Ecosystems+and+How+They+Work

by: Kayla Morgan**
 * Ecosystems and How They Work

GLE 0407.3.2 Investigate different ways that organisms meet their energy needs.

GLE 0407.4.1 Recognize the relationship between reproduction and the continuation of a species

GLE 0407.5.2 Describe how environmental changes caused the extinction of various plant and animal species.


 * __Materials Needed:__** Teacher made puzzle piece examples with different species, Ecosystem Power Point Presentation, Internet access, student computers with Kidspiration program, individual Scientist Notebooks (or paper for reflection)


 * **Prior to this lesson, students will need to be familiar with the Kidspiration program**
 * **This lesson may require 2 days**

In this lesson, students will be introduced to the basic principles of an ecosystem. They will investigate food chains and food webs. Through this investigation, students will see the importance of a balanced ecosystem and how all of the learned concepts work together to create this. **This lesson will use the "5-E Learning Cycle" which will be featured in the newly adopted Science textbooks. 1. Engage 2.Explore 3.Explain 4.Evaluate 5.Extend**

__**Lesson Steps:**__

1. The teacher will **"Engage"** learners by placing magnetized puzzle pieces on the front board. Each puzzle piece will have a different organism from a particular ecosystem on it. The puzzle pieces will not be in any particular order, which will cause the students to focus in on the objects and why they are important for this lesson.

2. Have the students use their Scientist Notebooks and **"Explore"** the purpose of the puzzle pieces on the front board, and how they may relate to one another. They can draw a picture or write out their reasoning.

3. As a class, view the "Ecosystems and How They Work" Power Point as a means of **"Explaining"** this topic to students. The Power Point will review and allow practice with Food Chains and Food Webs through the linked websites below. Also use any materials in the Science text that are in relation to this content area. [|Food Chain Practice] [|Food Web Practice]

4. After viewing and discussing the Power Point and textbook materials, students will work in partner groups to complete a Kidspiration Food Chain Lesson. In this lesson, they will use pictures to complete 3 examples of a food chain. These chains can represent any ecosystem that the students choose. After creating their visual examples, they will be required to go into the Kidspiration writing mode to describe and explain what they have created.

5. As a means of **"Evaluating"** the students, the teacher will observe as the partner groups work together. When a group has completed their Kidspiration assignment, they will need to print their final products for the teacher to evaluate.

6. To close this lesson, the class will come together focusing on the mixed puzzles pieces on the board. The teacher will have the students reflect back to their Scientist Notebooks and share their Explorations from the beginning of the lesson. After sharing, the class will work together to complete Food Chains and Webs using the puzzle pieces. Be sure to review the vocabulary from the Power Point as you do this, to check for student understanding over these words.

7. **"Extension"** opprotunities: 1. Remove some of the puzzle pieces from the chain/web that the class constructed on the board, and have the students reflect in their Scientist Notebooks on how this move would affect the ecosystem. 2. Allow students time in stations or in the computer lab to complete the Kidspiration Food Web Activity. 3. Practice/explore other Food Web creations using the following website: [|Food Web Extension Practice]