Ecology

​​I start off this unit explaining that energy flows through the biosphere/earth.  Then I review with students the major biomes on earth.  I explain that earth's biome changes in altitude mirror those in latitude.  I review both terrestrial and aquatic biomes.

​Vocabulary is a big part of this unit.  I review important terms, especially habitat and niche.

Since ecology is about energy movement, I discuss the movement of energy on earth and how the sun is earth's main source of energy.  We review food chains, food webs, and various ecological pyramids.

Later, I review the additional terms: autotroph, heterotroph, and different types of consumers.

​Most students are familiar with the water cycle.  For most, their knowledge base is expanded once I review other bio-geo-chemical cycles:  carbon dioxide/oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus.  I remind students that energy moves in a straight line while nutrients cycle through the biosphere.

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Next I tell students that ecosystems are affected by biotic factors (like different species, predators, etc.) abiotic factors (like temperature, soil types, etc.), community interactions, and ecological succession.  I talk about living and non-living factors that effect ecosystems, as well as ecological succession.

With the discussion about the characteristics of a populations, I talk about geographic distribution, growth rate, and density.  As resources become less available, ecosystems reach carrying capacity for a particular species. Exponential growth for a species becomes logistic growth.  These concepts are reinforced with LABS. 

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I also use LAB activities to teach about population growth.  I explain that population growth is limited by density dependent factors like food availability, availability of mates, etc. and density independent factors like weather, seasonal cycles, etc.

​I spend some time talking about biodiversity and how the biosphere has been transformed by humans.  I review some negative effects humans have had on the biosphere, as well as positive impacts and sustainable use by humans.  ​

The major factor in negative human effects is population.  I show students some comparisons of human population in developed and lesser developed nations.

​The culminating activity for this unit is the state lab Relationships and Biodiversity.  

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The Presentation and Student Notes files are available here. 

An excellent tool for teaching ecology topics is to lead an entire class reading of There's a Hair in My Dirt: A Worm's Story (1999) by Gary Larson:

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You can also download a crude powerpoint that I made of the book below. I display it in my classroom as we read the book together. I recommend purchasing a class set so students can participate easily with the reading.

You can also find assignments that go with the Larson book in Ecology Teaching Resources.

book-theresahairinmydirt.pptx
File Size:	156874 kb
File Type:	pptx

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