Life Science: Interdependence MST Inquiry Unit By Adrienne Lormé & Gary Proulx ED – Advanced Study of Pedagogy and Curriculum in Childhood Education II Dr. Sharon O’Connor-Petruso Spring 2010

Interdependence Table of Contents Table of Contents ◦Graphic Organizer ◦Web of Key Concepts ◦Definition of Interdependence ◦MST Lesson Plans:  1: What are Ecosystems?  2:What Eats What in an Ecosystem?  6: How do People Affect Ecosystems? ◦Filamentality Self-Created Web Site ◦Multimedia Elements ◦Additional Online Resources

Interdependence Graphic Organizer Lesson 1: What are Ecosystems? Lesson 2: What Eats What in Ecosystems? Lesson 3: How do Organisms Compete & Survive in an Ecosystem? Lesson 4: How do Ecosystems Change Over Time? Lesson 5: How do the Bodies of Animals Help Them Meet Their Needs? Lesson 6: How do People Affect Ecosystems?

Interdependence Web of Key Concepts

Interdependence Definition interdependent Organisms interact and are interdependent in various ways including providing food and shelter to one another. Organisms can survive only in environments in which their needs are met.

Interdependence Definition (cont.) Some interactions are beneficial; others are detrimental to the organism and other organisms. When the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

MST Lesson 1: What are Ecosystems? Students will be able to identify & describe different types of ecosystems/biomes found in North America. Students will create a book representing collected data describing a biome and how this biome suits the needs of the organism that lives in the biome.

MST Lesson 1: What are Ecosystems? (Cont.) Students will also be able to create a graph illustrating the differences of temperature for two different biomes.

MST Lesson 2: What Eats What in an Ecosystem? Students will be able to identify and describe the roles of producers, decomposers, consumers, and scavengers in a food chain. Students will classify animals and organisms into appropriate groups. Students will explain and describe why different ecosystems have different food chains.

MST Lesson 2: What Eats What in an Ecosystem? (cont.) Students will navigate independently through a scavenger hunt Students will create and design a power point presentation. Scavenger hunt link:

MST Lesson 2: What Eats What in an Ecosystem? (cont.) What is a food chain? Explain and describe how each animal is either a omnivore, herbivore, carnivore or scavenger. Create a food chain explaining who eats who in the ecosystem you pick. In your own words, how would you define the terms producers, consumers, and decomposers? Describe the differences and similarities between these two food chains. As you play the game, write down the name of animals on a index card on one side and then write down if they are a consumer, producer or decomposer. Using the index cards, create a food chain showing who will eat who in this food chain.

MST Lesson 6: How do People Affect Ecosystems? Students will be able to observe how fertilizer affects plant growth. Students will be able to explain how people’s actions can affect the environment. Students will be able to make a pictograph showing U.S. recycling rates.

MST Lesson 6: How do People Affect Ecosystems?

Filamentality Self-Created Web Site In addition to using books and magazines to find out about Interdependence, students will be encouraged to use the internet. The link below will help students enrich their experiences on the topic of Interdependence

Multimedia Elements The Grassland/Tundra Biome

Additional Online Resources courier.com/kids_learning/science/scienceeco_aqua.html courier.com/kids_learning/science/scienceeco_aqua.html courier.com/kids_learning/science/scienceeco_aqua.html courier.com/kids_learning/science/scienceeco_aqua.html ecosystems.php ecosystems.php ecosystems.php ecosystems.php ecosystems-education-kids.html ecosystems-education-kids.html ecosystems-education-kids.html ecosystems-education-kids.html chain.html chain.html chain.html chain.html

Life Science: Interdependence Created by Adrienne Lormé & Gary Proulx