The purpose of this unit of study is for students to understand that our planet has a system to support life.  This system is no real mystery.  The essential needs for human life are provided by organisms and their interactions with non-living substances.  Energy from the sun is interconnected with our food source, water cycle, carbon cycle and nitrogen cycle.  The system is very complicated.  Humans have impacted this system because of their needs and wants. Students will research situations to attempt to find tradeoffs to keep the system healthy.  The lessons in this unit address the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks in Science and Technology, Language Arts, and Instructional Technology.

There are three major sections to this unit.  They are listed below and linked to the beginning  of each section.  While there are three separate sections, the knowledge that is learned in the each section is the base for understanding in the next sections.  

If you are interested in the sequence of the lessons and the connection to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, please use the link "Teachers".

Return to Special Projects