Gaby Del Bosque-Hernandez

Gabygraduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor degree in Biochemicaland Biophysical Sciences and a minor in Education in 2012. As an undergrad, sheworked as a research technician at MD Anderson Cancer Center pulmonary lab.While she loved doing science research, she decided to try teaching beforecommitting to a graduate program in science, so her career as a science teacherbegan.

 After teaching high school chemistry for one semester,she decided to enroll in a graduate program in Curriculum and Instruction, toimprove her teaching practices. After completing her M.Ed. and her second yearin the classroom, she decided to enroll in an online master's program inBiochemistry at the University of St. Joseph in Connecticut to continue tolearn about science and to teach at the same time. Toward the end of the gradprogram, she realized that the degree was never the goal. Instead, she realizedthat enjoying her journey as a teacher and a learner was the goal. Since then,she has completed a few other grad courses in Environmental Science from TexasA&M and attended many science teacher workshops and programs all over thecountry, including the Prairie Project. Gaby also loves to integrate localbiological and environmental programs and solutions in her lessons, and sheloves to partner with local organizations to get her students involved in"real" science.

This lesson will introduce the students to read an academic article that will cover the following topics from the Science Practices section of the AP Environmental ScienceCurriculum:

1. Identify a testable hypothesis or scientific question for an     investigation
2. Identify a research method, design, and/or measure used
3. Describe an aspect of a research method, design, and/or     measure used.
4. Describe patterns or trends in data.
5. Describe relationships among variables in data represented.
6. Interpret experimental data and results in relation to a given     hypothesis.
7. Explain what the data implies or illustrates about     environmental issues.

 The students will select an academic article from the Prairie Project that will cover at least one of the concepts listed below. As students break-down the contents of their article, they will design a public service announcement to present their findings on a fictitious NationalYouth Climate Summit.  

●     Describe the results of human disruptions to ecosystem services.

●     Explain how natural disruptions, both short and long-term, impact an ecosystem.

●     Describe the effect of ecological succession on ecosystems.

●     Describe prescribed burns as a method for mitigating human impact on the environment.

●     Explain the role of wildfires on the grasslands biome.

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