Future of Agriculture Curriculum for Teaching Sustainability
Day-by-Day Schedule (tentative)
NOTE: This program has a new website. Please visit www.factsnsf.org for the most updated version of this work and curriculum.
For a summary of each classroom component and for the meaning of the acronyms, click here.
To return to the previous page, click here.
Week 1 Lab safety & The Scientist’s Question
Sept 3-7
Monday: No School
Tuesday: Course Intros, Rules & Norms
Wednesday: Lab Safety, Radish Seedling Lab Set-up
Thursday: Lab Safety Test; Discussion: Is the Earth Flat? (Media Literacy Exercise)
Friday: Intro to SCE; What is Science? Scientist’s Question
Week 2 Matter & Energy
Sept 10-14
Monday: Collect radish seed data. Data Dive: Where does the mass of seedlings come from? Analysis and What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion. Explaining a hydroponic plant (Carbon Cycling).
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Matter & Energy Notes & Convergence Discussion w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Mealworm Mass Lab (where does the weight of food go?) Set up fermenter ecosystems (algae & krill shrimp; some are later heated to simulate CC or have introduced pollutants). ID’ing parts of the fermenter ecosystem.
Thursday: Assessment: Short Individual Quiz (SIQ) and Group Quiz (GQ): Trophy Bucks & Big Bears: Explaining the 10% Rule (Predators vs. Prey):
Friday: Weekly Reflection. Weekly Wrap-up/4 Claims: Can a plant survive in a sealed jar? SCE: Career Profiles
Week 3 Cell Biology & Carbon Cycling
Sept 17-21
Monday: Set-up Bug Biodiversity Lab & And What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion
Tuesday: Intro – Newspaper Nat. Selection. Nutshell Video. What is Biodiversity Notes & Convergence Discussion w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Bug Biodiversity Completion (bug traps are collected prior to class) & Discussion. Collaborative Project – Amazon for Ecosystem Services.
Thursday: SIQ & GQ – Where does biodiversity come from? Why do we care about biodiversity?
Friday: Bell-Ringer Weekly Reflection. Weekly Wrap-up/4 Claims: Is biodiversity needed? SCE: College Profiles
Week 4 Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services, and Ecosystem Resilience & Fragility
Sept 24-28
Monday: Data Dive – What Makes an Ecosystem Fragile? Are our fermenter ecosystems fragile? What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Notes & Discussion w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Assessing fermenter ecosystems. CTIME Meadow/Farm Simulations
Thursday: Group Quiz – what makes an ecosystem resilient or fragile?
Friday: Weekly Reflection. Weekly Wrap-up/4 Claims: Why are some ecosystems so fragile? Make-up Day. Meetings w/ at-risk students.
Week 5 Biodiversity & Habitats
Oct 1-5
Monday: Data Dive – Where/when is biodiversity the highest? Hypothesis Formation & Discussion
Tuesday: Data Collection – Habitat Quadrat Lab (Edge)
Wednesday: Data Collection – Habitat Quadrat Lab (Interior)
Thursday: Data Analysis & Development of Reports/Presentations
Friday: Weekly Reflection. Data Presentation & Broader Themes (e.g. farms, habitats, and edge/corridors)
Week 6 Midterm
Oct 8-12
Monday: Jigsaw Review of Weeks 2-5
Tuesday: Habitat Assessment Report Part 1: How does our ecosystem function at the cellular and atomic levels? (matter cycles and energy flow)
Wednesday: Habitat Assessment Report Part 2: What benefits does our ecosystem provide and what species provide them? (biodiversity and ecosystem services) What is threatening our ecosystem? (resilience & fragility)
Thursday: Assessment Reports Due; Individual Midterm
Friday: Make-up Day & SCE Reflections. Meetings w/ at-risk students.
Week 7 Extinctions
Oct 15-19
Monday: Species Obituaries Data Dive – How many species are we losing? Why? What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Extinction Notes and Convergence Discussion – How bad are rates of extinction currently? w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Bell-ringer: Current Rates of Extinction. Habitat Assessment – are the ‘4 Horsemen’ present in our habitat?
Thursday: SIQ & GQ -
Friday: Weekly Reflection. Weekly Wrap-up/4 Claims: How bad is extinction currently? SCE: Intro to Resumes
Week 8 Habitat Loss
Oct 22-26
Monday: Gonzalez Research Data Dive – How does habitat fragmentation affect biodiversity? What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Habitat Loss Notes & Convergence Discussion – How does habitat loss cause extinction? w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Succession & Fragmentation Analysis – What is happening to our school’s habitat?
Thursday: SIQ & GQ – Farms, Roads, Subdivisions, and Habitat
Friday: Weekly Reflection. SCE: Peer Review of Resumes. DIG – How does habitat loss relate to our careers?
Week 9 Invasive Species
Oct 29-Nov2
Monday: Gausse Research Data Dive - Competitive Exclusion Principle: How do invasives relate to competition? What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Invasive Species Notes & Discussion – Invasives Jig Saw w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Invasive Species Census – Do we have a problem in our habitat? What can I do or not do?
Thursday: SIQ & GQ – What American Species Could Become Invasive? And Why? And How?
Friday: Weekly Reflection. Weekly Wrap-up/4 Claims: Why Species Become Invasive. SCE: Intro to Cover Letters
Week 10 Land & Water Pollution
Nov 5-9
Monday: Data Dive – Historical vs. Modern Case Studies of Pollution & Discussion: Is pollution getting better or worse? What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Pollution Notes & Discussion – What is pollution and how does it work? w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Water Testing Lab
Thursday: SIQ & GQ - How healthy is our fishing pond?
Friday: Weekly Reflection. SCE: Peer Review of Cover Letters. DIG – How does pollution relate to our careers?
Week 11 Atmospheric Pollution
Nov 12-16
Monday: Return to Flat-Earthers’ Evidence Debate w/ a “too many coats” demo. Data Dive – Jigsaw/Gallery Walk of CO2 & heat, Vostok, Keeling, Mendota. What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion (w/ disclaimer and reminders about Scientist’s Question).
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Atmospheric Pollution Notes, and Convergence Discussion
Wednesday: Tabletop Greenhouse Effect & School Bus Carbon Footprints
Thursday: SIQ and GQ
Friday: Weekly Reflection. Weekly Wrap-up/4 Claims: Climate Change Skeptics. DIG – How does atmospheric pollution relate to our careers?
Week 12 Overharvesting
Nov 19-23
Monday: Data Dive – When will the ocean run out of big fish? What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Overharvesting Notes, and Convergence Discussion w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Fish Game & Explanation of TOC
Thursday: SIQ and GQ – Why do we overharvest?
Friday: Weekly Reflection. SCE: Job Interviews and Group Discussion & Reflection on Experiences
Week 13 Midterm
Nov 26-30
Monday: Jigsaw Review of Weeks 7-12
Tuesday: Individual Midterm
Wednesday: Group Midterm: Big Idea Questions on Ecosystem Disturbances & Extinction
Thursday: Thanksgiving
Friday: Black Friday
Week 14 Natural Resources Management
Dec 3-7
Monday: Data Dive – How do human interventions help habitats, biodiversity, and ecosystem function? What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, NR Management Notes, and Convergence Discussion w/ WCRs
Wednesday: SCE Career Day – Careers in NR/Env Sci (Guest Speakers, ideally from SIGs)
Thursday: GQ – Habitat Preservation & Management - Can we create a sustainable deer habitat?
Friday: Weekly Reflection. DIG – How does this relate to our careers?
Week 15 Societies & Sustainability
Dec 10-14
Monday: Data Dive – How much water does it take to watch TV? And Discussion on impact of human lifestyles
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Sustainability & Society Notes, and Convergence Discussion
Wednesday: Group Case Studies of Societal Change (i.e. examples of how we became more sustainable)
Thursday: Group Presentations of Case Studies of Societal Change
Friday: Weekly Reflection. Weekly Wrap-up/4 Claims: How feasible is it for Americans to be more sustainable?
Week 16 Changing Society & Personal Changes
Dec 17-21
Monday: Data dive – How sustainable is my lifestyle? And discussion.
Tuesday: Jigsaw – The Sustainability of Modern Lifestyles w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Presentation of Jigsaw
Thursday: Weekly Reflection.
Friday: Weekly Reflection. Completion of SCE Portfolios and Make-up Day
Week 17 DIG Personal Campaigns – What can we do? And why should we? (w/ justification from class material & content).
Jan 1-4
Monday: New Year’s Eve
Tuesday: New Year’s Day
Wednesday: Introduction to Personal Campaigns Project
Thursday: Planning the Personal Campaigns
Friday: Worktime on Personal Campaigns; SCE Exit Interviews
Week 18 DIG Personal Campaigns – What can we do? And why should we? (w/ justification from class material & content).
Jan 7-11
Monday: Worktime on Personal Campaigns; SCE Exit Interviews
Tuesday: Worktime on Personal Campaigns; SCE Exit Interviews
Wednesday: Worktime on Personal Campaigns; SCE Exit Interviews
Thursday: Presentations of Personal Campaigns
Friday: Final Course Discussion – What will the future look like?
Week 19 Final Exam
Jan 14-18
To return to the previous page, click here.
For a summary of each classroom component and for the meaning of the acronyms, click here.
To return to the previous page, click here.
Week 1 Lab safety & The Scientist’s Question
Sept 3-7
Monday: No School
Tuesday: Course Intros, Rules & Norms
Wednesday: Lab Safety, Radish Seedling Lab Set-up
Thursday: Lab Safety Test; Discussion: Is the Earth Flat? (Media Literacy Exercise)
Friday: Intro to SCE; What is Science? Scientist’s Question
Week 2 Matter & Energy
Sept 10-14
Monday: Collect radish seed data. Data Dive: Where does the mass of seedlings come from? Analysis and What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion. Explaining a hydroponic plant (Carbon Cycling).
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Matter & Energy Notes & Convergence Discussion w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Mealworm Mass Lab (where does the weight of food go?) Set up fermenter ecosystems (algae & krill shrimp; some are later heated to simulate CC or have introduced pollutants). ID’ing parts of the fermenter ecosystem.
Thursday: Assessment: Short Individual Quiz (SIQ) and Group Quiz (GQ): Trophy Bucks & Big Bears: Explaining the 10% Rule (Predators vs. Prey):
Friday: Weekly Reflection. Weekly Wrap-up/4 Claims: Can a plant survive in a sealed jar? SCE: Career Profiles
Week 3 Cell Biology & Carbon Cycling
Sept 17-21
Monday: Set-up Bug Biodiversity Lab & And What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion
Tuesday: Intro – Newspaper Nat. Selection. Nutshell Video. What is Biodiversity Notes & Convergence Discussion w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Bug Biodiversity Completion (bug traps are collected prior to class) & Discussion. Collaborative Project – Amazon for Ecosystem Services.
Thursday: SIQ & GQ – Where does biodiversity come from? Why do we care about biodiversity?
Friday: Bell-Ringer Weekly Reflection. Weekly Wrap-up/4 Claims: Is biodiversity needed? SCE: College Profiles
Week 4 Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services, and Ecosystem Resilience & Fragility
Sept 24-28
Monday: Data Dive – What Makes an Ecosystem Fragile? Are our fermenter ecosystems fragile? What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Notes & Discussion w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Assessing fermenter ecosystems. CTIME Meadow/Farm Simulations
Thursday: Group Quiz – what makes an ecosystem resilient or fragile?
Friday: Weekly Reflection. Weekly Wrap-up/4 Claims: Why are some ecosystems so fragile? Make-up Day. Meetings w/ at-risk students.
Week 5 Biodiversity & Habitats
Oct 1-5
Monday: Data Dive – Where/when is biodiversity the highest? Hypothesis Formation & Discussion
Tuesday: Data Collection – Habitat Quadrat Lab (Edge)
Wednesday: Data Collection – Habitat Quadrat Lab (Interior)
Thursday: Data Analysis & Development of Reports/Presentations
Friday: Weekly Reflection. Data Presentation & Broader Themes (e.g. farms, habitats, and edge/corridors)
Week 6 Midterm
Oct 8-12
Monday: Jigsaw Review of Weeks 2-5
Tuesday: Habitat Assessment Report Part 1: How does our ecosystem function at the cellular and atomic levels? (matter cycles and energy flow)
Wednesday: Habitat Assessment Report Part 2: What benefits does our ecosystem provide and what species provide them? (biodiversity and ecosystem services) What is threatening our ecosystem? (resilience & fragility)
Thursday: Assessment Reports Due; Individual Midterm
Friday: Make-up Day & SCE Reflections. Meetings w/ at-risk students.
Week 7 Extinctions
Oct 15-19
Monday: Species Obituaries Data Dive – How many species are we losing? Why? What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Extinction Notes and Convergence Discussion – How bad are rates of extinction currently? w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Bell-ringer: Current Rates of Extinction. Habitat Assessment – are the ‘4 Horsemen’ present in our habitat?
Thursday: SIQ & GQ -
Friday: Weekly Reflection. Weekly Wrap-up/4 Claims: How bad is extinction currently? SCE: Intro to Resumes
Week 8 Habitat Loss
Oct 22-26
Monday: Gonzalez Research Data Dive – How does habitat fragmentation affect biodiversity? What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Habitat Loss Notes & Convergence Discussion – How does habitat loss cause extinction? w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Succession & Fragmentation Analysis – What is happening to our school’s habitat?
Thursday: SIQ & GQ – Farms, Roads, Subdivisions, and Habitat
Friday: Weekly Reflection. SCE: Peer Review of Resumes. DIG – How does habitat loss relate to our careers?
Week 9 Invasive Species
Oct 29-Nov2
Monday: Gausse Research Data Dive - Competitive Exclusion Principle: How do invasives relate to competition? What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Invasive Species Notes & Discussion – Invasives Jig Saw w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Invasive Species Census – Do we have a problem in our habitat? What can I do or not do?
Thursday: SIQ & GQ – What American Species Could Become Invasive? And Why? And How?
Friday: Weekly Reflection. Weekly Wrap-up/4 Claims: Why Species Become Invasive. SCE: Intro to Cover Letters
Week 10 Land & Water Pollution
Nov 5-9
Monday: Data Dive – Historical vs. Modern Case Studies of Pollution & Discussion: Is pollution getting better or worse? What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Pollution Notes & Discussion – What is pollution and how does it work? w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Water Testing Lab
Thursday: SIQ & GQ - How healthy is our fishing pond?
Friday: Weekly Reflection. SCE: Peer Review of Cover Letters. DIG – How does pollution relate to our careers?
Week 11 Atmospheric Pollution
Nov 12-16
Monday: Return to Flat-Earthers’ Evidence Debate w/ a “too many coats” demo. Data Dive – Jigsaw/Gallery Walk of CO2 & heat, Vostok, Keeling, Mendota. What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion (w/ disclaimer and reminders about Scientist’s Question).
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Atmospheric Pollution Notes, and Convergence Discussion
Wednesday: Tabletop Greenhouse Effect & School Bus Carbon Footprints
Thursday: SIQ and GQ
Friday: Weekly Reflection. Weekly Wrap-up/4 Claims: Climate Change Skeptics. DIG – How does atmospheric pollution relate to our careers?
Week 12 Overharvesting
Nov 19-23
Monday: Data Dive – When will the ocean run out of big fish? What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Overharvesting Notes, and Convergence Discussion w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Fish Game & Explanation of TOC
Thursday: SIQ and GQ – Why do we overharvest?
Friday: Weekly Reflection. SCE: Job Interviews and Group Discussion & Reflection on Experiences
Week 13 Midterm
Nov 26-30
Monday: Jigsaw Review of Weeks 7-12
Tuesday: Individual Midterm
Wednesday: Group Midterm: Big Idea Questions on Ecosystem Disturbances & Extinction
Thursday: Thanksgiving
Friday: Black Friday
Week 14 Natural Resources Management
Dec 3-7
Monday: Data Dive – How do human interventions help habitats, biodiversity, and ecosystem function? What Do We Know/Not Know Discussion
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, NR Management Notes, and Convergence Discussion w/ WCRs
Wednesday: SCE Career Day – Careers in NR/Env Sci (Guest Speakers, ideally from SIGs)
Thursday: GQ – Habitat Preservation & Management - Can we create a sustainable deer habitat?
Friday: Weekly Reflection. DIG – How does this relate to our careers?
Week 15 Societies & Sustainability
Dec 10-14
Monday: Data Dive – How much water does it take to watch TV? And Discussion on impact of human lifestyles
Tuesday: Nutshell Video, Sustainability & Society Notes, and Convergence Discussion
Wednesday: Group Case Studies of Societal Change (i.e. examples of how we became more sustainable)
Thursday: Group Presentations of Case Studies of Societal Change
Friday: Weekly Reflection. Weekly Wrap-up/4 Claims: How feasible is it for Americans to be more sustainable?
Week 16 Changing Society & Personal Changes
Dec 17-21
Monday: Data dive – How sustainable is my lifestyle? And discussion.
Tuesday: Jigsaw – The Sustainability of Modern Lifestyles w/ WCRs
Wednesday: Presentation of Jigsaw
Thursday: Weekly Reflection.
Friday: Weekly Reflection. Completion of SCE Portfolios and Make-up Day
Week 17 DIG Personal Campaigns – What can we do? And why should we? (w/ justification from class material & content).
Jan 1-4
Monday: New Year’s Eve
Tuesday: New Year’s Day
Wednesday: Introduction to Personal Campaigns Project
Thursday: Planning the Personal Campaigns
Friday: Worktime on Personal Campaigns; SCE Exit Interviews
Week 18 DIG Personal Campaigns – What can we do? And why should we? (w/ justification from class material & content).
Jan 7-11
Monday: Worktime on Personal Campaigns; SCE Exit Interviews
Tuesday: Worktime on Personal Campaigns; SCE Exit Interviews
Wednesday: Worktime on Personal Campaigns; SCE Exit Interviews
Thursday: Presentations of Personal Campaigns
Friday: Final Course Discussion – What will the future look like?
Week 19 Final Exam
Jan 14-18
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