Birds Without Borders

Book excerpt: In Birds Without Borders, students analyze spatial and quantitative data, examine trends, make predictions, create management plans, and present and defend their results. Non-fiction texts and multimedia resources provide context and background for scientific exploration of real-world biodiversity data and issues in settings ranging from local to international.Wherever we live, birds share our environment. Birds provide compelling hooks to our local environment and links to foreign lands. They also provide essential ecosystem services, ranging from pollination and seed dispersal to garbage disposal and nutrient cycling.Birds Without Borders can be used as a module in biology, environmental science, general science courses, AP biology, or any other applicable science elective. The student readings and activities have been successfully used in courses ranging from seventh grade through advanced placement. This broad range is possible with differing types of scaffolding and levels of sophistication expected in data analysis and application of the results.