Ecosystems Lesson


California State Standard Grade 4: Science


California State Science Standard 2b:


 Students know producers and consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and decomposers) are related in food chains and food webs and may compete with each other for resources in an ecosystem.


Background:

our entire earth is comprised of ecosystems. every species of animal on this earth lives in an ecosystem. Therefore, there are many ecosystems that exist on earth. ecosystems consist of animals that have different classifications. These are herbivores that eat only plants, carnivores that eat only meat, herbivores that eat both plants and meat, and decomposers which aid in the decomposing process of animals and help the earth and environment.  Click here to learn What is an ecosystem

Students will be learning about the different jobs that animals have in different ecosystems. They will be able to investigate these different jobs and ecosystems through the lesson, helpful links, and interactive links and resources as well. They will learn how to classify carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, and decomposers.

Computer Requirements: Audio/Video and Internet


Lesson:

Here we go students into the wonderful world of Ecosystems and all how they work. Click on the link below the picture to access the lesson

                                                              click here to access lesson

Assignment:


After completing all components of the lesson, students will use research methods and investigative strategies to research an ecosystem or biome of their choice. Students are too research the type of land in that ecosystem as well as the producers, consumers (multiple levels of consumers), as well as decomposers. The results of these findings will be written in a one page grammatically correct essay that will be written in Microsoft Word and published in Google Drive. This will be accompanied by a short five to ten slide creative power point that will also be published in Google Drive and presented to the class. Please be sure to use cyber safety and use only reputable websites and sources. NO WIKIPEDIA!


Rubric


Post:

Research one of the items that was in the still want to know section from your KWLS chart. Respond with a brief post of 100-200 words and include reputable websites as your source. Describe in depth why you wanted to learn more about this topic, why it is important, and why it is better that you have now learned it. Please also explain how you can apply this knowledge both to what we learned and in the real world. 

Extension:

•  Participate in this fun interactive virtual lab for modeling ecosystems. you can model your own ecosystem and read and see all about it. Virtual ecosystem lab
•   Another great interactive ecology lab done through annenberg learner ecology virtual lab

This video explains ecosystems, biodiversity, and how plants and animals work together in the circle of life. All of that information is given in an extremely fun way in the form of a popular song from a popular artist. Please watch and enjoy.


Check out these Digital flashcards on ecosystems and math for fourth grade!!


Watch this Educreations video on how to round whole numbers!!


For this podcast, I read a poem by Robert Frost titled "The Road Not Taken"