Today we talked all about the different factors that make up an ecosystem. We learned the terms abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) and then figured out which are which. We looked a few pictures from various biomes and determined what abiotic and biotic factors we could see in the pictures, and which were implied (for example, we may not always see water, but if there are plants growing there, then water must be present in some form.) Once we were all very comfortable identifying the factors, it was time to discuss how they all relate to one another. In an ecosystem, there are always limited resources available--food, water, shelter--and the living parts of the ecosystem are often in competition for these resources. They fight for food, or for the best places to live, or supplies to build their home. Plants may have to fight for sunlight and water, animals for grass and trees, or even other animals. But all relationships in an ecosystem aren't competitive--sometimes organisms help one another, like a tree providing the needed shade for a mushroom or moss to grow, or grass seeds being carried to new soil by the rabbit that was eating that same grass. We looked at another picture of a forest rich in life and found examples of the biotic factors relating to the abiotic (birds flying in the air, animals standing on soil and plants growing in it. or animals climbing rocks to get a better view) and then the biotic factors relating to each other (animals using trees for homes, grass to hide in, or hunting one another.)
Understanding the parts of an ecosystem and how they relate to one another leads us right into our topic for next week--food chains and webs. Videos:
Build a Tiny Plant World Sci Show Kids Jessi and Squeaks just learned about terrariums, and now they want to make one for themselves! Join them to learn all about these tiny gardens in a bottle and how you can make one of your own! Abiotic and Biotic Factors An ecosystem contains living and non living things. The ecosystem has many examples of the interaction between the living and non living. Dr Binocs Show: Ecosystem Hey kids! Do you know what is an Ecosystem? Did you know every nook and cranny of the world could be its own system! Books: What if There Were No Sea Otters? The ocean ecosystem is huge, covering most of our planet. Countless animals and plants live there. So what difference could the loss of one animal species make? Follow the chain reaction, and discover how important sea otters are. Activities: Take a look around you--everything is part of at least one ecosystem. This worksheet has lots of examples of factors and then you get to decide what the ecosystem would be that contains those factors. Once you get the hang of this, make up your own and see if someone in your family can figure out what ecosystem you are describing. Make a working ecosystem! Use your new knowledge about all the parts of an ecosystem that work together to design your own. Check out this engineering challenge to come up with your own design, or follow these directions to create your own self-sustaining ecosystem in a jar. Another fun activity is to look at the factors in an ecosystem (maybe your backyard or a nearby park, or even just a picture or description, like a faraway desert or jungle). Pick one of the factors and describe what would happen if it completely disappeared. What if a stream in the forest completely dried up? Would it affect other abiotic factors? What about the plants, animals, fungi, bacteria? And if it means some animals disappear, would that affect other organisms? Or maybe even abiotic factors, like the soil or rocks? Try the same "What if. . ." game with another factor from that same ecosystem.
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We began our ecology unit this week, starting with an overview of the biomes found on earth. In the upcoming weeks, we'll look at all the details--the factors that work together to determine a biome's characteristics, and the interactions between all of the living things in each ecosystem. But for this week, we focused on the huge variety in the different areas of land on this planet. Along with creating color-coded maps of the main biomes, the older two classes also took notes on some of the key features and examples of plants and animals found in the main 6 biomes.
Additional ActivitiesVideos
Biomes-The Living Landscapes of Earth Explore the Rainforest! Sci Show Kids Take a look at one of earth's biomes where it rains just about every day! Amazing Ways to Live in the Desert Sci Show Kids Some biomes offer some serious challenges because of their extreme conditions. Check out how plants and animals cope in the desert. Articles and Books: Biomes: National Geographic A biome is an area of the planet that can be classified according to the plants and animals that live in it--read about them in this article. The Wonderous Workings of Planet Earth An illustrated tour of the planet exploring ecosystes large and small, from reefs, deserts, and rainforests to a single drop of water. Activities: Check out this free printable habitat game which will help you distinguish between the different biomes and habitats animals live in. Build a biome, or maybe a whole set of earth's biomes. Use a shoebox, or paper plate, or legos! Make sure to review the key features of each biome and include a few species of living organisms that would be found in your biome. Check out the Lego inspiration here!
We went through a dozen or so traits and put them in the correct parts of the Venn diagram shown above. A couple were tricky thanks to the amphibians two very different stages of life. For instance, they both have gills, and have lungs, throughout their life, just not at the same time. Additional ActivitiesVideos:
See a Salamander Grow Watch this time-lapse video of a salamander growing from a single cell egg. Amazing Snakes! Sci Show Kids takes a look at the myths and truth about snakes. Turtle Time with Dr. Turtleman Sci Show Kids teaches all about turtles. Turtle: The Incredible Journey This documentary follows the lifecycle and migration of a loggerhead turtle. It is really well done for all ages. Check the library system to borrow a copy (currently not available streaming anywhere.) Activities: Incorporate an craft project into your science study and talk about what you know about the animals as you create. Make a paper chain python, or a clothespin iguana, or try a floating turtle made from recycled materials. You can even create your own sea turtle life cycle model using this kit, sand, and rocks. Go for a walk in an area with vernal pools to hunt for amphibians and other water loving animals. Spring is the perfect time to look for these seasonal ponds and streams, and the life they support. Check out this article for more information about how they work and diagrams of the plants and animals you might find there (focused on the vernal pools in CA). Then head out for a hike after the winter and spring rains. |
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April 2021
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