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Investigating Science Practices in Serengeti: Nature’s Living Laboratory

A map of vegetation and wildebeest locations highlighting the wildebeest moving toward an area of greater vegetation.

Topic

  • Math & Computational Skills
  • Data Analysis
  • Scientific Skills & Literacy
  • Science as a Social Process
  • Explanations & Argumentation

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Lessons

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
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Description

In this activity, students engage in key science practices that scientists used to figure out ecosystem dynamics in the Serengeti.

Students first carefully observe a phenomenon, then work through what is happening in the Serengeti by using the science practices to answer investigative questions. The science practices in this activity are the eight NGSS Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) as outlined in the Framework for K-12 Science Education.

Each section of the “Student Handout” corresponds to one of the eight SEPs. This activity uses video clips from the short film Serengeti: Nature’s Living Laboratory and card sets from the activity “Using Three-Dimensional Learning Cards in the Science Classroom.”

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.

Student Learning Targets

  • Make observations and develop explanations of phenomena.
  • Model how scientists use science practices and work together across different science domains.
  • Use science practices in a way that demonstrates their interdependence.

Estimated Time

Two to three 50-minute class periods.

Key Terms

argument, computational thinking, data, evidence, explanation, investigation, model, prediction

Primary Literature

National Research Council. 2012. A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/13165.
 
NGSS Lead States. 2013. Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://www.nextgenscience.org/.
 

Terms of Use

The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. No rights are granted to use HHMI’s or BioInteractive’s names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 01.06.23

NGSS 2013

HS-LS2-1; SEP 1-8

AP Biology 2019

ENE-4.B, ENE-4.C, SYI-1.G, SYI-2.B; SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4, SP6

IB Biology 2016

4.1, C.1, C.2, C.5

AP Environmental Science 2020

Topic(s): 1.1, 1.11, 2.5, 2.7, 3.4, 3.5

Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-1.A, ENG-1.D, ERT-2.G, ERT-2.I, ERT-3.D, ERT-3.F; SP1, SP2, SP4, SP5
 

IB Environmental Systems and Societies 2017

2.1, 2.2, 2.5

Common Core 2010

ELA.RST.9-12.7

Vision and Change 2009

CC5; DP1, DP2, DP4 

Materials

Resource Google Folder (Link)
Educator Materials (PDF) 406 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 1 MB
Transcript (PDF) 241 KB

Additional Materials

  • SEP and CCC cards
  • access to video clips on YouTube

Use This Resource With

Video Resource
Serengeti: Nature’s Living Laboratory
Activity Resource
Using Three-Dimensional Learning Cards in the Science Classroom

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About the Serengeti

Showing of
Photo of wildebeest on the Serengeti plain
Phenomenal Images
Wildebeest Populations
Photo of a herd of wildebeest preparing to cross a river.
Case Studies
Population Regulation in the Serengeti
Wildebeest population graph from the interactive
Data Points
Serengeti Wildebeest Population Regulation
Chart from the paper
Data Points
Patterns of Predation
Photo of a wildebeest grazing
Card Activities
Nutrient Cycling in the Serengeti
Photo of buffalo grazing on grassland.
Scientists at Work
Mystery of the Buffalo Boom
Photo of wildebeest silhouetted by the setting sun
Short Films
Serengeti: Nature’s Living Laboratory

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