“Planet Diversity”
Imagine you are a scientist from the planet Deevoid and have been sent on an exploratory mission to Earth. Deevoid has very little biodiversity. You have been sent to explore the wonderful diversity on Earth. You are viewing life on Earth for the first time and need to describe every creature and plant you see in minute detail. You need to be able to share what you have found with your fellow Deevoidians when you return home. Fly your imaginary spaceships and land in your schoolyard, backyard or local park. Split into teams of scientists and explore and record a plot of land. Record and describe every life form that you find. Use Project Learning Tree’s “Planet Diversity” to explore the wonders of Earth’s biodiversity! Then further your study with Project Learning Tree’s “Charting Diversity”!
Young Child Extension
Take your little alien visitors from Deevoid on a nature walk. Make space hats before you go to get the children ready and excited to be aliens! Make a nature journal and/or chart of your life form findings on planet Earth.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Bash, B. 2002. Tree of Life: The World of the African Baobab. Sierra Club Books for Children.
Morrison, G. 2008. Nature in the Neighborhood. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Pfeffer, W., and R. Brickman. 2007. A Log’s Life. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Rotner, S., and K. Kreisler. 1992. Nature Spy. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Silver, D.M., and P.J. Wynne. 1997. One Small Square: Backyard. The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Silver, D.M., and P. Wynne. 1994. One Small Square: Pond. W.H. Freeman and Co.
Silver, D. M., and P. Wynne. 1997. One Small Square: Woods. The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Grades 3-5
Bash, B. 2002. Tree of Life: The World of the African Baobab. Sierra Club Books for Children.
Johnson, R., and P. V. Saroff. 2001. A Walk in the Prairie. Lerner Classroom.
Morrison, G. 2008. Nature in the Neighborhood. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Pratt-Serafini, K. J. 2002. Saguaro Moon. Dawn Publications.
Silver, D.M., and P.J. Wynne. 1997. One Small Square: Backyard. The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Silver, D.M., and P. Wynne. 1994. One Small Square: Pond. W.H. Freeman and Co.
Silver, D. M., and P. Wynne. 1997. One Small Square: Woods. The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Strauss, R., and M. Thompson. 2004. Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Grades 6-8
Johnson, R., and P. V. Saroff. 2001. A Walk in the Prairie. Lerner Classroom.
Patent, D. H., and W. Munoz. 2003. Biodiversity. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Pratt-Serafini, K. J. 2002. Saguaro Moon. Dawn Publications.
Strauss, R., and M. Thompson. 2004. Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth. Kids Can Press, Limited.
Grades 9-12
Gaston, K. J., and J. I. Spicer. 2004. Biodiversity: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.
Patent, D. H., and W. Munoz. 2003. Biodiversity. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Links
Iowa Biodiversity
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/IAN407.pdf
Iowa NatureMapping
http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/Pages/default.aspx
The Encyclopedia of Earth: Biodiversity
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Biodiversity?topic=49480
Wikipedia: Biodiversity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity
Biodiversity Hotspots
http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/Pages/default.aspx
