Ecology Unit Curriculum Map
Day
1
2
Topic
Lesson/Activity*
 What is ecology?
 Learn how to make observations as
a scientist and learning about the
scientific method
 Six levels of the earth’s
environment
 Learn about variables in
experiments
 Introduction to biomes
 Explore soil
 Ecology KWL pages 1-4
 Ecology Read Aloud/Group Discussion
 Peterson’s Pond (Phase 1: Day 1) pages 13-15
 Intro “Ecology Fair” project to students
 “Ecology” pages 2-3
 Peterson’s Pond (Phase 1: Day 2) pages 16-19
 Biomes
 Building a Terrarium habitat
 “Ecology” pages 4-5
 Start Biome Hunt
 Terrarium Habitat (Activity 1) pages 5-13
 Everything’s Comin’ Up. . . Bubbles demonstration
page 7
 Continue Biome Hunt
 Terrarium Habitat (Activity 2) pages 15-21
 Finish Biome Hunt
7
 Food Chains and Food Webs
 Adding Earthworms to the
terrarium
 Food Chains and Food Webs
 Adding isopods to the terrarium
 “Ecology” pages 6-7
 Fascinating Food Chains Activity page 5
 Terrarium Habitat (Activity 3) pages 23-31
 Activity 16: Food Chains pages 151-162
 Terrarium Habitat (Activity 4) pages 33-41
8
 Life Cycles (water/carbon)
 Adding more to the terrarium
 “Ecology” pages 8-9
 Water Goes Around and Around Activity pages 18-19
 Terrarium Habitat (Activity 5) pages 43-48
3
 Biomes
4
5
6
Unit Goals &
Objectives
(Green = Science and
Red = Language Arts)
IC1,IIIA1, IIIA2, IIIA3,
IIIA4, IIIB1
IA, IIIB
IB1, IC1, IB2, IIIA2,
IIIA3, IIIA4, IIIB1
IA, IIIB
IA2, IB1, IC2, IIIA2,
IIIA3, IIIA4, IIIB1
IA, IIIB
IA2, IB1, IC2, IIIA2,
IIIA3, IIIA4, IIIB1
IA, IIIB
IA2, IB1, IC2, IIIA2,
IIIA3, IIIA4, IIIB1
IA, IIIB
IA1, IB2, IIIA2, IIIA3,
IIIA4, IIIB1
IA, IIIB
IA1, IIIA2, IIIA3, IIIA4,
IIIB1
IA, IIIB
IB3, IIIA2, IIIA3, IIIA4,
IIIB1
IA, IIIB
*Activities color-coded to Ecology Resources handout. Match color of activity with color of resource title.
Ecology Unit Curriculum Map
 Endangered Species
 Introduction to microscope parts
and practice using microscope
 Endangered Species
 “Ecology” pages 10-11
 Peterson’s Pond (Phase 1: Day 3) pages 20-22
 Balance of Nature/Succession
 Continued practice with using the
microscope
 “Ecology” pages 12-13
 Peterson’s Pond (Phase 1: Day 4) pages 22-24
 Pollution in our environment
 Introduction to pH scale and how to
test pH
 “Ecology” pages 14-17
 Peterson’s Pond (Phase 1: Day 5) pages 24-25
 Fixing the pollution problems in
our environment
 Water Pollution Lab: How Sewage Kills Water Life
pages 12-14
 Putting pollution in perspective activity page 35
 Pass out “ECOLOGY FAIR” information packets and
do rough draft ideas for independent research project.
 Peterson’s Pond (Phase 2: Day 1) pages 25-28
14
 Pond Ecosystem Scientific Mystery
Simulation
 Microscopic observations
 Peterson’s Pond (Phase 2: Day 2) pages 28-31
15
 Pond Ecosystem Scientific Mystery
Simulation
 Examine map of Peterson’s Pond
9
 “Suitcase for Survival” from Indianapolis Zoo
10
11
12
13
IA2, IC3, IIIA2, IIIA3,
IIIA4, IIIB1
IA, IIIB
IA2, IC3, IIIA2, IIIA3,
IIIA4
IA, IIIB
IA2, IB3, IIA1, IIB1,
IIB3, IIB4, IIC1, IIC2,
IIC3, IIIA2, IIIA3, IIIA4
IA, IIIB
IIA3, IIB1, IIB3, IIB4,
IIC1, IIC2, IIC3, IIIA2,
IIIA3, IIIA4, IIIB1
IA, IIIB
IC3, IIB2, IIC1, IIIA2,
IIIA3, IIIA4
IA, IIIB
IA1, IA2, IB1, IB2, IB3,
IC2, IIA2, IIIA1, IIIA2,
IIIA3, IIIA4, IIIB1,
IIIB2, IIIB3, IIIB4
IA, IIIB
IA1, IA2, IB1, IC2,
IIA2, IIC2, IIIA1, IIIA2,
IIIA3, IIIA4, IIIB1,
IIIB2, IIIB3, IIIB4
IA, IIIB
*Activities color-coded to Ecology Resources handout. Match color of activity with color of resource title.
Ecology Unit Curriculum Map
16
 Pond Ecosystem Scientific Mystery
Simulation
 Water Cleanliness
17
 Pond Ecosystem Scientific Mystery
Simulation
 pH test of Pond Water
18
 Pond Ecosystem Scientific Mystery
Simulation
 Analysis of all the clues
 Ecology Fair Work Day
19
 Ecology Fair Work Day
20
 Ecology Fair Work Day
21
 Ecology Fair Work Day
22
 Peterson’s Pond (Phase 2: Day 3) pages 32-33
IB1, IB4, IIB2, IIC1,
IIC2, IIIA1, IIIA2,
IIIA3, IIIA4, IIIB1,
IIIB2, IIIB3, IIIB4
IA, IIIB
IB1, IB4, IIB2, IIC1,
 Peterson’s Pond (Phase 2: Day 4) pages 34-36
IIC2, IIIA1, IIIA2,
IIIA3, IIIA4, IIIB1,
IIIB2, IIIB3, IIIB4
IA, IIIB
IB1, IB2, IIC1, IC2,
 Peterson’s Pond (Phase 2: Day 5) pages 36-38
IIB2, IIC2, IIIA1, IIIA2,
 MUST HAVE “ECOLOGY FAIR” topic picked and
IIIA3, IIIA4, IIIB1,
approved by today! (Ecology Fair Handout #1 Due!)
IIIB2, IIIB3, IIIB4
IA, IIIB
 MUST HAVE “ECOLOGY FAIR” product picked and IIIA1, IIIA2, IIIA3,
IIIA4
approved by today! (Ecology Fair Handout #2 due!)
IID, IIE, IIIB
 Introduce note-card format for doing ecology research
(Research Handout #1)
 Introduce format for keeping track of resources for
bibliography (Research Handout #2)
 Brainstorm research topic questions (Research Handout
#3)
 In-class time for research
IIIA1, IIIA2, IIIA3,
 In library/computer lab researching for topic
IIIA4
IID, IIE, IIIB
IIIA1, IIIA2, IIIA3,
 In library/computer lab researching for topic
IIIA4
 FIRST note-card check
IID, IIE, IIIB
IIIA1, IIIA2, IIIA3,
 Introduce formal bibliography format for ecology
IIIA4
project (Research Handout #4)
IID, IIE, IIIB
 In-class time for research
*Activities color-coded to Ecology Resources handout. Match color of activity with color of resource title.
Ecology Unit Curriculum Map
 Ecology Fair Work Day
 In library/computer lab researching for topic
 SECOND note-card check
 Ecology Fair Work Day
 “Pulling all the pieces together” discussion
 Rough draft of bibliography DUE
 ECOLOGY FAIR
 Students have independent study ecology projects on
display for parents
23
24
25
IIIA1, IIIA2, IIIA3,
IIIA4
IID, IIE, IIIB
IIIA1, IIIA2, IIIA3,
IIIA4
IIA, IIB, IIC, IIC, IIE,
IIIA, IIIB
IIIA1, IIIA2, IIIA3,
IIIA4
IA, IB, IC, ID, IIA, IIB,
IIC, IID, IIE, IIIA, IIIB
*Activities color-coded to Ecology Resources handout. Match color of activity with color of resource title.