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The Rainforest Connection 2005
January 25 - 29, 2005
TOPICS, 2005 SCHEDULE,
and STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
Register for sessions by calling 973-655-7753 or email:
prism@mail.montclair.edu
The RAINFOREST CONNECTION LIVE!
Brought to you by PRISM, The Bristol-Myers Squibb Center for Science
Teaching & Learning at Montclair State University, The College of
Science & Mathematics in Montclair, New Jersey, Verizon Access New Jersey
in
Newark, NJ, NJEDge.net, The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama.
Register for sessions by calling 973-655-7753
or email:
prism@mail.montclair.edu
TOPICS
For the Rainforest Connection Live! 2005 (January 25-29)
All topics are aligned with the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content
Standards (NJCCCS). For more detail, see Standards listed after
Schedule.
Note that some sessions are in Spanish. World Language classes working
on increasing conversational Spanish skills are invited to participate.
1- Decomposition: the Brown Food Web - The Brown Food Web rivals the
biodiversity of the Green Food Web in the leafy canopy of a rainforest
community. How are nutrients recycled in a forest? What are the roles
of various species in the process of returning nutrients to trees? Why
is decomposition just as important as the Green Food Web? (NJCCCS 5.5:
Characteristics of Life; 5.10: Environmental Studies)
2- Using Technology To Study Elusive Animals - People working in a
forest see some forest species very rarely. How do we study them? How
do we know how many individuals there are and where they live? What
special technologies do scientists use to answer these questions? (NJCCCS
5.1: Scientific Processes; 5.4: Nature and Process of Technology)
3- Biodiversity Studies: Invertebrate Lives - Nowhere does nature seem
more abundant than in the tropics. How many species are there in a
habitat? How do we know this? Why are there so many species of
invertebrates? What are some special kinds? How are the aquatic
habitats of the tropics different from the forest? (NJCCCS 5.1:
Scientific Processes; 5.5: Characteristics of Life)
4- Bats and Their Roles In Forest Ecology - There are more species of
bats than there are of any other kind of mammal in tropical forests.
How do they live? What are their special relationships with other
species? What makes them important in the food web? (NJCCCS 5.5:
Characteristics of Life; 5.10: Environmental Studies)
5- Food Web Studies: Predators And Prey - Every day in a forest is
a struggle to eat and avoid being eaten. Who eats whom? How do we know
this? What evidence do scientists use to understand food webs? What
adaptations do species have for eating various kinds of food? (NJCCCS
5.5: Characteristics of Life; 5.10: Environmental Studies)
6- Symbiosis: How Species Live Together - Relationships between species
within a tropical forest are very complex and interconnected. How do so
many species live together? What special adaptations make their lives
together successful? What kinds of symbiosis do we find in a forest? (NJCCCS
5.5: Characteristics of Life; 5.10 Environmental Studies)
7- Conservation of Forests –Tropical forests are disappearing because of
a combination of complex problems. What's going on in the tropics? Are
forests still endangered? What do we lose when forests are cut down?
Why do we need to conserve tropical forests? (NJCCCS 5.2: Science and
Society; 5.10: Environmental Studies)
8- Studying Adaptations through Ants – Arthropods make up the largest
slice of biological diversity found throughout the world. How do
adaptations make it possible for a species to succeed? What do we learn
about adaptations when we study ants? Are all ants the same? (NJCCCS
5.1: Scientific Processes; 5.5: Characteristics of Life)
9- Medicines from Plants – Native peoples have many generations of
experience using resources from the forest. What have people learned
about making medicines from plants? Why do plants make medicines? Why
are "modern" people still interested in medicines used by tribal
peoples? (NJCCCS 5.2: Science and Society; 5.4: Nature and Process of
Technology)
10- Interview a Rainforest Researcher – Barro Colorado Island is a
Living Laboratory for researchers who spend much of their lives walking
and working in the forest. Do you know what people do when they study
organisms in rainforests? What is the work they do? How do they work?
What are the conditions? What are they interested in? Students get to
ask the questions and find out from the researchers. (NJCCCS 5.1:
Scientific Processes; 5.2: Science and Society; 5.4: Nature and Process
of Technology)
11- Interview a Scientist – Barro Colorado Island is a research center
that attracts scientists from many countries all around the world. What
are the questions that interest these scientists? What are they looking
for? Why become a scientist? How does an investigation get started,
and how does it continue? What sorts of answers do scientists find?
Are all the important questions already answered? Students get to ask
the questions and learn about the life of ascientist. (NJCCCS 5.1:
Scientific Processes; 5.4: Nature and Process of Technology)
SCHEDULE
All telecasts will be from outdoor tropical locations on Barro Colorado
Island in Gatun Lake, Panama. Variations from this schedule may occur
in the event of weather or technology difficulties. If all time blocks
are filled, it may be possible to schedule additional sessions. Special
requests will be honored whenever possible. Three or four participating
school sites will be scheduled for the same session, and will be able to
see and talk with each other. We request that all participating
teachers read our advice on videoconference etiquette on the website at
rainforest.montclair.edu
TUESDAY - January 25
9:00 - 9:40: Studying Adaptations through Ants
9:50 - 10:30: Studying Adaptations through Ants
10:40 - 11:20: Interview A Rainforest Researcher
11:30 - 12:10: Interview A Rainforest Researcher
12:20 - 1:00: Studying Adaptations through Ants (Spanish)
1:10 – 1:50: Conservation of Forests
WEDNESDAY – January 26
9:00 - 9:40: Food Web Studies: Predators and Prey
9:50 - 10:30: Food Web Studies: Predators and Prey
10:40 - 11:20: Interview A Scientist
11:30 - 12:10: Interview A Scientist
12:20 - 1:00: Studying Adaptations through Ants
(Spanish)
3:30 - 4:10: Symbiosis: How Species Live Together
THURSDAY – January 27
9:00 - 9:40: Decomposition: the Brown Food Web
9:50 - 10:30: Decomposition: the Brown Food Web
10:40 - 11:20: Using Technology To Study Elusive Animals
11:30 - 12:10: Using Technology To Study Elusive Animals
12:20 - 1:00: Bats And Their Roles In Forest Ecology
1:10 – 1:50: Interview a Scientist
3:30 - 4:10: Using Technology To Study Elusive Animals
FRIDAY - January 28 (Lake shore location)
9:00 - 9:40: Biodiversity Studies: Invertebrate Lives
9:50 - 10:30: Biodiversity Studies: Invertebrate Lives
10:40 - 11:20: Medicines From Plants
11:30 - 12:10: Medicines From Plants
12:20 - 1:00: Conservation of Forests (Spanish)
1:10 – 1:50: Interview a Scientist
SATURDAY - January 29
9:50 - 10:30: Food Web Studies: Predators And Prey
10:40 - 11:20: Conservation of Forests
11:30 - 12:10: Interview a Scientist
12:20 - 1:00: Studying Adaptations through Ants
COST: Each 40-minute session for one class………$150.
Call first to reserve: 973-655-7753. Payment will be made by PO or
check to PRISM - Montclair State University.
CONNECTION: All 2-way video connections will be through ACCESS-NJ Video
Portal at 973-497-9764.
New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards
(NJCCCS) reflected in Rainforest Connection Live Broadcasts:
5.1 Scientific Processes
All students will develop problem-solving, decision-making and inquiry
skills, reflected by formulating usable questions and hypotheses,
planning experiments, conducting systematic observations, interpreting
and analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and communicating results.
5.2 Science and Society
All students will develop an understanding of how people of various
cultures have contributed to the advancement of science and technology,
and how major discoveries and events have advanced science and
technology.
5.4 Nature and Process of Technology
All students will understand the interrelationships between science and
technology and develop a conceptual understanding of the nature and
process of technology.
5.5 Characteristics of Life
All students will gain an understanding of the structure,
characteristics, and basic needs of organisms and will investigate the
diversity of life.
5.10 Environmental Studies
All students will develop an understanding of the environment as a
system of interdependent components affected by human activity and
natural phenomena.
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