Teacher Guide The Rights to Land Use By Patrick Bell MA Ed, Carol John Meet the Authors "Should predators that enter the communities of humans be killed or should accomodations be made to protect the natural environment of these predators?"  Overview  Understandings and Standards  Activities  Resources  Student Guide Powered By 510-635-0585 info@my-ecoach.com Contact Us Overview Grade Level: 6 Curriculum Areas: Focus: Science Secondary: Technology, English/Language Arts Topic: 6th Earth Science: Ecology Themes: Human Encroachment, Human/Predator Conflict, Natural Habitats Duration: Three weeks (3 one hour lab periods) Summary Students can co-currently be studying a unit of Ecology in 6th grade Earth Science. They should be studying natural ecosystems, the role of producers/consumers, the food web, and human influence/impact on animals in the environment. This project focuses on a current issue in the San Francsico Bay Area (predator attacks on humans, primarily mountain lions, coyotes, etc.). The primary questions presented to the students are: Who has the right to land use? Humans who have built homes on once natural animal habits or the predators that have hunted there for thousands of years? Students will conduct research on the impact on human encroachment (building of homes, farming, livestock)on the natural habitats of predators who have used the land as hunting grounds for thousands of years. Students will also use English poetry-writing techniques (composing Hiakus) and Technology (internet, word processing, Imovie) to create a slide show presenting the pros and cons of the agrument on who has the right to the land -- humans or natural predators. Rationale BIO.9-12.6.a. Students know biodiversity is the sum total of different kinds of organisms and is affected by alterations of habitats. BIO.9-12.6.b. Students know how to analyze changes in an ecosystem resulting from changes in climate, human activity, introduction of nonnative species, or changes in population size.