UNIT 2: The Organization of Life
Principles of Ecology (3 weeks)
o The organization of life
o Energy flow & matter cycles
o Biomes & aquatic ecosystems
SEV.1. Students will investigate the flow of energy and cycling of matter within an ecosystem and relate these
phenomena to human society.
a. Interpret biogeochemical cycles including hydrologic, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, and carbon
cycles. Recognize that energy is not recycled in ecosystems.
b. Relate energy changes to food chains, food webs, and to trophic levels in a generalized ecosystem,
recognizing that entropy is a primary factor in the loss of usable food energy during movement up
the trophic levels.
c. Relate food production and quality of nutrition to population growth and the trophic levels
d. Relate the cycling of matter and the flow of energy to the Laws of Conservation of matter and
energy. Identify the role and importance of decomposers in the recycling process.
e. Distinguish between abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem and describe how matter and energy
move between these.
SEV2. Students will demonstrate an understanding that the Earth is one interconnected system.
a. Describe how the abiotic components (water, air, and energy) affect the biosphere.
b. Recognize and give examples of the hierarchy of the biological entities of the biosphere (organisms,
populations, communities, ecosystems, and biosphere).
c. Characterize the components that define a Biome. Abiotic Factors – to include
precipitation, temperature and soils.
SEV.3. Students will describe stability and change in ecosystems.
a. Describe interconnections between abiotic and biotic factors, including normal cyclic fluctuations
and changes associated with climatic change (i.e. ice ages).
b. Explain succession in terms of changes in communities through time to include changes in biomass,
diversity, and complexity.
c. Explain how succession may be altered by traumatic events.
d. Explain how biotic and abiotic factors influence populations
SEV.4. Students will understand and describe availability, allocation and conservation of energy and other
resources
c. Describe how energy and other resource utilization impact the environment and recognize that
individuals as well as larger entities (businesses, governments, etc.) have impact on energy
efficiency.
d. Describe the relationship of energy consumption and the living standards of societies.
Monday January 31
EQ: What is the difference between a biotic and an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?
Daily Ten
Notes: Organization & Interactions
Outside Observation Activity
Active Reading: Ecosystems: Everything is connected
Tuesday, February 1
EQ: What is an adaptation?
Daily Ten
Notes: Evolution
Active Reading: Evolution
Jeff Corwin Galapagos Island Video & Questions
Wednesday, February 2
EQ: What is an example of an adaptation?
Animal Adaptations Internet Lab in Media Center
Thursday, February 3
EQ: Why do the finches of the Galapagos have different beaks?
Daily Ten
Quiz: Ecosystems & Evolution
Bird Beak Lab
Friday, February 4
EQ:
Daily Ten
Animal Adaptations
Introduce Critter Projects-Students will have everything written and ready to put into powerpoint
on Monday
Monday, February 7
EQ:
Daily Ten
Work on Critter Project in Media Center
Tuesday, February 8
EQ: What is the ultimate source of energy for all living things?
Daily Ten
Present Critter Projects
Start notes on Energy Transfer
Wednesday, February 9
EQ: How much energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next?
Daily Ten
10%/Food chain & Web practice
Trophic Pyramid: Eat or be Eaten
Active Reading: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Thursday, February 10
EQ: How are humans affecting the carbon cycle?
Daily Ten
Introduce & work on Cycles Projects
Friday, February 11
EQ: What are the major process of the water cycle?
Daily Ten
Present Cycles Projects
Notes: Cycles
Cycles Video clips
Active Reading: The Cycling of Material
Read pages 124-128 #1-4
Monday, February 14
EQ: How does a pioneer species contribute to ecological succession?
Daily Ten
Water FRAME (Graphic Organizer)
Notes: Succession
Start Test Review
Tuesday, February 15
Daily Ten
Finish Test Review
Review Game
Wednesday, February 16
Unit 2 Test
Thursday, February, 17
Daily Ten
Lion King and Questions
Friday, February 18
Daily Ten
Into to Biomes Notes
Tuesday, February,22
EQ: What is the main limiting factor in a land biome?
Daily Ten
Biomes Internet Lab
Wednesday, February 23
EQ: What is permafrost?
Daily Ten
Notes: Biomes Chart
Biomes crossword puzzle
Thursday & Friday, February 24&25
EQ: What are limiting factors of aquatic biomes?
Daily Ten
Biome Ball Project
Monday, February 28
Daily Ten
Biomes Test