+
Handout
eSchool Today

E School Today: What Is an Ecosystem?

For Students 4th - 8th
Learn about all the different levels of ecosystems, from the living things under a rock, up to a rainforest biome. Explains the levels of organization within an ecosystem, the different types of biomes, food chains and trophic levels,...
+
Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Food Webs Moving Matter in an Ecosystem(day 2)

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students will build a food web diagram and illustrate the movement of matter through a series of food chains. Resources include detailed plans, examples of student work, videos of the lesson plan in action, and sample food webs.
+
Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Food Chains Moving Matter in an Ecosystem (Day 1)

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students will create a food chain model and use it to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment. Resources include a detailed lesson plan, student handouts, pictures of a completed chain,...
+
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...
+
Unit Plan
E-learning for Kids

E Learning for Kids: Science: Bermuda Triangle: How Is Energy Transferred Between Organisms?

For Students 5th - 7th
Bermuda is a mysterious place. Meet Scotty and his family and join them on their holiday to learn about energy transfer in ecosystems.
+
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...
+
Lesson Plan
The Wonder of Science

The Wonder of Science: 5 Ls2 1: Environmental Matter Cycling

For Teachers 5th
Work samples, phenomena, assessment templates, and videos that directly address standard: 5-LS2-1: environmental matter cycling.
+
Handout
Northwestern University

Northwestern: What Is a Decomposer?

For Students 3rd - 8th
This concise provides a brief definition of what a scavenger is and then profiles several scavengers (flies, wasps, and cockroaches).