Our Living Environment

From OER in Education
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Our Living Environment1.png
Wise up on ecology

About. Our Living Environment is a study module offering a 'fresh perspective' on studying the environment. It starts by introducing vocabulary and the animals and plants that inhabit ponds, woodlands and compost heaps. Its scientific approach looks behind the obvious to show why the energy, and carbon also, flows through these different environments. Later, the booklet looks at some controversial environmental issues, asking finally about 'the future'.

Pedagogical content. This study module, an online booklet, deals with the particular ways of thinking about and studying of the environment. It is a useful homework(ta) resource to encourage pupils to engage with key scientific vocabulary(ta) and use their knowledge of the scientific method(ta) to engage with inquiry(ta) learning. (edit)

Resource details
Title Our Living Environment
Topic [[Topics/Environment|Environment]]
Teaching approach

[[Teaching Approaches/Homework|Homework]],  [[Teaching Approaches/Language|Language]],  [[Teaching Approaches/Inquiry|Inquiry]],  [[Teaching Approaches/Scientific method|Scientific method]]

Learning Objectives

Students should understand that:

  • scientific texts have different styles and some can be be difficult to read,
  • like all specialist subject, science has its own jargon, and it takes time to learn this new vocabulary.

Students should be more able to:

  • set up a study folder to accompany their studies,
  • make notes from audio presentations.
Format / structure

10 PDF

Subject

[[Resources/Science|Science]]

Age of students / grade

[[Resources/NA|NA]],  [[Resources/Secondary|Secondary]],  [[Resources/Primary|Primary]],  [[Resources/Higher|Higher]]

Table of contents

Chapter 1: What is this module about?
Chapter 2: The environment and ecology
Chapter 3: Looking at ponds and woodlands
Chapter 4: Energy flow
Chapter 5: Thinking in terms of cycles
Chapter 6: Thinking about animal populations
Chapter 7: What of the future?
References
Acknowledgements

Useful information

Part of the Breakthrough to Mathematics, Science and Technology Series.


Files and resources to view and download

This external resource is a 75 page booklet, presented as a series of ten smaller PDF files. Work down the page at this link to read each section in turn. http://labspace.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=426185&section=1.2.4

Preview of one file of ten