Eco-Cycle: Finding the parts of an ecosystem

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/ecocycle.html

A lesson plan for Grade 5 Science

Provider: National Geographic

About this resource

Appropriate grades

5

Subjects

science (environmental science), thinking skills (information literacy, research skills, visual literacy), education technology (integrating technology), teaching methods (discussions, online learning)

Provider

National Geographic

Legal

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In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore the Eco-Cycle Station to better understand ecosystems in Hawaii, as well as the plants and animals that make up the ecosystems. Activities in this lesson engage students in development of map-reading skills, online research, and whole class discussion.

Students will:

• define terms associated with ecosystems, including desert grassland, lava field, alpine desert, rain forests, coral reef, and open forest;
• define terms for elements that make up these ecosystems, including cattle, butterfly fish, lichens, ferns, observatories, nene goose, and feral pig; and
• locate Mauna Kea on a map of Hawaii and color in only the island on which it can be found.

Xpeditions provides detailed directions for completing the lesson, suggestions for assessment and extension activities, and links to related activities.