This 8-10 week, student-driven, place-based unit invites learners to explore the dynamic relationships within ecosystems through scientific inquiry, storytelling, seasonal observation, and creative expression. Students will come to understand what ecosystems are, how they form, and the ways they are shaped by both natural forces and human histories—especially those held by the people who live in and tend to these places.
Throughout the unit, students will:
Recognize the components of ecosystems, including biotic and abiotic elements
Explore different types of ecosystems, especially those rooted in their local places
Investigate how ecosystems are shaped by both ecological processes and human relationships over time
Engage with stories of land, season, and community through interviews, texts, and lived observation
Analyze the role of human impact and possibility in sustaining or disrupting ecological balance
Practice noticing, naming, and responding to the world around them—cultivating awareness and agency
Guided by the Cycles of Gaia Calendar, students will observe and document seasonal shifts, bringing together scientific analysis, creative expression, and community connection. Assigned texts will inspire reflection and writing, while expert voices—herbalists, Indigenous elders, ecologists, and local stewards—will deepen students' understanding of relational ecology.
Driving Question:
How do ecosystems function, and in what ways can scientific understanding support their protection and restoration?
Sub-Questions:
What defines an ecosystem, and how do its components interact dynamically over time?
How do biotic and abiotic factors shape the structure and function of ecosystems?
In what ways do human activities disrupt ecological balance, biodiversity, and resilience?
How does ecosystem health influence human health, well-being, and sustainability?
How do shifts in environmental conditions impact species populations, behaviors, and survival?
How are local ecosystems shaped by historical and contemporary human narratives, policies, and land use?
What indicators can we use to assess the health and stability of an ecosystem?
How does energy flow and matter cycle within and between organisms and environments in an ecosystem?
