Ecosystem Model Teacher Resources

Students fill in a diagram. In this tree growth instructional activity, students view a model of a tree, learn how trees grow and explore the layers of a tree. Students complete a diagram where they label the layers of a tree.

Students collect and record data. They model specimens. Students identify sex of butterflies. They analyze data. Students make conclusions based on collected data. They compare and contrast the different groups of insects such as...

Eighth graders observe and identify the different levels of the forest.  In this forest zones lesson students observe, identify and name a variety of forest components and describe how humans impact the forest ecosystem. 

Young oceanographers take a look at sea level data from several cities over a few centuries. They use the data to fuel a discussion about what kind of changes are taking place and the impact they are having on the coastal ecosystems....

Students investigate how much wood is in a forest. In this forestry lesson, students calculate how much usable wood comes from the forest. They will read, Sizing Things Up from Trees + Me = Forestry, measure firewood piles, and create a...

Students describe safe practice when doing field and lab investigations in a estuary or wetland. They create a model of an estuary and describe their value and function. They participate in field study in which they collect and analyze...

Learners use scientific methods during field and lab investigations. Students collect specimens and make measurements using the metric system. Learners describe biotic and abiotic factors in an estuary and design a model.

Students discover how wetlands filter out contaminants before they can reach other bodies of water. In groups, they design and build a model of a stormwater wetland. They test the water quality and inform their classmates about the...

Students create wetland models in pans and use them to experiment to see how plants help slow the flow of runoff water and keep our waterways clean.

See how changes in initial populations and parameters affect a biological community. Individuals use a special software program to simulate a desert community with five species. They adjust initial populations to see how the community...

Thirty percent of the world's oxygen is produced by rainforests found throughout the world. Seventh grade learners explore the processes of photosynthesis and respiration through 10 days of labs, manipulatives, and discussions. They...

Seamounts in the Coral and Tasman Seas are home to more than 850 different species. Groups explore hydrothermal vents, researching the organisms found there and their energy source. They also learn about seamounts, exploring their unique...

Find similarities in seemingly unlike organisms. The second instructional activity in a series of 12 builds the concept of a taxonomy and explores the use of a dichotomous key. Learners begin in part one by attempting to group a set of...

Make sea turtle or whale origami in a hands-on activity that provides instructions for folding and facts for learning about each.

The seventh lesson on Fresh Solutions in the 10-part series addresses solutions implemented on farms. It focuses on the options currently in use and hopes for the future of water conservation and farming.

Responsible farming is important for maintaining natural resources. Eager scientists complete a WebQuest to explore what happens to nitrogen when it enters the soil. They learn about the chemical makeup of nitrogen-based molecules...

Students create an animal by using physical characteristics to classify that animal in the Linnaean Classification System. This lesson is part of a multi-segmented unit on the diversity of life.

First graders investigate the organism known as a snail. They use snails to make observations of the body structure and the basic needs. The class is shown a chart and the teacher uses questions to induce student thinking. Then they...

Students watch a teacher demonstration modeling how wetlands can help reduce a hurricane's impact and describe what the model represents. They record data related to how different meshed materials affect a steam plume. Students compare...

Students explore global warming by conducting a weather experiment. In this greenhouse gas lesson, students define the greenhouse effect and the impact on our ozone layer. Students utilize a soda pop bottle, floodlight bulb, thermometers...

Students survey local wildlife. They distinguish between permanent and migrating or seasonal species. Students identify species and describe the ecological niche. Students research the food chain and food web for the backyard...

Students gain an understanding of necessary components required within a healthy, sustainable environment and ways human actions can impact that balance while discovering how to recognize and analyze explanations and models used in...

Students design a functional model of a coral reef ecosystem. In this coral reef instructional activity, students identify the energy sources and material cycles of a coral reef. They write an essay about their niche in their own ecosystem.

Students learn about watershed, as well as the different forms and uses of water. In this water forms lesson, students brainstorm water sources and uses. Students read the book Water Dance and discuss water examples. Students complete a...