Biodiversity Counts

Part of Curriculum Collections.

Welcome to Biodiversity Counts! This resource collection takes students into the field and engages them in life science research: the inventory of plants and arthropods outside their own backdoors. Resources in this collection include lesson plans, essays, and Web-based interactives that help students explore, analyze, and apply their field observations.

What is Biodiversity? Students can learn about biodiversity by making observations in the field and through mapping activities. Selecting a Site for Field Study Students are introduced to the techniques used by scientists in the field: how to select a site for study, and how to map it. Plant Identification Explore plant diagrams and learn techniques for observing, collecting, identifying, and preserving plants. Plant Ecology Students learn how to count plants as part of a study of local biodiversity and calculating biodiversity indexes. Arthropod Identification Activities and resources to help students develop an understanding of arthropods and learn techniques for field observation. What are the Connections? Students investigate the complex interactions between plants, arthropods, and abiotic factors with articles and a game.