Investigating Science Practices in Serengeti: Nature’s Living Laboratory
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
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)
Version History
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