Ecosystem Model Project
Your Goal: To make an ecosystem (diorama/ model) showing how an ecosystem works.
Organisms must have the necessary resources in the ecosystem to maintain their existence.
Part A – The Ecosystem
1. Choose an ecosystem (forest, desert, coral reef, ocean, rocky shore, grassland,
mountain, savanna, prairie and pond etc.) to study independently. Focus your
research on the main biotic and abiotic elements in the ecosystem. Do some
research as to what plants and animals live in your ecosystem and how they interact
with each other (in other words - who eats who!)
2. Brainstorm: Create a T-chart (sample below) or graphic organizer to help you sort
your findings into the following categories:
1) Abiotic 2) Biotic: Plants and Animals (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores).
* Be as specific as you can when naming your elements (i.e. Toucans vs. bird, Deciduous
Tree or pine tree vs. tree).
*Hand in to the teacher before you begin your model.
ABIOTIC
BIOTIC
Plants
Herbivore
Animals
Omnivore
Carnivore
3. You need to find a minimum of at least 3 abiotic elements, 3 plants, 3
herbivores, 3 omnivores and 3 carnivores in the ecosystem.
4. Once you have gathered all of the information, begin to create your model ecosystem.
 You can start by drawing or creating the landscape. This is best done by colouring
in the background or the inside of the box (for the model). You may want to colour
in paper and cut it out to stick into the model box or you may wish to paint or use
other materials to create the landscape. Then create or draw, colour in and cut out
the various animals and plants. Cut them out and stick them onto the background as
they would interact.
5. You must LABEL the name of each element in your ecosystem. (What [species] is it?)
Due Date: _______________________
Part B – Interactions in the Ecosystem
Throughout this unit, we have been examining how an organism interacts with the living and nonliving elements in an ecosystem. We have discussed and investigated predator/prey relationships
as well as food chains and webs. Now it is time to put that knowledge into practice and explore
some of the interactions between different components in your ecosystem.
Your Goal: Using your model ecosystem and generate one food web on a poster/flyer.
1. Using your model, create 1 food web that contains at least 8 elements. Display this web on
a separate piece of paper. (Remember to include producers, primary consumers, and
secondary consumers.) They must be realistic feeding relationships!
** A food web contains many food chains; make sure your consumers have a variety of food
to eat. **
2. On your food web ‘poster’ - label whether each living thing is a producer or consumer.
3. Each consumer must also be labeled as a herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, or decomposer.
4. Draw all the connections within your web using an arrow between the elements to show
the flow of energy. (Show where the energy is going.)
Part C – Presentation
1. You will present your model and food web to fellow students, to demonstrate what
you learned about your ecosystem.
Use the following questions to help you develop a good project.
□ Is your name on the front of the project?
□ Is the ecosystem type easily identified?
□ Is the model a 3D representation of an ecosystem?
□ Are all the elements included?
o (at least 3 abiotic elements, 3 plants, 3 herbivores, 3 omnivores and 3 carnivores)
□ Is your ecosystem model neat and made with attention to detail?
□ Are the elements correctly labeled? Each element must be labeled with its name.
□ Are the food web elements correctly labeled?
□ Is the flow of energy shown within your web using an arrow?
□ Is your food web neatly constructed and easy to follow?
Ecosystem Model Project
Category
Level 1
Name:
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Brainstorming
chart
Chart/organizer is
incomplete
Chart/organizer is
missing components
or is too generalized
Quality of
Construction
/Overall
Appearance
The model was put
together sloppily.
Items appear
messy. Pieces may
be loose or hanging
over the edge.
The model shows
some attention to
construction. Most
items are neatly
created and securely
attached.
The model shows
attention to
construction. Items
are neatly created
and are carefully
secured.
Little effort shown.
Some effort shown.
Effort is shown.
Significant effort
shown.
Many items are not
labeled. Labels are
not neat or legible.
Some items are
missing labels. Most
labels are legible and
neat.
Most items are
labeled. Labels are
neat and legible.
All items are labeled
neatly and legible on
model.
Labels include most
pieces of information
Labels include all
pieces of information
The model is missing
1-2 of the necessary
items.
The model includes all
of the necessary items
Labels
(Species name is
included, as well as
producer/consumer
and type of
consumer)
Content
Food Web
Labels do not
include all pieces of
information.
Some labels are
missing pieces of
information
The model is
The model is missing a
missing many of the few of the necessary
necessary items or items.
has incorrect items
Displays an
Somewhat displays an
inaccurate/limited
accurate and detailed
depiction of the
natural environment depiction of the
natural environment
Food web shows less Food web shows 6-7
than 6 elements and elements and some
the interactions
interactions/flow of
/flow of energy is
energy accurately.
inaccurate.
Web is somewhat neat
Web is not very neat and easy to follow
or easy to follow
Chart/organizer has
Chart/organizer has all
most components, with components, in detail
some detail
Displays an accurate
and detailed
depiction of the
natural environment
Food web shows 8
elements and their
interactions/flow of
energy accurately.
Web is neat and easy
to follow
The model shows
considerable attention
to construction. All
items are neatly
created and secure.
Displays a very
accurate and detailed
depiction of the
natural environment
Food web shows more
than 8 elements and
their interactions/flow
of energy accurately.
Web is neat, detailed,
and easy to follow
Oral Presentation
Delivery
(voice, eye contact)
Preparation
(planned content,
evidence of practice)
Content
(Summary of habitat,
food web and
interactions)
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