Mathematics of Aquatic Ecosystems - A Curriculum: Integration of Math Instruction Using a Sequence of 16 Hands-On Aquatic Ecosystem Projects

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The materials and activities described in this document are presented for use as an integrated yearlong math/science curriculum. Activities that cultivate student abilities to construct, maintain, analyze, and design, various components of aquatic ecosystems are the vehicles by which integration of math and science is accomplished. All curricular activities revolve around sixteen major projects. This curriculum is designed to be flexible with the hope that each individual teacher, at the high school or advanced middle school level, can implement this sequence of sixteen projects in a way that does not exceed his or her own level of comfort and skill (with construction, math inquiry and exploration, aquatic ecosystems, or posing and solving genuine math problems). Accordingly, individual teachers may modify/adapt each of the curriculum's sixteen major projects so as to challenge and reward each unique group of students most appropriately. Materials in the bibliography provide resources teachers may use to integrate drama, literature, art, history, geography, music, and multicultural activities into the sixteen major student projects in this curriculum. The curriculum is written so as to address the expectations faced by many teachers today to use cooperative and inquiry-based learning, hands-on activities, multiple evaluation domains, differentiation, co-teaching, and to satisfy alignment with state goals. Furthermore, it is written in response to expectations many teachers of today face to be interdisciplinary in their presentation of material and to present material in such a way that it reinforces positive multi-cultural sensibilities. This work is also a guidebook for teachers who wish to have fun, promote learning, and have their students meet or exceed current standards. Although this curriculum is designed for all students, some will find the curriculum to be particularly useful in making a smoother transition to more advanced high school classes or possibly even college-level marine biology, aquaculture, or other related college majors, or vocational programs. A one-page flowchart, of the sixteen major projects, and a sample school-year calendar (timeline) are also provided. Each component of an aquatic system that students develop in this program is progressively incorporated into a larger ecosystem so that students can study the impacts of each system component upon factors related to increased ecological stability. The sequence of integrated aquatic ecosystem and math activities in this curriculum will lead many students to discover underlying principles and develop deeper understandings of the processes that influence balance in the aquarium as compared to the wild, and to develop an understanding and appreciation for the physical, engineering, and biological elements that lead to successful ecosystem establishment in captivity. Throughout the school year, individual students and student-teams will perform ongoing science experiments on an unlimited range of related topics. A community service activity is another important component of the curricular activities. After initial startup, with careful monitoring and management, the program may generate substantial funds to support ongoing program growth and development. An extensive set of materials that provides details of procedures necessary for development of each project accompanies this curriculum. Three additionally important features of this curriculum include: a) field trips; b) application of calculation skills, to authentic math problems, manually and digitally, regarding ongoing data collection, analysis and reporting on projects and independent team science projects; as demonstrated in c) regularly scheduled public display events (12 of these), to encourage ongoing parental and community awareness and involvement. This document also contains a timeline to monitor and preserve a sense of coordination between the completion of major projects and open-house/public-display events. Hundreds of specific performance objectives related to each project and related activities are included to help instructors align student engagement in project activities with existing standards. An itemized budget and a variety of assessment protocols are also included.