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Ecosystems

Ecosystems

Lynnette Bixby

HudsonElementary School

Summer 2005

Mississippi [River] floodplain at flood [level], Gorham, Illinois

Department of Special Collections,

American Environmental Photographs

Collection,[AEP-ILS228], University of Chicago Library.

Students will have an understanding of plants and animals within a variety of ecosystems. Students will also become aware of consequences of natural and human changes to the environment within their assigned ecosystem.

Overview/State Standards/Resources/Procedures/Evaluation

Overview Back to Navigation Bar
Objectives / Students will:
  • Search several web pages related to ecosystems.
  • Observe and record features that are unique to their assigned ecosystem.
  • Work in groups of 2 or 3 to design a PowerPoint or poster that will share information with the rest of the class.

Recommended time frame / 3-5 Days
Grade level / 5th
Curriculum fit / Science, Social Science
Resources /
  • Ecosystems.ppt
  • Image Table
  • Rubric

IllinoisState Learning Standards Back to Navigation Bar
Science:
GOAL 11: Understand the processes of scientific inquiry and technological design to investigate questions, conduct experiments and solve problems.
11.A. Know and apply the concepts, principles and processes of scientific inquiry.
  • 11.A.2e Report and display the results of individual and group investigations.
GOAL 17: Understand world geography and the effects of geography on society, with an emphasis on the United States.
17.B. Analyze and explain characteristics and interactions of the Earth’s physical systems.
  • 17.B.2b Explain how physical and living components interact in a variety of ecosystems including desert, prairie, flood plain, forest, tundra.
  • 17.B.3b Explain how changes in components of an ecosystem affect the system overall.
17.C. Understand relationships between geographic factors and society.
  • 17.C.2c Explain how human activity affects the environment.

Procedures Back to Navigation Bar
Day One:
  • Teacher will introduce lesson with a PowerPoint demonstration using pictures from the Library of Congress.
  • Students will take notes during this time.
  • Teacher will assign ecosystems. Ecosystems.ppt
Day Two:
  • Students will use the internet to explore websites that are related to their assigned ecosystem.
  • Students will take notes on location, animals, plants, and possible ways that natural and human changes might affect the ecosystem.



Day Three - Four:
  • Students will continue to research and gather information on their ecosystem.
  • Students will prepare PowerPoint or poster and practice their presentation.
Day Five:
  • Students will present gathered information to the class.

Evaluation Back to Navigation Bar
  • Rubric

An Adventure of the American Mind

IllinoisStateUniversity