American Museum of
Natural History: 7th Grade
Site: Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth, American Museum
of Natural History
Grade Level(s): 7th grade life science
Learning Standard:
Time Requirements: Approximately 1 hours Preparation time and 2
hours Class time. Approximately 11.5 hours at the site
Topics covered by
this lesson: Adaptation of
organisms to their environment, Sulfide chimney ecosystems and geology, Types
of energy that can sustain life
PreVisit:
Purpose: To introduce students to the idea of sulfide
vents
Objective: To familiarize students with a (relatively) new
scientific discovery
To help students develop
questions about the conditions under which life can thrive
To get students thinking
about life without photosynthesis
Materials Required: resource material from AMNH web site
(www.amnh.org/rose/hope), pictures/slide of a sulfide vent, NOVA video about
sulfide vents
Student Learning
Prerequisites: Photosynthesis,
Bacteria life processes, Elements and compounds (sulfur, proteins, oxygen)
Visit: Upon arrival at the Rose Center/Gottesman Hall
of Planet Earth, students receive worksheets for team 6, “What are
sulfide chimneys and what information do they provide about the earth’s
habitability” and proceed to the sulfide chimney display. Students
alternately read information and sketch the chimneys.
Post Visit:
Assessment: Upon
returning to the classroom, students will participate in a discussion centered
around the worksheets and their answers and lingering questions.
Extensions and
Suggested Homework Assignments:
To write a story about a community of people who establish and undersea
community using the resources of the sulfide vents. It must be scientifically
based. These could be accompanied by storyboards and a reading of the stories
in class.
Possible questions
that may be brought up:
Student reflections: If you could pilot a remote control submarine
down to the chimneys, what samples would you want to collect and take back to
the lab and why?
Teacher reflections (include what to change next time): Is this too
short/limited of a trip? How could I occupy 30 students constructively on this
expedition? This is an interesting but very specific aspect of biology/oceanography.
How could I tie it in and make it real for the kids?
MainMenu
| About MSTEP | Lessons
& Activities
Standards | Resources
| Staff | Submit
| Contact
MSTEP
Webmaster | NYU
home page | School of Education
| School
of Education Webmaster