Urban Sprawl, Wildlife Corridors, and Biodiversity: Human Impact on Ecosystems

Shared by A STEM Educator

7th Grade5e-learning-cycle45 min

Learning Objective

Students will analyze how human activities — including habitat loss, pollution, invasive species introduction, and overharvesting — reduce biodiversity, and will evaluate conservation strategies such as wildlife corridors to mitigate ecosystem fragmentation.

Lesson Overview

Students investigate how urban sprawl fragments habitats and reduces biodiversity, then apply their understanding to design wildlife corridor networks that mitigate human impact on regional ecosystems.

Materials

Printed satellite imagery comparison maps (2010 vs. 2020, local region or provided regional example)
Colored pencils or markers (green, gray, blue, brown)
Human Impact Activity Cards (one set per group of 4)
Regional Habitat Patch Map handout (coordgraph-style grid map, one per student)
Rulers
Sticky notes (two colors)
Whiteboard or VNPS surface per group
Markers for VNPS
Biodiversity Index Reference Sheet (Simpson's Index simplified)
Scissors (for card sort)
Glue sticks or tape

Scaffolded Task Progression

1Task 1

Look at the two satellite images of the same region taken ten years apart. List three specific changes you observe. Then write one question you have about how these changes affect the organisms that live there.

[ Interactive graph / diagram — available in the full lesson ]

2Task 2

Sort your Human Impact Activity Cards into four categories: Habitat Loss, Pollution, Invasive Species, and Overharvesting. For each category, record how many cards you placed there and write one sentence explaining the pattern you see within that group.

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