EcoScenarios

 

Subject Area

 Ecosystems, Trophic Levels, Natural History
Age or Grade

 8th grade
Estimated Length

 50-80 minute class period to explain; 1 week for student projects
Prerequisite knowledge/skills

 Terminology and concepts: ecosystems, biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems, trophic levels/food webs
Description of New Content

1. All ecosystems have similarities- trophic levels, habitat, abiotic factors, etc.

2. Different ecosystems are unique in some aspects

2. Humans impact ecosystems in positive and negative ways
Goals

 Students will be able to describe facotrs that are similar and different in various ecosystems; use written reports and visual aids to share information; discuss ways in which humans impact natural ecosystems
Materials Needed

EcoScenario descriptions

Project Guidelines

Procedure

 

 

 

Opener Do humans live in ecosystems? Is there an ecosystem that humans do not live in? How do humans affect ecosystems? (potentially discuss global warming, habitat loss, pollution, overfishing, etc.)
Procedure: 1. Introduce project. Ideally, students have been studying ecosystems, trophic levels, and abiotic factors- this project will give tham a chance to explore these factors in depth for a single ecosystem.
2. Assign groups; hand out Project Guidelines
3. Give students suggestions for how to collect information on their ecosystems (e.g. internet, library, classroom books)
Closure Students should present their posters to the class after they are complete.

Evaluation

 Assess posters produced by students; evaluate based on Project Guidelines
Extensions

 1. Ask students to write a more in-depth report on their ecosystem and/or a single important species
2. Have students debate the benefits and consequences of human impacts on natural ecosystems
References FOSS Planetary Science Course, © The
Regents of the University of California