment to investigate the time that they can store selected seeds
- Implement an appropriate methodology for safely obtaining a plant extract
- Investigate the effect of different plant extracts/ antibiotics on bacteria
It is not the intention that pupils should work on each learning objective in turn, but that the pupils should develop their basic skills in science by carrying out an inquiry-based project.