Producers and Consumers

STEM Project for Science

Mrs. Naples

NAME:______

BIG IDEAS:

  • Producers, consumers, and decomposers in an ecosystem all have a need for energy.
  • Producers, consumers, and decomposers play an important role in our environment.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

  • How do producers, consumers, and decomposers have their needs met?
  • How do producers, consumers, and decomposers impact the environment?

SITUATION:

The Mayor wants to open a community park for the people within Sebring so they can come to the park and enjoy the space the park provides. You have been asked to help the mayor create a park that gives space for people to meet and play, but also provides space to share with producers, consumers, and decomposers. Producers, consumers and decomposers are three very important parts of the food chain.

GOAL:

Your goal is to supply important information regarding producers, consumers, and decomposers to the community so that each can have his/her needs met.

ROLE:

You are working with the mayor of Sebring to help insure that the new community park is a working ecosystem of producers, consumers, and decomposers; so that they can all get their need for energy met and work together in the ecosystem.

AUDIENCE:

You will be providing your information to Sebring’s mayor. You will want to gain the support of the mayor to help create a community park where people can relax and enjoy, while allowing plants and animals to exist in harmony. You will also want to educate the citizens of Sebring about how producers, consumers, and decomposers work in an ecosystem.

PRODUCTS:

You will have your choice of which product you will create to help show the mayor of Sebring how important producers, consumers and decomposers are to the environment.

Pick ONE (1) of the following to create:

  1. Brochure

Create a brochure that highlights all the parts of your park ecosystem. Make sure you include:

  1. Activities people can do in your park (playground, swings, basketball court, swimming pool, bike path, etc.)
  2. Highlighting the producers (grass, flowers, plants, trees, etc.)
  3. Highlight the consumers (crickets, butterflies, squirrels, birds, frogs, bees, etc.)
  4. Highlight the decomposers (worms, ants, flies, mushrooms, etc.)
  5. Picture graph or bar graph of the different types of producers, consumers, and decomposers to be placed in the park.
  6. Grammar, spelling and neatness are also graded.
  1. Letter
  2. You will write a letter to the local newspaper (Alliance Review) to inform them about the park’s opening and what it has to offer to the public. Your goal is to convince the community those producers, consumers, and decomposers make a positive difference and play an important role in the park. Answer questions as who will benefit from the park? What will be included in the park? Where will the different components (playground, swings, basketball court, swimming pool, bike path, etc.) of the park be placed? Why are producers, consumers, and decomposers important?Grammar, spelling and neatness are also graded.
  1. Diorama

Create a diorama of the park ecosystem using clay, construction paper or other classroom/household items. Include:

  1. Examples of producers, consumers, and decomposers.
  2. Show where different components (playground, swings, basketball court, swimming pool, bike path, etc.) of the park be placed
  3. All parts of the diorama must be labeled.
  4. Describe why producers, consumers, and decomposers are important.
  5. Grammar, spelling and neatness are also graded.
  1. Multimedia Presentation

Using Powerpoint, Photo Story or Prezi presentation software you need to inform the mayor of Sebring about the importance of including producers, consumers, and decomposers in the park. Include:

  1. Examples of producers, consumers, and decomposers (with pictures)
  2. Show where different components (playground, swings, basketball court, swimming pool, bike path, etc.) of the park be placed (similar to a map)
  3. Describe why producers, consumers, and decomposers are important.
  4. Who will benefit from the park?
  5. Grammar, spelling and neatness are also graded.

Each one of these products has a rubric; please make sure you grab the one you are going to be presenting. You will have to present this to the whole class no matter which product you choose to do. Presenting is also part of your grade however, it is a small part. Most of this project will be done IN CLASS however; some things may need to be finished at home closer to the due date.

If you have concerns at ANY time please let me know so they can be addressed sooner than later. As always do not hesitate to contact me with questions.

I ______acknowledge that my student needs to choose a product to be done for science class and will make sure they turn one in and give them all the support they may need. My student chose to do a ______.

______Parent Signature