Statistics in Biology
Students will research possible solutions to protect threatened or endangered species and utilize Python programming to evaluate the effectiveness of their proposed solutions.
Overview
Students research ways to protect threatened or endangered species and use Python to evaluate their proposed solutions, combining life science and computer science. The lesson opens with a Lorax clip and a National Geographic video on endangered animals. Each student then chooses a species from the World Wildlife Fund directory, recording its status, a reason for choosing it, and a source. After studying biodiversity and the interdependence of species, students research the causes of their species' status and learn to use Jupyter notebook and Python to import and analyze related data. They present the species, causes, mitigation ideas, and their own evaluation using the analysis. Explanation can take as long as 5 days and evaluation presentations approximately 3-5 days; engagement takes 10-30 minutes and exploration 30 minutes to 1.5 hours.
Lesson Objectives
- Research possible solutions to protect threatened or endangered species and utilize Python programming to evaluate the effectiveness of their proposed solutions.
Standards
NGSS · 1
- HS-LS4-6Create or revise a simulation to test a solution to mitigate adverse impacts of human activity on biodiversity.
CCSS Math · 1
- HSS-MD.B.7Analyze decisions and strategies using probability concepts (eg. product testing, medical testing, pulling a hockey goalie at the end of a game).
CCSS ELA · 1
- RST.11-12.7Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., quantitative data, video, multimedia) in order to address a question or solve a problem.