1. Warm-up 1. What is the INDEPENDENT variable in the radish lab? Why?
2. What is the DEPENDENT variable in the radish lab? Why?
Send ONE person from your group to water your radishes. How much water will you give each cup? 20 15
Remember to read from the bottom of the meniscus!!!

2. The study of organisms and their interaction with the environment
Ecology!
What is Ecology?
The study of organisms and their interaction with the environment

3. Name as many outdoor areas as possible
Then, think of a question about ecology!

4. Biotic vs. Abiotic Both: an ecosystem Abiotic Factors Biotic Factors
List examples of each!!!

5. Vocabulary! (on other sheet!)
Species-
Population-
Community-
Ecosystem-
Biome- (not on sheet)
Biosphere-
Vocabulary! (on other sheet!)
a distinct life form, capable of reproducing
a group of the same species in the same area
All the populations in an area
All the abiotic and biotic factors in an area
Large areas of similar ecosystems
Habitat –
Niche-
Where an organism lives
An organisms role or job in the environment
Everywhere on earth where living things exist

6. Analogy Time! Ecosystem Individual Organism Niche Population Community
Abiotic factors
Biotic factors
Football field
Quarterback
Throw, handoffs, run the ball, call plays
Whole football team
Team, coaches, fans, band, cheerleaders, parents, other teams that use the field
Helmet, ball, playbook, stands, scoreboard
People in the ‘community’

7. Weather / Climate
Short term?
Long term?
What’s the difference?

8. Label the climate zones on your map!

9. Why are there climate zones?
Radiation from the sun!
Earth is a sphere, different levels of solar radiation reach different parts of the curved surface
All areas near the equator receive more solar radiation & heat.
This leads to variation in weather and climate.

10. Other Factors that influence climates
Altitude:
Height above sea level.
As altitude increases temperature tends to decrease.
Ocean Currents
Mountains:
Rain shadow effect
Lack of rain on one side of the mountain.
Rain shadows can lead to almost desert like conditions.

11. In The Zone!!!
Write down descriptions about the climate zone. Think about location, temperatures, seasons…
TROPICAL ZONE – (Hint- Florida, Mexico, most of Africa, Indonesia)
TEMPERATE ZONE – (Hint- Most of US, Europe, Mongolia, Argentina)
ARTIC/POLAR ZONE – (Hint – Antartica, Northern Canada, Greenland)

12. BRAIN POP! (if time)

13. Climatograms Precipitation scale on the left Always BARS
Temperature scale on the right
Always LINE PLOTS
Months on the bottom

14. Climatogram Practice Questions:
What is average precipitation for January? (BARS)
What is the average temperature for May? (LINE PLOT)
In which months is the average temperature above15oC?
What is the lowest average temperature in Chicago, IL?
In which month does the lowest temperature occur?
Which month has the least precipitation?
Which month has the highest temperatures?
What is the range of average precipitations in Chicago?

15. Warm-up Match the example with the vocab words! (like our analogies!)
***One example has two vocab words that go with it!***
Habitat
Individual
Niche
Population
Community
Abiotic factors
Biotic factors
Hunter/Predator, mother
Soil, water (in rivers/lakes and precipitation)
All the jaguars in the area
Rainforest
Single, female jaguar
Jaguars, parrots, lemurs, tree frogs, spider monkeys, trees and flowers.