6th Grade Science Guide

6.4: Ecosystems 3 Dimensions & Progressions

Unit 5

STANDARD 6.4.4

6.4.4 Construct an argument supported by evidence that the stability of populations is affected by changes to an ecosystem . Emphasize how changes to living and nonliving components in an ecosystem affect populations in that ecosystem. Examples could include Utah ecosystems such as mountains, Great Salt Lake, wetlands, and deserts. MS-LS2-4

CONCEPTS

SKILLS

● Stability of populations ● Changes in an Ecosystem ● Changes to Living and Nonliving Components in Ecosystems

● Construct an argument

LEARNING PROGRESSIONS

● Populations in an ecosystem are fairly stable. ● Changes to living and nonliving components in an ecosystem can create instability in populations. ● Humans try to control populations in ecosystems to help them stay stable. ● Humans are also impacting the living and nonliving components in an ecosystem leading to instability.

VOCABULARY

● Stability ● Instability ● Population ● Human Impact

● Ecosystem ● Interactions ● Biodiversity

POSSIBLE PHENOMENA

● The June Sucker species is declining in Utah Lake as invasive species and human settlement changed their environment.

● If all predators are killed, rabbit populations will initially increase. ● On the North American continent, bears only live in certain places.

END OF UNIT COMPETENCY WITH LANGUAGE SUPPORTS

● I can construct an argument explaining how a change to an ecosystem can affect populations in that ecosystem. ○ Language Supports: ■ Word choices to moderate a stance (the data suggests that ______, in paragraph ___ we read that _____)