Intro to Ecology

This class is a flexible schedule class spanning 4 weeks. There are no live meetings to this class, but ample opportunities to interface and interact with other students from around the globe. Three ways that a flex class can be interactive: responding to other students' project ideas and worksheet entries within the classroom portal, answering video link questions in the classroom portal to open up discussion, and using the record video to answer questions with the ability to upload the content for other students and the teacher to watch. Flex classes are a great option for busy schedules, giving students ample time to work through the lessons at their own convenience.  
Each week (normally Sunday or Monday- Eastern Standard Time), I will upload a short video presentation along with a corresponding handout, vocabulary worksheet and short answer form.  On Wednesday of each week, a new component of a student project will be uploaded. On Fridays, links with additional information about the week's topic as well as several video clips will be provided. This gives students opportunities to share their own perspectives and research various aspects of the topic on their own. Please be aware that while the video links have been screened, any link to an outside source could have ads that change daily. 

Week1:
What is Ecology?
Careers in Ecology
Ecology Vocabulary
Biomes

Week 2:
Food Chains and Food Webs
Ecosystems
Producers, Consumers, Decomposers
Life Cycles

Week 3:
Natural Resources
Types of Energy
Recycing, Reuse, Reduce
All About Soil

Week 4:
The Water Cycle
Climate
Weathering and Erosion
Ecology Studies and Solutions


While there are no live meetings and students can work at their own pace, it is important to watch the lessons and complete the assignments to get the most out of the course. Students will learn through video, pdf handouts, worksheet assignments, and resource links. Interacting in the classroom is also possible as mentioned above. 
Following satisfactory course completion, I leave the decision on whether to issue a certificate of completion to the student's parents. If a parent would prefer a grade be assigned that can be arranged as well. 

No background knowledge is required, just a willingness to learn and there is no learner evaluation.