Unit 2 Lesson Plan – Relationships & Cycles of Matter and Energy in Ecosystems
Teacher:
Jennifer Wright
Time Frame:
14 Days
Grade:
6
School:
BCMS
Subject:
PSI Middle School Science
NGSS DCI:
MS-LS2.A: Interdependent
Relationships in Ecosystems
Organisms, and populations of organisms, are dependent on
their environmental interactions both with other living things and with
nonliving factors. (MS-LS2-1)
MS-LS2.B: Cycle of Matter and
Energy Transfer in Ecosystems
In any ecosystem, organisms and populations with similar
requirements for food, water, oxygen, or other resources may compete
with each other for limited resources, access to which consequently
constrains their growth and reproduction. (MS-LS2-1)
Growth of organisms and population increases are limited by access
to resources. (MS-LS2-1)
Similarly, predatory interactions may reduce the number of organisms
or eliminate whole populations of organisms. Mutually beneficial
interactions, in contrast, may become so interdependent that each
organism requires the other for survival. Although the species involved
in these competitive, predatory, and mutually beneficial interactions
vary across ecosystems, the patterns of interactions of organisms with
their environments, both living and nonliving, are shared. (MS-LS2-2)
Food webs are models that demonstrate how matter and energy is
transferred between producers, consumers, and decomposers as the
three groups interact within an ecosystem. Transfers of matter into and
out of the physical environment occur at every level. Decomposers
recycle nutrients from dead plant or animal matter back to the soil in
terrestrial environments or to the water in aquatic environments. The
atoms that make up the organisms in an ecosystem are cycled
repeatedly between the living and nonliving parts of the ecosystem.
(MS-LS2-3)
Instructional Objective:
MS-LS2-1
Instructional Objective:
MS-LS2-2
Instructional Objective:
MS-LS2-3
Instructional Objective:
MS-LS2-4
Instructional Objective:
MS-LS2-5
Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of
resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an
ecosystem.
Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among
organisms across multiple ecosystems.
Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy
among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes
to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect
populations.
Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and
ecosystem services.*
Matter & Energy in Ecosystems
Essential Questions
(What questions will the student be able to answer as a result of the instruction?)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
What are the different levels of ecology?
What are the factors within an ecosystem?
What are the requirements of living things?
How do organisms compete for resources?
What is the effect of predators in an ecosystem?
What are the mutually beneficial relationships in an ecosystem?
How is matter and energy transferred in food webs?
What is the relationship among producers, consumers, and decomposers?
Knowledge & Skills
(What skills are needed to achieve the desired results?)
By the end of this unit, students will know:
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By the end of this unit, students will be able to:
Abiotic and biotic factors within an ecosystem
How autotrophs differ from heterotrophs
How organisms utilize energy
The role of decomposition in the ecosystem
How energy is transferred throughout food webs
Growth of organisms and populations is limited by
resources
What factors affect the balance within an
ecosystem
 Give examples of the levels of ecology
 Describe how organisms depend on their environment
 Describe the transfer of energy through organisms in a
food chain
 Recognize the importance of decomposition
 Understand the role of predators in ecosystems.
 Demonstrate the effects of organisms competing for
resources
 Explain types of symbiotic relationships
Matter & Energy in Ecosystems
Knowledge
Define abiotic & biotic
factors
Tell the difference
between producers,
consumers and
decomposers
List the different types
of biomes
Define ecology terms:
niche, habitat,
population & community
List ways energy is lost
through the food chain
**Define limiting
factors and carrying
capacity
Define succession
Reasoning
**Describe the
consequences of
change in one or more
abiotic factors on a
population within an
ecosystem
Describe the
characteristics of the
different biomes
Compare & contrast a
food chain, a food
pyramid, and a food
web
Explain how food
energy is transferred in
a food chain
**Describe how the
number of organisms
an ecosystem can
support depends on
the resources
available (biotic and
abiotic limiting
factors)
Skills
Products
Place organisms in a
food chain/food
pyramid and calculate
the energy lost and
left at each level
*Develop a model to
describe the cycling
of matter & flow of
energy among living
& nonliving parts of
an ecosystem
Investigate how
communities are
interconnected, how
they interact with
different Earth
systems
Graph how predatorprey cycles over time
*Construct an
explanation that
predicts patterns of
interactions among
organisms across
multiple ecosystems
*Analyze & interpret
data to provide
evidence for the
effects of resource
availability on
organisms &
populations of
organisms in an
ecosystem
Make inferences about
stimuli (internal &
external) that influence
behavior
Explain how biotic and
abiotic factors cycle
**Make inferences
about the factors
influencing behavior
based on
data/evidence of
various organism’s
behaviors based in
Matter & Energy in Ecosystems
Produce a lab report
showing how
predators/prey cycle
*Develop a model to
describe the cycling
of Earth’s materials
& the flow of energy
that drives this
process
part by heredity and in
part from experience
**Explain that
biological change over
time accounts for the
diversity of species
developed through
gradual processes
over many
generations
LT.EC.1: I can define ecosystem, biome, organism, communities, biosphere, habitat, and population.
LT.EC.2: I can identify biotic and abiotic factors within an ecosystem.
LT.EC.3: I can differentiate between autotrophs and heterotrophs.
LT.EC.4: I can give examples of the levels of ecology.
LT.EC.5: I can describe how organisms depend on their environment.
LT.EC.6 I can define parasitism, predator, mutualism, prey, commensalism, and symbiosis.
LT.EC.7: I can demonstrate the effects of organisms competing for resources.
LT.EC.8: I can explain the types of symbiotic relationships.
LT.EC.9: I can explain how the growth of organisms and populations is limited by resources.
LT.EC.10: I can explain the role of predators in an ecosystem.
LT.EC.11: I can define food chain, consumer, atoms, decomposer, photosynthesis, food web, and
producer.
LT.EC.12: I can recognize the importance of decomposers.
LT.EC.13: I can demonstrate how energy is transferred throughout food webs.
Assessment
(What is acceptable evidence to show desired results (rubrics, exam, etc.)? Attach Copy
During the Smart Notebook lesson designed to introduce concepts, students will be continually questioned on these
concepts using a combination of class work/homework questions and the SMART Response system. Classwork and
Homework questions will be discussed as a class and misconceptions will be addressed by the teacher prior to the
formal evaluations listed below.
Project: Biome Research
Quiz 1: Biomes & Ecosystems
Activity: Animal Adaptation
Quiz 2: Competition and Balance in Ecosystems Quiz
Quiz 3: Energy in Food Webs Quiz
Activity: Yarn Web
Unit Test
Matter & Energy in Ecosystems
Schedule
(What is the sequence of activities, learning experiences, etc, that will lead to desired results (the plan)?
Day
Topic
Classwork
Homework
Slides 4-17
1-2
Introduction to Biomes & Ecosystems:
Biomes, Ecosystems, Habitats
3-4
Ecosystems:
Biotic vs. Abiotic Factors, Autotrophs,
Heterotrophs,
Biome/Ecosystem/Habitat
Research
CW 1-3
Finish Research WS (if needed)
HW 4-9
Slides 18-31
HW 14-17
CW 10-13
Introduction to Biomes and
Ecosystems Test
5
Competition for Resources
Organisms Needs
6-7
Competition of Resources
Predators/Prey, Invasive Species,
Adaptations
8-9
Balance Within an Ecosystem
Interdependency, Symbiotic Relationships
10-11
Energy in Food Webs:
Transfer of Energy
HW 24- 25
Slides 32 – 41
CW 18-19
Slides 42 – 57
HW 26 - 28
CW 20 - 23
Adaptation Activity
Slides 58 – 73
HW 32 - 34
CW 29 - 31
Competition and Balance in
Ecosystems Test
HW 39-42
Slides 74 – 94
CW 35-38
Energy in Food Webs Quiz
Finish up materials in
preparation for unit test
Study Guide
Study Guide
Study Guide
Unit Test
N/A
N/A
12
Quiz
13
14
*Depending upon pacing and the amount of discussion days 1-2 & 3-4 can be condensed.
Matter & Energy in Ecosystems