Science Lesson Plan

HowDifferentFactorsEffectan Ecosystem
Subject(s): Science Grade Levels: 6th Grade Authors: Emily Grasso and Liz Johnson

Science Lesson Plan

Objective

Given the Exploring Population Ecology lab students will complete the activity based on the directions given at the top of the computer screen and complete the entire simulation in small groups of seven with 100% accuracy. Given the Exploring Population Ecology simulation students will understand the relationship between limiting factors and population size and be able to complete a worksheet accurately to ensure understanding. Given the knowledge in information regarding how different factors of an ecosystem affect the population size, students will work in small groups of seven to accurately answer all questions given to them on a worksheet. SCI.6.3.3 2010 Describe how certain biotic and abiotic factorssuch as predators, quantity of light and water, range of temperatures and soil compositioncan limit the number of organisms an ecosystem can support.

Teaching Standards

Science Lesson Plan

Required Materials

Explorer Simulation Software Computer Projector Worksheet Answer Sheet (for teachers)

Science Lesson Plan

Procedures

1. Go to the Explorer simulation on the class homepage. Click on the tab Exploring Population Ecology. This will be the activity used and completed. 2. There will be a set of directions at the top of the screen. Follow them. The first instructions will provide the students with different numbers of predators and prey existing in the ecosystem. The student will then click a button saying Run the simulation. 3. After the simulation is run, the student will fill out a worksheet answering the different questions. The questions will entail using skills such as identifying growth curves and their specific parts. They will also be summarizing the results. 4. Click on the arrow signifying the next page (this is at the bottom of the screen). The same situation will appear and the same procedures should be followed as in number 3. This will occur for numerous pages. 5. Have a discussion as a whole class led by the teacher. Students should respond to the questions out loud.

Science Lesson Plan

Assessment

Give a small quiz after the lesson to see the effectiveness of the lesson. Biology 205 (Biology for Elementary School Teachers) Lab book Exploring Population Activity Simulation

References and reference materials