What is Biodiversity?

Part of the Biodiversity Counts Curriculum Collection.

Biodiversity is the spectacular variety of life on Earth and the essential interdependence among all living things.

Students begin to learn about the term biodiversity at its most basic level. On their first field trip, students observe a natural space and report on what they see. They also begin to see the need for keeping written records and how to make scientific observations of their site. A series of optional mapping activities are presented that develop the skills required to create detailed and representational maps derived from observations and data.

Article Drawing as a Way of Looking at the Natural World Don't just take a close look at that arthropod or plant, pick up a pencil and draw it! Article Keeping a Field Journal 1: Eleanor Sterling Field journals are incredibly important to researchers. Learn how to create your own valuable journal. Article Keeping a Field Journal 2: Brian Boom Peer into a researcher's field journal, and you'll see science in action.