Title – A Local Ecosystem

By – Jennifer Dalke

Subject – Science, Language Arts, Math

Grade Level – 4-6

**Note – This lesson plan uses some handout(s) that are not available, however, much of the lesson plan can be completed without the handout(s).

Integrated Subjects

Math, Language Arts

Skills Used

Observing; Classifying; Measuring; Inferring; Communicating; Predicting

Key Vocabulary

Ecosystem

Lesson Time

45 – 60 minutes

State Goals

11.A.2b, 11.A.2c, 11.A.2d, 11.A.2e, 12.B.2a, 12.B.2b, 13.A.2a, 13.A.2b

Conceptual Objective

Students will understand the concept that living things interact with
nonliving things and with one another to meet their needs, forming an
ecosystem.

Process Objective

Students will use science process skills to examine a plot of ground,
make a chart to illustrate findings, and write a paragraph that describes what
they observed.

Materials

* gloves

* metersticks

* wooden stakes

* garden trowel

* aluminum or plastic trays

* paper towels

* hand lenses

* toothpicks

* handouts

Procedure

1. Separate students into groups of four, explaining that the key to this
activity is sharing observation.

2. Discuss with children the idea of ecosystems. Ask for ideas on what
makes up an ecosystem. Tell children that they will do an activity that will
demonstrate just how an ecosystem works.

3. Pass out all supplies.

4. Have children use a meterstick to measure a plot of ground that is 1
square meter. Mark off the areas with wooden stakes at each corner.

5. Have children predict the kinds of living and nonliving things they’ll find
in their plots and how they’ll interact. Students should record their observations on handout.

6. Make observations and record on the chart in handout.

7. Instruct students to place a moist paper towel on the bottom of a tray.
They should use a garden trowel to take a small sample of soil from the
plot and spread the soil on the paper towel.

8. Instruct students to use a handlens and toothpick to examine the soil
for living and nonliving things and record observations on chart in handout.

9. Have students empty trays in the same spot which they took the
sample from.

10. Collect supplies.

11. Instruct students to write a paragraph that describes which living and
nonliving things made up the plot they observed: How do these things
form an ecosystem?

Evaluation

1. Assess whether the student’s predictions about ecosystems were
accurate. Did students also list air and water as parts of the system?

2. Did student correctly classify the living and nonliving things they
examined?

3. Were student’s observations detailed?

4. Did student show evidence to support his/her conclusions about the
area as being an ecosystem (in the written paragraph)?

Troubleshooting

1. Students may get bacteria on their hands, so they must be sure to
wash hands with soap and water after the activity.

2. Some students may be disgusted by the insects or other organisms
in the plot. Teacher should allow such children to observe while other
group members examine with a toothpick.

E-Mail

Jennifer

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