Diversity of Angiosperms on Campus Lab – Scientific Argumentation Activity

Lesson Plan Part 2

Students will read the following web article:

Discuss the Threats to Biodiversity

Extinction is a natural part of life on Earth. Over the history of the planet most of the species that ever existed, evolved and then gradually went extinct. Species go extinct because of natural shifts in the environment that take place over long periods of time, such as ice ages.

Today,species are going extinct at an accelerated and dangerous rate, because of non-natural environmental changes caused by human activities. Some of the activities have direct effects on species and ecosystems, such as:

  • Habitat loss/ degradation
  • Over exploitation(such as overfishing)
  • Spreadof Non-native Species/Diseases

Some human activities have indirect but wide-reaching effects on biodiversity, including:

  • Climate change
  • Pollution

All of these threats have put a serious strain on the diversity of species on Earth. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), globally about one third of all known species are threatened with extinction. That includes 29% of all amphibians, 21% of all mammals and 12% of all birds. If we do not stop the threats to biodiversity, we could be facing another mass extinction with dire consequences to the environment and human health and livelihood.

Student assignment:

Students will pick one of the direct or indirect human activities that have an effect on biodiversity. Students will fill out and turn in the Argumentation Graphic Organizer

-Make a claim

-Provide 3 pieces of evidence

-Draw conclusion based on claim

-Cite sources in APA format

DIVERSTIY OF ANGIOSPERMS SCIENCTIFIC ARGUMENTATION LAB

Name ______Date ______Block______

Claim
Evidence 1 / Reasoning 1
Evidence 2 / Reasoning 2
Evidence 3 / Reasoning 3

Create a model based on the evidenced you gathered.

Argument:

______

Citations

1.

2.

3.