A2 ECOSYSTEMS
SCHEME OF WORK / TIME PLAN / OBJECTIVES
| SESSION | KEY TOPICS | LEARNING OBJECTIVES | SUGGESTIONS FOR WORK |
| 1 | Introduction to key concepts | What are ecosystems ? What are the differences between biomes and ecosystems ? |
PPT: Identification of biomes Linking climate zones to vegetation Identifying autotrophs and heterotrophs
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| 2 | How is Energy transferred through an ecosystem ? | What is the source of energy in
an ecosystem ? How is energy transferred through an ecosystem ? |
PPT: Food chain & trophic pyramid |
| 3 | Loss of energy from the sytem Role of detritivores & nutrient cycling. How are nutrients recycled ? Role of decomposition / fungi and detritivores. |
How is energy lost from an
ecosystem ? Prepare for essay writing - how to develop an essay on ecosystems topic. |
Outline the means by which
energy is transferred through an ecosystem (20 marks) Work on essay with reference to earlier work. Wycombe High School Animations GeographyPages model answer |
| 4 | Concept of succession: Lithosere Reminder of Sand Dune ecosystem (Psammosere) |
How do ecosystems change over
time ? What ecosystems do we already know about ? How can we apply our own fieldwork to this work ? |
Lithosere: 'Geography Review'
article Textbooks: examples of succession |
| 5 | Climax and Plagio-climax vegetation for specific biomes | What are the main world biomes ? What is climax vegetation ? What can prevent the climax vegetation from developing ? |
Mapping. GoogleMontage starter Brainstorm and small groups. |
| 6 | High Productivity | What do we mean by productivity
? Difference between NPP and GPP. Examples of ecosystems of high and low productivity. |
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| 7 | Low Productivity - Heathland | Where is Heathland found ? | |
| 8 | Grasslands | Temperate or Tropical Grasslands What are the main characteristics of grassland areas ?
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| 9 | Tropical Grasslands | Where are grasslands found ? Management techniques in tropical grasslands |
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| 10 | Soil Erosion | Mechanisms of wind and water. | Student produced booklet with illustrations of techniques for reducing the rate of, and impact of soil erosion. |
| 11 | Tropical Rainforests | ICT Introduction The relevant webpage for the task is TMFTASK which is here. |
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| 12 | Tropical Rainforests | Distribution and working | |
| 13 | Tropical Rainforests | Continue with ICT work. | |
| 14 | |||
| See link to SOILS LESSON PLAN document |
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| 15 | Soils: Definition | What is soil ? How does soil vary ? How far does the type of soil in an area reflect the geology of the area ? How does soil type affect human activity ? Spatial and temporal variation needs to be appreciated... |
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| 16 | Soil Formation | Soil Pit digging.... Soil Profile: A, B and C horizons. |
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| 17 | Zonal Soil Model | What are zonal, azonal and
intrazonal soils ? Definition of zonal soils ? |
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| 18 | Soil Forming Processes | Need to have a good understanding of a range of processes which operate within the soil profile. | |
| 19 | Soils: Podzol / Chernozem | Need to know the profile... |