I teach fifth grade at Nathan Hale School in New Haven, Connecticut. My fifth-grade classroom is composed of a diverse, multicultural community of learners that encompass a wide spectrum of achievements, interests, learning and social needs. Children learn and progress best when they are allowed to best apply the skills, they learn in a manner that befits their abilities and talents. This happens when they participate in interdisciplinary curriculum that not only involves choice but encompasses various learning and assessment strategies that celebrate how they learn. As mentors and role models for children it is extremely important that we integrate and connect their learning to the world around them. This then invites students to be more engaged and take ownership of their learning as it opens up the notion that their understanding and actions affect not only how they live in the present, but also their future.
This unit will teach students about “Carbon and Ecosystems.” They will begin by analyzing the four spheres: biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere and how they are interconnected. They will understand that one system cannot exist without the other in order to maintain proper functioning within our planet. The students will learn about the various types of ecosystems that exist and how living organisms depend on other living and non-living organisms for survival. This being said, students will examine how the spheres interact and how changes in one, affects another. Students will understand that ecosystems are fueled by the energy from the sun and cycles from which they are powered.
It will focus on what the carbon cycle is and its’ influence in our lives. Carbon is essential for all life on Earth and is also in our atmosphere. It regulates the Earth’s temperature and provides an essential source of the energy to fuel our economy. The carbon cycle describes how carbon moves throughout the Earth’s spheres. By gaining a deeper understanding of how carbon moves, we can better regulate our daily decisions to help sustain our future.
Human activities are altering the carbon cycle. We will learn that while aquatic and forest ecosystems serve primarily as a ‘sink,’ human impact such as deforestation or land use can alter the amount of carbon in the atmosphere faster than it can be absorbed. Students will learn about ecosystems and the interactions and energy flow within it. They will learn about the cycle of matter and energy transfer in an ecosystem, its functioning over time and reaction to change. They will be introduced to the disruptions that a physical or biological component will cause to its populations. They will dissect human activity and understand how our actions today affect the carbon budget of tomorrow. They will understand that burning fossil fuels and land use greatly affects the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. As the unit progresses, students will conduct investigations and research how to reduce human impact, consequently leading them to develop possible solutions.
