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Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Decomposers

For Students 9th - 10th
Without the work of decomposers, living organisms would eventually use up all the raw materials in the environment, and dead organisms and wastes would pile up. This video segment from Interactive NOVA: "Earth" describes the role of...
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Unit Plan
OpenSciEd

Open Sci Ed: 7.4 Matter Cycling & Photosynthesis

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Where does food come from and where does it go next? This unit helps students figure out that they can trace all food back to plants, including processed and synthetic food. They obtain and communicate information to explain how matter...
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: A Bug's Life: Under a Rock!

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this classroom biology lab, students will investigate the role or purpose of decomposers.
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Activity
Sheppard Software

Sheppard Software: Parts of the Food Chain: Producers, Consumers, Decomposers

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn how scientists classify different types of organisms in an ecosystem or in a food chain by their role and function as either a producer, a consumer, or a decomposer. Then play a game that tests your understanding of these important...
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Handout
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Bacteria

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson will provide the characteristics of the domain Bacteria.
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Cleaning Up With Decomposers

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate decomposers and the role of decomposers in maintaining the flow of nutrients in an environment. Students also learn how engineers use decomposers to help clean up wastes in a process known as bioremediation. This...
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Life Science: Consumers and Decomposers

For Students 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Producers make their own food through photosynthesis. But many organisms are not producers and cannot make their own food, but must get their energy from other...
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Biology: Flow of Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes how energy flows through an ecosystem.
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Life Science: Helpful Bacteria

For Students 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Can we survive without bacteria? Could bacteria survive without us? Learn more about helpful bacteria in this learning module produced by CK-12.
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Unknown Type
Soft Schools

Soft Schools: Kingdom Fungi Quiz

For Students 3rd - 8th
Take this interactive quiz over fungi, then review your score and any missed questions at the end.
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Handout
Planet Pals

Planet Pals: The Food Chain

For Students 3rd - 8th
Omnivores, herbivores and carnivores are waiting for you. The food chain comes to life at this friendly site.
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Unit Plan
BBC

Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: Organization in Ecosystems

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson focuses on food chains in ecosystems, including levels of consumers, decomposers, and a list of common words used with food chains and their definitions. It also provides a link to an assessment.
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Unit Plan
BBC

Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: Material Cycling in Ecosystems

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson focuses on the carbon cycle which shows how atoms of carbon can exist within different compounds at different times and be recycled between living organisms and the environment. It also provides a link to an assessment.
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Unit Plan
BBC

Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: Organization of an Ecosystem Aqa

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson focuses on the organization of an ecosystem. The feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem can be seen in food chains. Sampling allows us to measure the abundance and distribution of these species. It provides...
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Handout
Other

Paul's Garden World: The Science of Composting

For Students 9th - 10th
Very thorough description of different organisms involved in decomposing organic material through composting. Includes actinomycetes, bacteria, fungi, and a variety of macro-organisms which also function as decomposers. Also discusses...
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Handout
PBS

Nh Pbs: Nature Works: Decomposers

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives a detailed overview of "decomposers": bacteria, fungi, and earthworms. Content includes a look at how decomposers contribute to a symbiotic relationship.
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Whiteboard
SMART Technologies

Smart: Energy Flow in an Ecosystem

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students learn about Abiotic and Biotic Factors and how they affect the ecosystem in which an animal might live in.
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eBook
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Life Science: 12.17 Consumers and Decomposers

For Students 5th - 9th
Learn the difference between consumers and decomposers in the ecosystem.
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Handout
MadSci Network

Mad Sci Network: Three Decomposers

For Students 9th - 10th
The MadSci Network answers the posted question by describing three large groups of decomposers: bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes.
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Unit Plan
Other

Warrensburg Schools: Decomposers or Destroyers

For Students 3rd - 5th
This site from Warrensburg Schools gives a great overview of decomposers, and asks each student to pick an animal to research and complete the "challenge."
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Unit Plan
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Fungi

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson will provide the characteristics of the domain fungi.
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PPT
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Living Organisms and Their Environment: Lesson 2

For Students 7th - 8th
This lesson will discuss the interactions of and interdependence among living things. It is 2 of 4 in the series titled "Living Organisms and Their Environment."
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Unit Plan
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Living Organisms and Their Environment: Lesson 3

For Students 7th - 8th
This lesson will discuss the interactions of and interdependence among living things. It is 3 of 4 in the series titled "Living Organisms and Their Environment."
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Life Science: Human Uses of Fungi

For Students 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Fungi are extremely important to the ecosystem because they are one of the major decomposers of organic material. But how do they help people? They are used to help...