Format
A Teacher's Guide will be emailed to you separately.
Educator Directed Pre-Session Activities
• 20-30 minutes: watch a video, pre-activity, and questions
Test Connection
• 5-10 minutes: Test meeting connection with NPS Zoom, or your organization’s preferred meeting account.
1. Basics: We use Zoom for our Distance Learning (DL) videoconferencing. If your organization has a preferred platform, we can present the DL Live Session through your organization’s link.
2. What you will need for the test and session: Computer, screen or monitor, webcam, and speakers.
3. Test and live-session invites: We both will agree to the date and time for a Test Connection and Live Session. If we are using our Zoom Meeting Room, then an NPS Ranger will email you a link to our meeting room. Use the same link for the Test Connection and the Live Session. If we use your organization's account, then you will need to email the links for the Test and Live Session to the NPS Ranger.
4.During test connection: Join the virtual conference room 5 minutes before the Test Connection begins. Then, we will check audio and video formatting on both sides, as well as the overall quality of the connection.
Distance Learning Live-Session with NPS Ranger
• 45-60 minutes: Session, activity and questions
1. Join the virtual conference room 10 mins before the live session begins.
2. Introduce Kenai Fjords National Park.
3. The session will run about 45 mins with 10-15 mins at the end for students’ questions.
4. After the session CILC or a Kenai Fjords National Park Ranger will email you a program evaluation.
Educator Directed Post-Session Activities
• 30-60 minutes: post activity, questions
Objectives
• Students will gain insight into the responsibilities of the National Park Service and what makes Kenai Fjords National Park an important place.
• Students will gain an understanding of ecosystems and the interactions within them.
• Students will learn about the specific factors that create the fjord estuary ecosystem and the conditions that allow it to sustain itself.
• Students will understand the complexities of the food web and how certain biotic and abiotic factors share vital roles in maintaining ecological balance.
• Students will challenge their perspectives and will be encouraged to think critically about their role as human beings in ecosystems.
Standards Alignment
National Standards
National Science Standards
NS 5-8.1 Science as Inquiry
NS 5-8.3 Life Sciences
NS 5-8.6 Personal and Social Perspectives
Next Generation Science Standards
MS-LS2-1: Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.
MS-LS2-3: Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
MS-LS2-5: Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Core Ideas:
LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
LS2.B: Cycle of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems
LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience