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Ecosystem Terms
In this science worksheet, students identify twenty-four terms in a word search about ecosystems. answers are available in various formats.
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Urban Ecosystems 4: Metabolism of Urban Ecosystems
Cities are compared to living, breathing, metabolizing organisms. Fourth in a five-part series of lessons, this one focuses on the flow of materials through a city. Links to interesting websites and images make your delivery of...
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Zebra Mussel Population Simulation
Learners are taught how to format and enter data into an Excel spreadsheet. They make a graph, and interpret graphed data. Students discuss the possible impacts of zebra mussels on the Hudson river. They graph zebra mussel data.
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Ecosystems
With a variety of multiple choice and short answer questions, the handout found here could be used in many ways in the classroom: pretest/posttest, study guide, reading guide, or entry/exit questions. There is not a lot of space for...
Sea World
Arctic Animals
Discover the coldest animals in the world with a lesson about the Arctic habitat. Kids use a glossary and information sheet about animals found in the Arctic Circle to complete several activities, including tracking the lemming...
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The Rainforest Community
Students create a miniature rainforest ecosystem, a terrarium. Students then explain how the continuous flow of energy and food in the ecosystem allows it to sustain itself.
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Ecological Relationships
Students identify ecological elements and their factors on species, populations and food webs. They analyze ecosystems for these elements and research how these factors influence species survival rate. Predictions on conditions over time...
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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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Mark-and-Recapture
Students investigate the mark-and-recapture method for estimating the population of an animal species. They evaluate given data to answer a set of questions.
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The Trouble with Crayfish
Fourth graders compare an ecosystem before and after they introduce crayfish to that ecosystem. In this ecosystem lesson plan, 4th graders see what happens when you introduce a non native animal to a habitat. Students then make...
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Are There Too Many Elk?
Students use information about elk populations in Arizona to make recommendations about population management. For this ecology lesson, students discover the problems associated with having a heard of elk that is too large. After...
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Butterflies in the Garden
Students estimate the population of a butterfly ecosystem and create a chart and graph based on information they find.
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Filling Up Florida
Students study factors controlling Florida's population growth and related environmental impacts. They research natural community types and construct maps (including a large-sized map of Florida) to be used for a simulation activity.
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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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Biodiversity - Does It Really Matter?
Students examine biodiversity, ecosystems, and extinction. They are divided into groups to discuss why they think biodiversity is important.
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Island Biogeography
Pupils work in small groups to sort through photos of an ecosystem following a major disturbance. They place these photos in chronological order to show the process of succession. They then do an experiment with yeast to show the...
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Alien Invasion
Students research how alien species can change an ecosystem. In this coral reef lesson plan, students describe invasive species and site evidence how these species came to be invasive and what control measures are possible.
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Oh Where, Oh Where, Can My Industry Be?
Young scholars 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...
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Forest Food Web
Students explore the elements of a forest ecosystem. They examine the elements needed to form a forest food web. Students construct and describe food webs that include nonliving elements of the ecosystem.
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Understanding Interactions Among Local Species and the Local Environment
Students examine the differences between biotic and abiotic factors, explain the difference between habitat and niche and compare how organisms get their nutritional needs. In this local environment lesson students trace the path...
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Oh Panther
Students play a game that replicates the balance of prey and predators in an ecosystem. In this physical education lesson, students follow the instructions to play "Oh Panther!" Students collect data regarding the game and discuss the...
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Are There Too Many Elk?
Students study elk populations in Arizona. In this data lesson students read an article on monitoring elk populations, analyze data and make management recommendations.
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The Rain Forest
Students explain the basics of the tropical rain forest ecosystem. They list the four general layers of vegetation found in the tropical rain forest.
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Information Fluency Unit
Fourth graders, after defining the task and searching for some creative strategies, role play being a Park Ranger who tries to save Big Bend from being removed from the National Park system in Texas. They support the keeping of Big Bend...