Students will be engaged in learning how human activities can deliberately or inadvertently alter the equilbrium of ecosystems through human behavior and/or the use of technology/biotechnology that impacts environmental quality and carrying capacity. Students will engage in graphing and interpreting data about the bald eagle, beaver and yeast populations. Students will evaluate their own understanding of carrying capacity by using a radar diagram; they will use a summarizing strategy to extend their knowledge and will learn how environmental problems are identified and solved.

This series of videos, produced by The National Research Council, summarizes the current state of knowledge about climate change and its causes.

This video provides information about the causes and effects of Earth's changing climate, specifically focusing on wildlife populations and the impact global warming has on habitats.

This multimedia resource, part of the NC Science Now series, describes researchers at Duke are using an innovative method to track Gray Seals and determine where and how often seals eat. The study will also provide information about how humans interact with these animals and how that affects their sustainability over the long term. Components of this resource include a video, a related blog article, and an interview with a marine conservation biologist. Links to these components are provided on the page under the heading "UNC-TV Media."

Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment; it seeks to understand the vital connections between plants and animals and the world around them. Ecology also provides information about the benefits of ecosystems and how we can use Earth’s resources in ways that leave the environment healthy for future generations. The many specialties within ecology provide us with information to better understand the world around us. This information also can help us improve our environment, manage our natural resources, and protect human health.

This article examines the sixth of seven essential principles of the climate sciences--"We Change Earth's Climate." Written for the science teacher, the article covers greenhouse gases, land-use changes, and other human-induced causes of global climate change. Each issue of the free online magazine Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle is structured around one of the seven principles. The content provides background information, lessons, and activities for K-5 classrooms.

This multimedia resource, part of the NC Science Now series, outlines how the population of lionfish, an invasive species, has been spreading north since its introduction in the 1980s off Florida, collapsing the reef food webs and reducing the area of the coral reefs. Lionfish have no known predators and a rapid reproduction rate, which is why they are taking over and reducing the overall biodiversity of NC reef ecosystems. Components of this resource include a video, related text articles, and an interview with a NC marine ecologist. Links to these components are provided on the page under the heading "UNC-TV Media."

This resource supports English language development for English language learners. In “Earth Day Celebrations” - a brief Listen and Read nonfiction story - students learn how children in New York City, Costa Rica, South Korea, and Russia celebrate Earth Day, a holiday that honors our natural environment. The reading activity includes text, images, and audio, so students can read along while listening to a narrator. At the end of the story, a Sound It Out section lets students listen to these vocabulary words a second time: "parade," "trees," "drums," and "recycling."

Students will use online videos and photo galleries to conduct a virtual bolus dissection for the Laysan albatross and learn how marine debris can be mistaken for food and harm marine organisms.

This multimedia resource, part of the NC Science Now series, describes how, in the search for suitable locations for offshore wind energy, researchers are studying the ocean floor looking at the unusual array of rocky reefs that exist from 3-40 miles offshore in depths from 40-100 feet of water. What they've found is that these reefs are remarkably productive and essential to North Carolina's commercial and recreational fisheries. Components of this resource include a video and a related blog article. Links to these components are provided on the page under the heading "UNC-TV Media." Discussion questions are also provided.

This multimedia resource, part of the NC Science Now series, describes how United States Forest Service scientists are trying to save the Carolina and Eastern Hemlock trees from the invasive wooly adelgid. They are doing research on an integrated pest management strategy, combining spot treatment with pesticides and the release of a predator beetle Laricobius nigrinus, in the hopes that the life of the trees can be prolonged. Components of this resource include a video and a related blog article. Links to these components are provided on the page under the heading "UNC-TV Media."

In this activity, children will place a seed in soil, care for it, and track the plant?s growth. By caring for a plant, children will contribute to Lady Bird Johnson?s mission of beautification. Observation and measuring skills will be developed through tracking the plant's growth.

This multimedia resource, part of the NC Science Now series, outlines how pollution can impact the water cycle and affect out local water supply. The City of Durham has launched a multi-year study to see if a series of rain gardens and cisterns can improve or control storm water runoff. Components of the resource include a video, related text articles, photo gallery, instructions on how to build a rain garden, and an interview with Maverick Raber, City of Durham water quality engineer. Links to these components are provided on the page underthe heading "UNC-TV Media."

This multimedia resource, part of the NC Science Now series, describes how new research is showing how oyster reefs can grow at a rate that would out-pace projected sea level rise, offering a new way to protect shorelines from erosion as well as create fish habitat, clean the water, and provide tasty treats for people to eat. Components of this resource include a video and a related blog article. Links to these components are provided on the page under the heading "UNC-TV Media." Discussion questions are also provided.

In this activity, students play a board game in which players try to ensure the survival of their animal species while dealing with problems (such as habitat destruction, pollution, or natural disasters) the animals encounter during the game. Prior to the game, the book Brother Eagle, Sister Sky by Susan Jeffers should be read aloud to the students and used to engage student thinking about human and environmental impact on animal survival.

In this lesson, students explore the historical and social significance of animals as cultural symbols in various countries around the world, as well as the impact that humans have made on the population and natural habitats of these animals.

In this archived webinar, conservation biologist Joe Kolowski leads us into the Peruvian Amazon, a rich, fertile, and essential part of our planet. He shows how the technique of ?camera trapping? helps scientists to understand the creatures that move about the jungle?particularly mammals that may be endangered by oil exploration. Kolowski is working with other scientists to develop a conservation initiative for the area. They are incorporating biodiversity principles and new scientific research in an attempt to minimize the negative effects of oil exploration and development in this area.

Students analyze data and maps to understand how increased population growth impacts the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay. Then they explore how the health of the Bay affects its animals.

This brief video lesson describes the miraculous journey of infant sea turtles as these tiny animals run the gauntlet of predators and harsh conditions. Then, in numbers, see how human behavior has made their tough lives even more challenging. Discussion/assessment questions and suggested supplemental resources are also included.

Resources include active webpages with text about major topics associated with climate change issues and a music video for the song "Take Aim at Climate Change." The lyrics in the rap music video provide background content information about the causes and effects of global climate change. A supplemental page links footnoted information in the lyrics to additional web resources.