Suggested Materials

Project Wild Activity and Resource Book

Purchase Project WILD Activity Book on Amazon.com


Topic Search

Input

Found an error? Have a suggestion? Looking to connect?LinkedIn Profile

Email me or visit my LinkedIn profile.

Teacher Resources

Looking to save time on your lesson planning and assessment design?

Answer keys and a test bank can be accessed for a paid subscription.

 

Turkey Trouble

Turkey Trouble is an activity from the Project WILD curriculum that studies the growth of an introduced population of turkeys over time. I used the activity a few times to teach students the difference between linear and exponential growth. However, many of my students were so overwhelmed by the math and numerical manipulation in the activity that the broader concepts were lost. With this revision, the math is simplified, the instructions are shortened and clarified.

The activity takes an introduced population of turkeys and predicts their population growth using a linear and exponential model. The linear model is very simple, assuming a constant rate of growth. The exponential model takes many more variables into account, and ends with a discussion of carrying capacity.

Essential concepts:Population growth rates, linear growth, exponential growth, carrying capacity, birth rate, death rate, immigration, emigration, variables.

Answer Key: Available for purchase at the environmental science instructor resources subscription page.

Download free Dreamweaver templates at JustDreamweaver.com