Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to understand the basic concepts of biology and how they relate to the American Girl Doll theme.

Materials and Prep

• American Girl Doll
• Pen and paper
• Access to the internet or library resources

No prior knowledge is required.

Activities

1. Research the time period and setting of your American Girl Doll.

Use the internet or library resources to find information about the historical context of your doll. Pay attention to the environment, lifestyle, and challenges faced during that time period.

2. Identify and classify the natural resources available during that time period.

Based on your research, make a list of the natural resources that were available during the time period of your doll. Classify them into categories such as water, plants, animals, minerals, etc.

3. Study the ecosystem of the doll's environment.

Explore the ecosystem in which your doll would have lived. Identify the different organisms that would have been part of the ecosystem and their roles. Consider the interdependence of organisms and how they rely on each other for survival.

4. Examine the impact of human activities on the environment.

Discuss the ways in which human activities during that time period may have affected the environment. Consider factors such as deforestation, pollution, hunting, and farming practices.

5. Create a presentation or poster.

Using the information gathered, create a presentation or poster that showcases the biology-related aspects of your doll's time period. Include visuals, facts, and explanations to present your findings.

Eighth Grade Talking Points

• During the time period of your American Girl Doll, people relied heavily on natural resources for their daily needs. Can you think of some examples of natural resources that would have been important for survival?
• The ecosystem in which your doll lived was made up of various organisms. Each organism had a role to play in maintaining balance. Can you explain how organisms depend on each other for survival?
• Human activities can have both positive and negative impacts on the environment. Can you think of any activities during your doll's time period that may have harmed the environment? How do you think it affected the ecosystem?
• Creating a presentation or poster is a great way to organize information and communicate your findings. What key points would you include in your presentation to effectively convey the biology-related aspects of your doll's time period?