Wyoming Science HS-LS2-7
The Standard
Evaluate and assess impacts on the environment and biodiversity in order to refine or design a solution for detrimental impacts or enhancement for positive impacts.
2023 Wyoming Science Content and Performance Standards · LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students use data to see how an activity changes a habitat and the species living there. They compare possible fixes, then design or improve one based on evidence.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can use insect counts to explain how runoff may affect a stream. They can choose a fix, name a possible drawback, and say what they would measure to see if it works.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may assume clear water always supports more species. They may also think adding plants guarantees more biodiversity, or propose a fix without checking its effects.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: A stream has 12 insect species upstream of a parking lot drain, 4 downstream, and 9 downstream where runoff passes through a planted buffer. Ask students to suggest one change to the buffer, cite two counts, and name one possible drawback.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Pour equal amounts of water over two soil trays, one bare and one covered with leaves, then compare runoff clarity in clear cups.
Write: A stream had 12 insect species before construction and 4 after; which runoff fix would you test, and why?
Give groups 10 tokens and cards for drain filters (2), rain gardens (4), and pavement removal (6); have them choose and justify a plan.
Sketch the school parking lot, mark where runoff would flow, and propose a spot for a planted strip to protect nearby habitat.
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Printable HS-LS2-7 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to HS-LS2-7, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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Related Standards
- HS-LS4-6
Create and/or use a simulation to evaluate the impacts of human activity on biodiversity.
- MS-ETS2-2
Develop a model defining and prioritizing the impacts of human activity on a particular aspect of the environment, identifying positive and negative consequence...
- MS-ESS3-3
Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring, evaluating, and managing a human impact on the environment.
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