What makes some creatures die and others survive? |
There is a crisis on the Galapagos Island of Daphne Major: Large numbers of finches are dying off. To find out why, students investigate the various components of a complex ecosystem, and whether there is a pattern that explains how some of the animals have managed to survive. The unit is divided into four main phases: |
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 | Setting the Stage: To provide students with a solid grounding in island ecosystems, the unit begins with students discovering characteristics of islands in general. They then focus on the Galapagos Islands in particular. |
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| An Island in Crisis: The crisis on the island is introduced and students brainstorm about possible causes. A video provides more background on the Galapagos, and shows how scientists study animal populations in an ecosystem. A graphing activity provides first-hand experience with the kind of data that will be available in the software and builds data interpretation and graphing skills. |
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| Scientific Investigations: The computer investigation is the core of the unit. Using a rich dataset from Daphne Major, students work in teams to explore the characteristics of the island, such as plant growth and weather. They also research the physical and behavioral characteristics of the specific animals under threat and look for patterns that help explain the effects of the crisis. |
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| Presenting Scientific Findings: Finally, students make posters that show key findings of their investigations and they summarize their conclusions in an oral presentation. |
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This curriculum is supported by The Galapagos Finches software, which provides an interactive database students can use to examine background information about the island. Using this database, they can read through field notes and examine quantitative data about the characteristics of the island's species. The computer investigation and the activities that surround it provide a rich context for learning about geography, ecology, and natural selection. |
The Galapagos Finches is available for the Macintosh platform. Please check here for hardware and system requirements. Please contact Lou-Ellen Finn or Chandra James at 847-491-5420 to learn more about the software and curriculum materials for this unit. If you want to find out more about it, go to BGuILE (Biology Guided Inquiry Learning Environment) project website. |
Please click on these thumbnails to see screenshots of this software: |
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