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Makale Özeti:
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Global warming and climate change have become hot topics that incite debate, inspire
scientific research, and influence international policy. However, the scientific research that
provides the past climate and environmental information upon which contemporary environmental
change is measured, receives little attention in high school curriculum. Paleoecology,
the study of ancient ecosystems, provides a unifying theme for teaching multiple
high school science curriculum concepts involving global environmental change. As a
teaching tool, paleoecology establishes a framework linking concepts such as geologic
time, climate change, adaptation, survival, extinction, human impact and ecological interactions
that are often taught separately. This article provides a brief overview of how the
science of paleoecology can be introduced to students and incorporated into the curriculum
through simple activities. The activities outlined here include using elevation maps or Gazetteers
to investigate potential sites where marine fossils may be found far from the ocean,
using multiple biological proxies to measure climate change, and creating models to demonstrate
the impact of sea level rise on coastal ecosystems. These activities provide numerous
opportunities for the students to discuss the scientific research associated with climate
change, the economic impacts of changing climate, and how science may influence policy
regarding climate change mitigation.
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