Science
Strand III
SCI.III.5.1
Grade: 5
Using Scientific Knowledge in Life Science
Ecosystems - All students will explain how parts of an ecosystem are
Standard: 5
related and how they interact
Benchmark:
1
Describe common patterns of relationships among populations.
Constructing and Reflecting:
SCI.I.1.1 - Generate scientific questions about the world based on observation.
SCI.I.1.5 - Use sources of information in support of scientific investigations.
SCI.II.1.1 – Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of claims, arguments, or data.
SCI.II.1.3 - Show how common themes of science, mathematics, and technology apply in real-world contexts.
SCI.II.1.5 - Develop an awareness of and sensitivity to the natural world.
Vocabulary / Key Concepts
Context
Participants and Relationships:
• predator
• prey
• parasite
• competition
• mutually beneficial
Relationships among plants and animals in an
ecosystem
Mutually helpful relationships such as:
• insects and flowering plants
• birds eating fruit and spreading seeds
Parasitic (harmful) relationships such as:
• humans and mosquitoes
• trees and mistletoe
Competitive relationships such as:
• squirrels and seed-eating birds
• weeds and garden plants
Knowledge and Skills
Describe common pattern of relationships among
populations.
Resources
Coloma Resources:
Prentice Hall – Science Explorer –
Environmental Science pgs E31-38
Project Wild pgs 122-123
Other Resources:
• Ecology – MSU Assessment Project
•
The Living Edens (PBS) – The Moose
and the Wolf predator / prey relationship
•
Bill Nye: Caves, Deserts, Forests,
Lakes, Ponds, Ocean Life, Rivers,
Streams, Wet Lands.
•
Science Explosion: Ecosystems
•
Project Wild
•
Michigan Teacher Network Resources
•
Scope Unit – Dynamics of an
Ecosystem (Fifth)
Videoconferences Available
For more information, see
www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl or call Janine Lim
471-7725x101 or email jlim@remc11.k12.mi.us
III.5.MS.1
Habitat Explorers from the Buffalo Zoo
Africa Series from the Indianapolis Zoo
How Plants and Animals Help Each Other from
the Queens Botanical Garden
Instruction
Focus Question: What types of
interrelationships exist among populations in
an ecosystem?
•
•
•
•
Students will write a journal entry listing
relationships they have with other people that
are helpful to them, harmful to them, or mutually
helpful. Students will share their lists with a
partner.
Watch a video about interrelationships and
discuss the main concepts as a class.
Take a walk to an area near the school and
observe relationships in an ecosystem. With a
partner, students will record their observations.
As a class, students will share and compile their
data. Students will evaluate the relationships
they have observed (helpful, harmful,
competitive).
The teacher will introduce key concepts and
name the relationships that were identified.
Assessment
Optional Assessment:
Students, in small groups, will be given the
following scenario:
“Survivor II, The Next Generation” is coming out
next season. The rules have changed slightly.
This season teams of survivors will be placed on
separate islands where they will remain for one
month.”
The teacher will select a variety of islands from
around the world and write the names of the
islands on slips of paper. Each team will draw a
slip and then research the island. The winning
survivors will be chosen as a result of their fine
scientific journaling. To win the $1 million, you
must discover a way to show all of the relationships
you see among the different island populations on
Earth.
Team journals should include the following
information:
• Predator / prey relationships
• parasitic relationships (parasite / host)
• competition
• mutually beneficial relationships
Scoring Rubric:
(give students rubric prior to activity)
Criteria: Description of relationships:
Apprentice - Lists one relationship.
Basic - Describes two relationships.
Meets - Describes two complete relationships.
Exceeds - Describes three or more complete
relationships.
Teacher Notes:
“All organisms, including the human species, are part of and depend on two main interconnected global food webs. One
includes microscopic ocean plants, the animals that feed on them, and finally the animals that feed on those animals. The
other web includes land plants, the animals that feed on them, and so forth. The cycles continues indefinitely because
organisms decompose after death to return food material to the environment.” (BSL)
Focus Question
• What types of interrelationships exist among populations in an ecosystem?