Contains instructions for setting up a trophic pyramid, with screenshots and questions.
At the end of this group synchronous activity, students write an individual CER for a claim around carrying capacity.
Option to tie to logarithmic/exponential population growth & covid-19 ("what's the limiting factor for covid-19?").
Prior knowledge: types of energy & matter, symbiotic relationships, levels of organization (individual -> ecosystem)
Includes:
review practice for terms & concepts
role cards & setup instructions
kinesthetic activities (card sort, role playing simulation)
graphing tasks (prior class data included)
discussion using videos to inspire & extend
Agenda
1. Do Now
a) flow chart of morning routine (intro) (skip to #2.)
b) photosynthesis from space & food in body (skip to #5.)
I. Matter, Energy, Symbiotic Relationships
2. Terminology Check
a) Symbiotic Relationship Examples
b) Card Sort: Symbiosis
3. Energy
a) Card Sorts: Types of Energy
b) Venn Diagram: Energy vs. Matter
+ optional HW: Reporting Climate Change
4. Discuss & Elaborate on how to obtain energy
a) Video: Coral - Predator? Producer? Both?
b) Video: Farallones Islands & complex relationships
II. Food Web, Trophic Levels, Energy Transfer
5. Activity: Ocean Food Web
a) Game, Graph, Analyze, Discuss
b) Define trophic level roles (HW)
6. Videos for Discussion
a) Why are detritovores important for the food web? (Explain)
b) Kelp Ecosystem (Extend)
c) Coral Reef Symbiosis (Extend)
d) Ecosystems & Ecological Communities (Explain)
e) How does climate change affect biodiversity (Extend)
f) Food Chains vs. Food Webs (Explain)
6. What’s missing in the trophic pyramid?
7. Exit Ticket
a) energy sources & transfer
b) How is the Internet like a food web?
Sources
Alternative activity using water instead of beans; for which printouts are available here.
