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Biomes/ecosystems
Fifth graders examine ecosystems through a variety of activities including an Internet hunt, work at centers, and building a diorama on a specific habitat.
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Balance and Flux Reveal How Organisms Are Connected in Ecosystems
Students read about cats in Borneo and discuss role predators play in controlling population size. They map the interdependencies among species. They read about flux in ecosystems and complete a worksheet.
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Two Way Causality in Ecosystems
Students complete various activities in order to explain that ecosystems are complex and that animal behavior (mainly that of a predator) is not necessarily intentional or bad.
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Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Pupils explore Marjory Stoneman Douglas and her contribution to the ecosystems and National Parks.
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Interactions Among Living Things
Students role play predators and prey, classify organisms as predator or prey, and describe factors that affect population growth and size.
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Smokey's Message
Students list and discuss positive and negative effects of wildland fire. They discuss relationships among ecosystems and fire. They participate in role-playing activities related to wildland fire management.
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Preserving Paradise
Young scholars read an online article to study about the death of Joan Root. They research endangered ecosystems around the world and design ad campaigns to create public awareness.
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Animals Abound
Students explore the world of mammals, birds, and fish to compare and contrast their habitats, adaptations, and camouflages. Through research, musical experiences, and hands-on activities, the lives and adventures of these animals are...
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Build a Reef
Young scholars build a coral reef, then discover organisms that make up the ecosystem.
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Sea Connections
Students, after locating different marine habitats on a globe, play a card game about ecosystems, food webs and organisms.
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Ecosystem Interactions Web
Students pick an ecosystem (forest, desert, coral reef, open ocean, grassland, mountain, savanna, etc.) and design an interaction web for their chosen ecosystem. Each group shares their ecosystem's web of life with the class.
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Ecosystem Energizers
Fourth graders see how the flow of energy through an ecosystem made up of producers, consumers, and decomposers carries out the processes of life and that some energy dissipates as heat and is not recycled.
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Oh Where, Oh Where, Can My Industry Be?
Students conduct observational studies of three ecosystems by visiting the Web World Wonders website. They gather data, compare/contrast the information, and decide on the establishment of a nuclear power plant at one site over the others.
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Our Natural Resources
Students discuss key terms used to describe ecosystems and how humans are altering natural resources. They listen to the book, Grandfather's Wisdom, and list the renewable and nonrenewable resources they have used or consumed in the past...
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Ecology
Young scholars personify ecology vocabulary and write a one-act play using their knowledge of ecology as the basis for characters, conflict, setting and plot.
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Ecosystems and Habitats
Fourth graders go on a virtual field trip to five ecosystems. They investigate and videotape a temperate forest in the school's backyard.
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Comparing Ecosystems
Students, in groups, research two biomes. They create a Venn diagram and include the characteristics of each biome, placing similar features in the overlapping area of the circles.
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Ecosystems and Climate
Students examine climatic effects on ecosystems. They plant tomatoes and observe the differences in plant growth with differences in light. They create picture collages of plants, animals, and insects found in each climate of the U.S.
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The Web of Life - Ecosystem
Students examine the concepts of ecosystems and interdependence. They construct block pyramids to demonstrate interdependence, and map off an area to observe and identify animals. They create food chain mobiles and play a web of life game.
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Desert Animals
Middle schoolers survive within an ecosystem, an animal must be physically and behaviorally adapted to the conditions of its environment.
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Pond 1: Pond Life
Students investigate familiar and unfamiliar ecosystems using Internet resources. They explore how various organisms satisfy their needs within their environments and study the kinds of relationships that exist between organisms within...
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A Natural Habitat: What, How and Why
Students understand what a habitat is. They determine why a habitat is important to our environment no matter where it is located. Students observe and recognize natural habitats in their surroundings.
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Fisheries
Students research and report on the ocean's problems of disappearing or diminishing species around the world. students examine ecosystems and food chains and present their findings to a mock panel of science experts.
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Interdependence: Discovering What Makes a Balanced Ecosystem
Students demonstrate that plants and animals are interdependent in a balanced ecosystem.