Name : Mr. Dan Schuller Date : 3/12 – 3/16/12 Length of Lesson : 12 days Content Area: Ecosystems and Their Interactions –
Unit 7
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LESSON TOPIC:

Ecosystems

Cycles in Ecosystems

Ecological Succession
UNDERSTANDING GOALS (CONCEPTS):
Students will understand:

Ecosystems

Biotic and abiotic factors of ecosystems

Matter and energy in an ecosystem

Habitat and niche

Biomes and Aquatic Life Zones

Cycles in an ecosystem

Ecological succession
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BIG IDEAS:
(Content standards, assessment anchors, eligible content) objectives, and skill focus)
MODULE B—Continuity and Unity of Life
ASSESSMENT ANCHOR BIO.B.4 Ecology
PA Standard 4.6: Ecosystems
SAI 1: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.
National Science Standards: SPSP 3a, 3b, 3c, 4b, & 6d.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

What is an ecosystem?

What are the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem?

How does matter and energy move through an ecosystem?

Why is soil important?

What is the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?

What are habitats and niches?

What is homeostasis?

What are biomes?

How does matter cycle in an ecosystem?

What are the stages of succession?
VOCABULARY:
Biosphere; food chain; ecosystem; food web; organism; producer; species; consumer; population; herbivore; community; secondary consumer; habitat; carnivore; biotic factor; omnivore; abiotic factor; tertiary consumer; scavenger; decomposer; trophic level; energy pyramid; soil horizon; limiting factor; carrying capacity; niche; homeostasis; biome; deciduous; coniferous forest; desert; ecological succession; climax community; primary succession; secondary succession; pioneer species;
STUDENT OBJECTIVES
(COMPETENCIES/OUTCOMES):
Students will be able to:

Compare the interaction of biotic and abiotic components in an ecosystem.

Analyze the effects of abiotic factors on specific ecosystems.

Describe how the availability of resources affects organisms in an ecosystem.

Explain energy flow in a food chain through an energy pyramid.

Explain trophic levels.

Evaluate the efficiency of energy flow in a food chain.

Explain the concept of carrying capacity in an ecosystem.

Identify the major biomes and explain their similarities and differences.

Assess the effects of latitude and altitude on biomes.

Describe an element cycle and its role in an ecosystem.

Explain the consequence of interrupting natural cycles.

Identify causes of succession.

Identify and explain the succession stages in an ecosystem.
PERFORMANCE TASKS:

Case Studies

Key vocabulary

You Solve Its!

Lesson Review Questions

Lab Investigations

Field Study

Activities Kits

Active Readings (Reading Anchor)
INSTRUCTIONAL
PROCEDURES:
ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT:
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS:

White boards

Discussion

Summarizing main ideas

Open-ended questions

Response cards
OTHER EVIDENCE:

Class participation

Unit Exam
MATERIALS AND
RESOURCES:

Computer
INTERVENTIONS:

Redirection during class.

One on one assistance.
ASSIGNMENTS:

Unit vocabulary

Guided note packets


Note-taking

Partnering

Cooperative Learning

Summarizing

Whole Class Response
SCAFFOLDING:

Guided notes

Build Vocabulary

Chunking

Teacher Prompting

Build on Prior Knowledge
OTHER:

Picture of the Day

Power Point with guided note packets

Class discussion

Lab investigations

Assignments (Class &
Home)

Computer projector

Textbooks

Folders

Handouts

Lab Materials

Laptops
CONTENT AREA READING:

Text Reading

Active Readings

Case Studies

Moving seat to a more productive location.

After class/school tutoring.

Corrections on assignment/exam.

Extension/Extended time to complete assignment/exam.

Alternative assignment.

Conference with other staff. (roster teachers, counselors or administrators)

Conference with parent.

Active Readings

Lab write ups/reports

Lab investigations

POTD sheets

Case Studies
DAY Monday DAY Tuesday DAY Wednesday DAY Thursday DAY Friday
1 3/12
OBJECTIVE(S) By the end of the lesson each student will be able to:
PROCEDURES /
TECHNIQUES
To reach objectives
Homework:
Characteristics of Ecosystems
Identify the components of ecosystems that affect living organisms.
Power Point notes on ecosystems.
Slides 26-38.
Collect Earth’s
Biome Review
Packet.
2 3/13
Creature Poster
Create a drawing of an imaginary creature and describe it’s habitat, niche and relationships.
Introduce Creature
Poster and show/read some past examples.
May work with a partner.
You Solve It! Pond
Ecosystem Due on
Thursday
3 3/14
Creature Poster
Create a drawing of an imaginary creature and describe it’s habitat, niche and relationships.
Class time to work on
Creature Posters.
You Solve It! Pond
Ecosystem Due on
Thursday
4 3/15
Creature Poster
Create a drawing of an imaginary creature and describe it’s habitat, niche and relationships.
Class time to finish up
Creature Posters.
Class Presentations of creatures.
Turn in You Solve It!
Pond.
5 3/16
Review the
Characteristics of
Ecosystems.
Review the concepts covered on ecosystems.
Class Review Game on ecosystems.
Ecosystems Test on
Monday.