What makes up an ecosystem

The students will investigate various ecosystems. They will be able to define what an ecosystem is and its components, such as its biotic and abiotic factors. The students will investigate at least three different ecosystems and pick one to create a diorama. The diorama will be shown as part of an oral presentation. This assignment should take one week, but some students may need an additional week to complete.

Standards

The particular grade level and standards that were focused on was fifth grade, but students in 3rd-6th grade could also use the Web Quest. In fifth grade the essential standard was: understanding the interdependence of plants and animals with their ecosystem. The clarifying objectives were:

1. Compare the characteristics of several common ecosystems including estuaries and salt marshes, ocean, lakes and ponds, forests, and grasslands.

2. Classify the organisms within an ecosystem according to the function they serve: producer, consumers, or decomposers (biotic factors).

Credits

Websites are included throughout the process page. Other ideas about the diorama came from researching Pinterest.

Other

The answers for the crossword puzzle are attached.