Investigating Biodiversity and Interdependence

Grade 7 in the ISEC Program (Year 1)

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What are organisms? What do they need to survive, and how do they reproduce and pass their
characteristics to their offspring? How do scientists name and group organisms for identification?
Students uncover the answers to these questions and more as Investigating Biodiversity and
Interdependence introduces them to the structure, function, and diversity of living things.

As students perform a series of hands-on, thought-provoking activities, they clarify what they already
know about organisms and expand their knowledge about the structure and diversity of three particular
groupsanimals, protists, and fungithrough the study of representative organisms. Although these
organisms seem to be dissimilar, students discover that they share many common features. Students also
study humans as organismsmembers of the kingdom Animaliaand their experience of life processes
that other organisms undergo.

Each lesson in this module builds on skills and concepts presented in previous lessons. As students
progress through the module, they take greater responsibility for their own learning, eventually planning
and conducting their own procedures, devising their own data tables, and analyzing the results they
obtain. Each unit begins with an assessment of students current understanding of the topic and ends with
performance-based and written assessments.

Investigating Biodiversity and Interdependence is divided into two parts. The first part, which sets the
stage for the entire unit, is titled Structure and Function, and the second part is titled Diversity.

During Structure and Function, students first share what they already know about organisms, discussing
traits they believe to be common among all living things, and demonstrate their observational skills. They
learn how to assign genus and species names to organisms, and practice microscope skills while
observing a variety of organisms. Students also construct pond ecosystems, study them with and without
magnification, then revisit the ponds after a few weeks to observe changes that may have occurred. The
first part of Investigating Biodiversity and Interdependence concludes with students acquainting
themselves with algal, plant, and animal cells and their components.

In Diversity, the second part of this unit, students use microscopes to observe, draw, and label the
organelles and movements of four living protists. They explore the physical effects of various solutions
on Daphnia, then observe the Hydras feeding habits. Later, students investigate mold formation, follow
the progress of a fungal garden over several weeks, and study yeast cell activity.

During the second part of the unit, students work on a group research project called the Exploration
Activity. This project gives them an opportunity to investigate additional organisms. Students research the
structure and function of various parts of a vertebrate, and identify and describe the components of its
habitat. They present their findings to the class at the conclusion of the unit.

Through Investigating Biodiversity and Interdependence, students become more acquainted with a variety
of living organisms, including themselves, and come to appreciate the processes that underpin life.