The Antarctic ecosystem: Where would it be without krill?
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g68/
antarcticeco.html
A lesson plan for Grade 6 and 8 Science
About this resource
- Appropriate grades
- 6 and 8
- Subjects
- science (biology and life science, oceanography)
- Provider
- National Geographic
Legal
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This Xpeditions lesson asks students to investigate the importance of krill, a thumb-sized, shrimplike animal, to the Antarctic ecosystem by researching the animals that depend on it and drawing a food web. They will conclude by writing paragraphs explaining the potential consequences of a decline in krill populations.
Students will:
- read and answer questions about krill;
- research Antarctic animals and take note of each animal's place on the food chain;
- draw an Antarctic food web, using the animals they have researched; and
- write paragraphs explaining the potential consequences of a decline in krill populations.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 6
- Goal 7: The learner will conduct investigations and use technologies and information systems to build an understanding of population dynamics.
- Objective 7.01: Describe ways in which organisms interact with each other and with non-living parts of the environment:
- Coexistence/Cooperation/Competition.
- Symbiosis.
- Mutual dependence.
- Objective 7.03: Explain how changes in habitat may affect organisms.
- Objective 7.01: Describe ways in which organisms interact with each other and with non-living parts of the environment:
Grade 8
- Goal 3: The learner will conduct investigations and utilize appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of the hydrosphere.
- Objective 3.03: Evaluate evidence that Earth's oceans are a reservoir of nutrients, minerals, dissolved gases, and life forms:
- Estuaries.
- Marine ecosystems.
- Upwelling.
- Behavior of gases in the marine environment.
- Value and sustainability of marine resources.
- Deep ocean technology and understandings gained.
- Objective 3.03: Evaluate evidence that Earth's oceans are a reservoir of nutrients, minerals, dissolved gases, and life forms:
