A seagull flies over the California Coastal National Monument which stretches along the entire coast of California and extends 12 miles into the Pacific Ocean. The Monument includes 20,000 rocks, islands, pinnacles and reefs.
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Teacher resources: Ecosystems

Ecosystems In Your Backyard, In Your World
(Classroom Activities from Science & Children, Nov/Dec 1994, pp 38 - 39)
Sixteen ideas for teaching ecosystem science topics in the classroom, including developing a field guide to local trees, conducting experiments on succession and acid rain, and investigating schoolyard micro-habitats.
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/understanding_ecosystem_management/posterback.html

Understanding Ecosystem Management
(Based on Science & Children article, November/December 1994)
Article includes concepts such as biodiversity, balance, scale, and connections and discusses how managers apply ecosystem principles in managing natural resources on public lands; includes poster and classroom activities.
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/understanding_ecosystem_management/index.html
 
All Shapes and Sizes
(Classroom Activity from Science & Children, March 1998, p. 39)
Students describe and analyze landscapes at various scales to draw different conclusions in this activity.
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/Columbia_river_basin/classroom.html
 
Watersheds All Around, Scavenger Hunt
(Classroom Activity from Science & Children, March 1998, p. 39)
In these two activities students explore what a watershed is and how it works by simulating a watershed in the classroom and then making observations outside.
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/Columbia_river_basin/classroom.html
 
A Great Basin Full of Activities
(Science & Children, May 1995, 31 - 32)
A dozen activities on Great Basin ecology and management, covering effects of salt on plants, water conservation and evaporation rates.
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/the_big_empty/classroom.html
 
Environmental Technology is an Ancient Science
(Based on Science & Children article, May 1993 pp. 21 - 28)
Explains ancient methods of adapting to dry climates employed by a thriving agricultural community along the Rio Ojo Caliente in New Mexico 500 years ago. Includes poster and classroom activities.
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/hupobi/index.html
 
The Big Empty: The Great Basin Ecosystem
(Science & Children, May 1995, 25 - 32)
Explores diverse ecology of Great Basin, and ecosystem management approach for desert environment. Includes activities and poster.
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/the_big_empty/index.html
 
Join the Club
(Science & Children, March 1997, p. 35)
Students join one of four "clubs" representing different adaptation methods used by desert plants and research plant members of the club.
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/some_like_it_hot/classroom.html
 
Keeping Cool
(Classroom Activity from Science & Children, Feb 2001 poster back)
In this activity, students test the effectiveness of various ways animals keep cool in desert environments.
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/mojave/mojaveposterback2.html - Anchor-3936
 
Life in the Desert
(Classroom Activity from Science & Children, March 1999, p. 39)
In this activity, students practice water conservation techniques similar to those a desert animal might employ to cope with scarce and unpredictable water sources.
http://www.blm.gov/education/colplateau/classroom/ - Life%20in%20the%20Desert
 
Mapping Deserts
(Classroom Activity from Science & Children, Feb. 2001, p. 33)
In this activity, students research, map and report on the world's deserts, including subtropical, coastal, interior, and rain shadow deserts. Correlated to National Geography Standard.
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/mystery_of_the_mesa/classroom.html
 
Planning a Conservation Community
(Science & Children, March 1997, 35)
Students create a desert community that protects important desert resources; a set of questions guides their design.
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/some_like_it_hot/classroom.html
 
The Mojave Desert: A Place in the Sun
(Based on Science & Children article, February 2001)
Examines the rich, complex and fragile ecosystem of the Mojave Desert. Focuses on the plants and animals and the diversity of life and habitats contained.
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/mojave/index.html
 
The Question in Brookdale
(Science & Children, March 1997, posterback)
By role-playing, students learn the complexities of accommodating competing demands of desert land use while protecting resources.
...and on the same webpage:
Waxy Leaves
(Science & Children, March 1997, posterback)
Activity illustrates how waxy leaves prevent water from escaping and help desert plants retain moisture.
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/some_like_it_hot/posterback.html
 
Planning a Conservation Community
(Science & Children, March 1997, 35)
Students create a desert community that protects important desert resources; a set of questions guides their design.
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_resources/articles/some_like_it_hot/classroom.html
 

   
Last updated: 04-26-2007