As a high school Biological Sciences teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to help you in teaching about chromosomal and environmental sex determination in various species, and the factors that influence sex determination in sea turtles.
This lesson plan allows students to learn about the mechanisms for determination of gender in different species, and specifically, in sea turtles. The activity will help students understand the possible effects of climate change (specifically, increase in temperature) on the sex ratio and population of sea turtles.
Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Biological Sciences.
The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:
Teacher-submitted lesson plan, contributed by Dr. Ravindra Varma Polisetty, Assistant Professor, Sri Venkateswara College (University of Delhi), India
Want to know more about how to contribute? Contact us.
| Grade Level | High School |
| Discipline | Biological Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Biodiversity, Ecology, Species and Speciation, Ecosystem, Conservation, Sex Determination in Species, Chromosomal Sex Determination, Environmental Sex Determination (ESD), Sea Turtle Biology |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Biosphere |
| Location | Global, North America, United States Florida |
| Language(s) | English |
| Access | Online |
| Approximate Time Required | 75 – 90 min |
| Share | |
| Resource Download |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
Micro-lecture (video) (~6 min)
Video (~8 min)
Classroom/Laboratory activity (~60 min)
Now, conduct the classroom/laboratory activity in Part 4 of the teaching module “Sea Turtle Sex and Climate Change” (from CPALMS) to explore the topic in more detail. This activity will help students to build models of sea turtle nests, simulate the effects of rising temperature due to climate change by using different light sources, collect data, and discuss the possible effects of climate change on the sex ratio and population of sea turtles.
Navigate to the teaching module “Sea Turtle Sex and Climate Change”, created by D. Marsica and available on CPALMS.
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Reading | A reading, “Turtles”, by George R. Zug in ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA:
This can be accessed here. |
| 2 | Video | A video, “ What is Climate, Climate Change, Lines of Evidence”, from The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine:
This can be accessed here |
| 1 | Micro-lecture, “Sex determination: More complicated than you thought” | Educator and Narrator: Aaron Reedy; Animator: Buzzoo Associates, Inc.; TED-Ed |
| 2 | Video, “Climate change is hurting the sex lives of sea turtles” | PBS NewsHour |
| 3 | Classroom/Laboratory activity, “Sea Turtle Sex and Climate Change” | D. Marsica, content available on CPALMS |
| 4 | Additional Resources | George R. Zug, ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA; The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; D. Marsica, content available on CPALMS |
| Grade Level | High school |
| Discipline | Biological Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Sex Determination in Species, Chromosomal Sex Determination, Environmental Sex Determination (ESD), Sea Turtle Biology, Biodiversity, Ecology |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Biosphere |
| Location | Global, Florida (USA) |
| Language(s) | English |
| Access | Online |
| Approximate Time Required | 75 – 90 min |
| Share | |
| Resource Download |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
Micro-lecture (video) (~6 min)
Video (~8 min)
Classroom/Laboratory activity (~60 min)
Now, conduct the classroom/laboratory activity in Part 4 of the teaching module “Sea Turtle Sex and Climate Change” (from CPALMS) to explore the topic in more detail. This activity will help students to build models of sea turtle nests, simulate the effects of rising temperature due to climate change by using different light sources, collect data, and discuss the possible effects of climate change on the sex ratio and population of sea turtles.
Navigate to the teaching module “Sea Turtle Sex and Climate Change”, created by D. Marsica and available on CPALMS.
Suggested questions/assignments for learning evaluation
Use the tools and the concepts learned so far to discuss and determine answers to the following questions:
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Reading | A reading, “Turtles”, by George R. Zug in ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA:
This can be accessed here. |
| 2 | Video | A video, “ What is Climate, Climate Change, Lines of Evidence”, from The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine:
This can be accessed here |
| 3 | Classroom/ Laboratory Activity | Parts 1 and 2 of the teaching module, “Sea Turtle Sex and Climate Change”, from CPALMS:
This can be accessed here. |
| 1 | Micro-lecture, “Sex determination: More complicated than you thought” | Educator and Narrator: Aaron Reedy; Animator: Buzzoo Associates, Inc.; TED-Ed |
| 2 | Video, “Climate change is hurting the sex lives of sea turtles” | PBS NewsHour |
| 3 | Classroom/ Laboratory activity, “Sea Turtle Sex and Climate Change” | D. Marsica, content available on CPALMS |
| 4 | Additional Resources | George R. Zug, ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA; The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; D. Marsica, content available on CPALMS |
