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Overview
Arizona is a diverse state with many different biotic communities. Biotic communities are created by differences in elevation and climate. Because of these differences, each community can have different plants and animals that are adapted to survive there. In this lesson, students use different maps of Arizona to locate and identify the different biotic communities. Then, the students will develop a question and a hypothesis dealing with animal distribution around the state, and use online resources to find evidence to support or reject their hypothesis.
Suggested Grade Levels
9-12
Time Frame
9 days (45 minutes each day)
Enduring Understandings
After completing the activities contained in this lesson, the student should
understand these basic concepts:
- A number of characteristics, including elevation and climate, are used to divide Arizona into regions called biotic communities.
- Because of its diverse range of elevations, Arizona has numerous biotic communities and tremendous natural diversity.
- Each biotic community in Arizona has unique plants and animals that are adapted to survive in that particular environment.
- Maps come in various types, including thematic (rainfall, population, vegetation) and topographic.
Arizona Department of Education Standards
This lesson was designed to present an integrated approach to learning. Not only will the students be introduced to science concepts dealing specifically with biotic communities, but they will also perform use the Internet for basic research and carry out an inquiry investigation. Although the lesson plan includes the specific performance objectives, the following general concepts are covered:
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Grade Level |
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High School |
| Science |
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| 4 |
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| Technology |
1 |
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| 3 |
x |
| 4 |
x |
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Download This Unit
This lesson is available in a standard PDF form:
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