I usually start my ecology unit with levels of organization. This gives students a great intro into the main points we will be covering and it is something I can go back and to refer to. I then go right into biomes after this since we briefly talk about it here. The format of this lesson is that each level is introduced, and then an activity follows which addresses a term or concept relating to that level. I have added some activities that engage students in some of the broader topics of ecology. Many of the activities focus on concepts that students often have a difficult time grasping, such as a niche. Overall, this is a great first intro lesson on ecology. Here is the breakdown of the lesson: Title Slide Slide 1: Level 1- Organism information slide. Includes information on the definition of a habitat and a niche. Slide 2-3: What does a bird's beak tell us about its niche? Students observe the characteristics of different birds and match it with the description. Then students infer their probable habitat. Students then answer analysis questions where students give an example of a bird's niche could be. Slide 4: Level 2- Population information slide. Includes information on the definition of a population as well as native vs. invasive species. Slide 5: Students are given descriptions of different invasive species. Students then have to determine a method that would help prevent the spread of these invasive species. Slide 6: Level 3- Community information slide. Includes information on the definition of a community. Slide 7: Prey and Predators Community Interactions. Students study data from an ecological experiment between deer and wolves run in the 1970s. Students then use the CER format to analyze the data and determine if the deer would have been better off with or without the wolves in the ecosystem. Slide 8: Level 4- Ecosystem information slide. Includes information on the definition of an ecosystem as well as biotic and abiotic factors. Slide 9-10: Students are given microscope images of two different pond water ecosystems. Students use the link as as a resource to identify the different organisms as well as the number of organisms in the slide. Slide 11: Level 5- Biome information slide. Includes information on the definition of a biome as well as the definition of biodiversity. Slide 12-15: Measuring Biodiversity Lab- Student calculate the biodiversity index of some example ecosystems and then answer some analysis questions. This get students familiar with the concept of increased or decreased biodiversity. Slide 16: Level 6- Biosphere information slide. Includes information on the definition of a biosphere. Slide 17: Biosphere reading. Students use the link, and fill out the graphic organizer about the biosphere. Slide 18: Human Impact on the Biosphere- Students read three articles, (article 1, article 2, article 3) and for each article, summarize the main point in 20 words exactly. I suggest that you download the 3 articles as PDFs though the NewsELA website and attach them for your students through your LMS. NewsELA also allows you to adjust the reading level for each article if need be. If you are interested in the lesson, please see my TpT account.
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