guiding question how do living and nonliving things interact in an ecosystem? guiding question how...
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Guiding Question
How do living and nonliving things interact in
an ecosystem?
Guiding Question
How do plants and animals interact in an
ecosystem?
Task 1: Vocabulary PuzzleMaterials:•Vocabulary Puzzle Folders (one for each pair of students)
Instructions:Match the vocabulary words with the definitions. After you have matched all of the cards, turn the cards over to reveal a picture. If the picture is not complete, turn the cards back over to fix your errors.
Task 2: Animal HabitatsMaterials:•Animal Habitats Activity Cards (2)•Colored pencils
Instructions:Follow the directions to complete the two Animal Habitats Activity Cards.
Task 2 Activity Card: Animal Habitats
Think about a pond and all the organisms living there. Now look at the four organisms listed below. Illustrate those you would find in the pond and cross out the one that does not belong. Now, replace it with one you think would be found in the habitat.
Frog
Dragonfly
Mosquito
Cockroach
Complete the following sentence stems:
Four things an organism needs to survive in a pond habitat are__________ __________ __________ __________
If the population of mosquitoes suddenly decreased, then __________________________________________
Task 2 Activity Card: Animal Habitats
Here is a desert habitat. What characteristics do organisms share in order to survive in a desert? Illustrate the organisms you would find in the desert and cross out the one that does not belong. Now, replace it with one you think would be found in the habitat.
Rattlesnake
Clam
Tarantula spider
Cactus
Complete the following sentence stems:
Four things each organism needs to survive in a desert habitat are__________ __________ __________ ___________
If all desert vegetation died, then _________________________________________________________
Task 3: What’s My Habitat?Adapted from Kamico Instructional Mead, Inc.’s lesson “What’s My Habitat?”
Materials:•What’s My Habitat? Activity Card (1)•Drawing paper•Markers
Instructions:1.Use the letters listed next to the appropriate habitat characteristics to describe each living thing’s habitat. 2.Choose one of the habitats that you have described in the table. Based on the information from your table, draw and label the parts of that habitat.
Task 3 Activity Card: What’s My Habitat?
Adapted from Kamico Instructional Mead, Inc.’s lesson “What’s My Habitat?”
Living Things Habitat Description
cactus A, C, E, H, I, N
moray eel
polar bear
blue whale
woodpecker
squirrel
toad
mushroom
jack rabbit
Habitats:A. land F. underground K. trees O. freshwaterB. salt water G. moving water L. calm water P. moistC. hot H. dry M. wet Q. coldD. shady I. sunny N. sandy soil R. rich soilE. open area J. enclosed area S. average temperature
Task 3 Activity Card: What’s My Habitat? Answer Key
Adapted from Kamico Instructional Mead, Inc.’s lesson “What’s My Habitat?”
Living Things Habitat Description
cactus A, C, E, H, I, N
moray eel B, G or L, J, M, S
polar bear A, E, I, L or P, Q (winter)
blue whale B, E, G or L, M, Q or S
woodpecker D, K, P, S, can justify E and J
squirrel D, J, K, P, S
toad A and O, D, E and J, L, M and P, S
mushroom A, C, D, E and J, P, S
jack rabbit A, C, E, H, I
Habitats:A. land F. underground K. trees O. freshwaterB. salt water G. moving water L. calm water P. moistC. hot H. dry M. wet Q. coldD. shady I. sunny N. sandy soil R. rich soilE. open area J. enclosed area S. average temperature
Task 4: Organism InteractionsMaterials:•Organism Interactions Activity Cards (3)•Scissors•Glue
Procedure: Cut, sort and glue the pictures into either the positive or negative column. Place the picture on the back if it is not an interaction between two organisms.
Task 4 Activity Card: Organism InteractionsPositive Interaction
These interactions are beneficial to both organisms involved
Negative InteractionThese Interactions are usually beneficial to only one of the organisms involved.
Organism InteractionsHoneybees sting predators to protect their hives
Strong winds blow dead leaves off of trees
Butterflies land on bright colored flowers to suck the nectar. As a result they carry pollen to other flowers allowing the flowers to reproduce.
Fleas live in the fur of animals and use the animal’s blood as a source of food.
Fire ants sometimes live in bushes that provide them shelter. Herbivores will not eat a bush inhabited by ants.
The Egyptians Plover Bird hunts parasites off the backs of crocodiles.
Bean plants use corn stalks to help hold themselves in place while providing corn stalks with much needed nitrogen.
Mushrooms grow at the base of trees and help provide nutrients to the tree while the tree provides sugars to the mushroom.
Remora Fish attach themselves to the bodies of sharks. They feed on the scraps of the sharp and help keep the shark clean from parasites.
Organism InteractionsLichen on a tree trunk is a combination of a fungus that holds the lichen to the tree and algae that provides nutrients to the lichen.
Grasshoppers eat grass and other green plants.
Red foxes use their camouflage to sneak up on rabbits and eat them.
Some plants produce toxins which can kill insects that feed on plants.
Leeches attach themselves to a host and feed off the blood of that organism.
Large trees usually cover the ground below with shade. This kills ground dwelling plants that require direct sunlight.
Flowers that have bright petals are better adapted than flowers that have dull colored petals. This is because bright petals attract pollinators
Frogs burrow underground to avoid harsh dry conditions.
Some plants have broad leaves to collect a larger amount of sunlight.
Task 4 Activity Card: Organism InteractionsAnswer Key
Positive InteractionThese interactions are beneficial to both organisms involved
Butterflies land on bright colored flowers to suck the nectar. As a result they carry pollen to other flowers allowing the flowers to re produce. Fire ants sometimes live in bushes that provide them shelter. Herbivores will not eat a bush inhabited by ants.
The Egyptians Plover Bird hunts parasites off the backs of crocodiles. Bean plants use corn stalks to help hold themselves in place while providing corn stalks with much needed nitrogen.
Mushrooms grow at the base of trees and help provide nutrients to the tree while the tree provides sugars to the mushroom.
Remora Fish attach themselves to the bodies of sharks. They feed on the scraps of the sharp and help keep the shark clean from parasites.
Lichen on a tree trunk is a combination of a fungus that holds the lichen to the tree and algae that provides nutrients to the lichen.
Negative InteractionThese Interactions are usually beneficial to only one of the organisms involved.
Fleas live in the fur of animals and use the animal’s blood as a source of food.
Grasshoppers eat grass and other green plants.
Red foxes use their camouflage to sneak up on rabbits and eat them.
Honeybees sting predators to protect their hives
Some plants produce toxins which can kill insects that feed on plants.
Leeches attach themselves to a host and feed off the blood of that organism.
Large trees usually cover the ground below with shade. This kills ground dwelling plants that require direct sunlight.
Task 4 Activity Card: Organism InteractionsAnswer Key (Backside of paper)
Strong winds blow dead leaves off of trees
Flowers that have bright petals are better adapted than flowers that have dull colored petals. This is because bright petals attract pollinators
Frogs burrow underground to avoid harsh dry conditions.
Some plants have broad leaves to collect a larger amount of sunlight.
Assessment Card #1
Insects are often considered pests. However, many insects are beneficial to other organisms. Which of the following describes a positive interaction between an insect and another organism in its ecosystem?
A.Wasps sting humansB.Grasshoppers eat leavesC.Honeybees pollinate flowersD.Caterpillars eat tomato plants
Assessment Card #2
Which description fits an animal best adapted for swimming? A.Animal 1B.Animal 2C.Animal 3D.Animal 4
Animal 1 Animal 2 Animal 3 Animal 4oil-coated fur migrate by flying superior
tunneling abilitymembrane wings
migrate by swimming
hollow bones large, black-rimmed eyes
echolocation
heavy, solid bones
large wingspan thick, velvety fur soft, short fur
streamlined body Four chamberedheart
pointed snout insectivorous
Assessment Card #3Chipmunks live in a variety of habitats. They build a maze of underground burrows that they depend on to deal with the harsh seasons and the availability of food.
– Explain how living in underground burrows helps chipmunks survive in a habitat with hot summers.
– Explain how living in underground burrows helps chipmunks survive in a habitat with cold winters.