8th Grade Science Guide

8.3: Ecology 3 Dimensions & Progressions

Unit 3

Activity: Energy in a Food Chain

Objective

Overview

Materials

● I can identify the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem. (abiotic and biotic factors) ● I can describe and analyze connections and roles between organisms within an ecosystem.

● Students learn about energy in an ecosystem by doing a simulation using colored water. ● Students then read the article “Energy Flow and the 10 Percent Rule.”

● Lab ● Newsela - Energy Flow and the 10 Percent Rule

Activity: Energy Pyramid/Flow through an Ecosystem

Objective

Overview

Materials

● I can explain why fewer organisms are found at higher levels in food webs.

● Students will look at the nutritional requirements for animals to discover why there must be fewer consumers in upper levels of a energy pyramid.

● Student Worksheet ● Answer Key ● Nutritional Guide for

Game Animals in North America

Activity: Food Webs & Biomes

Objective

Overview

Materials

● Introduce students to food webs, and explain how food chains are a bit more complex and can be better shown as webs. ● Allow students to review the food web picture independently, and then discuss the interconnections that they discovered with a partner. ● Students are assigned a biome and they create a food web that would be found in that biome.

● Food Web Image ● Food Web Project

● I can identify living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem. ● I can identify and analyze connections and roles between organism in an ecosystem.

Activity: Food Web Lab