6th Grade Science Guide

6.4: Ecosystems 3 Dimensions & Progressions

Unit 5

●​ Explore the impacts of coral and urchin diseases on a Caribbean reef ecosystem. ●​ Explore the impacts of invasive species on a Caribbean reef ecosystem.

model Caribbean coral reef. Many variables can be manipulated, included intensity of fishing, presence of black band and white band disease, and the presence of actual and potential invasive species. Click "Advance year" to see the impacts of these biotic changes.

Activity: What is a food chain?

Objective

Overview

Materials

●​ Students are introduced to food chains and energy flow through a food chain through discussion, reading and writing activities.

●​ Slide Presentation ●​ Reading

●​ I can describe a food chain and how energy is lost at each level in a food chain.

Activity: Food Chain Gizmo

Overview

Objective

Materials

●​ In this ecosystem consisting of hawks, snakes, rabbits and grass, the population of each species can be studied as part of a food chain. Disease can be introduced for any species, and the number of animals can be increased or decreased at any time, just like in the real world.

●​ Gizmo

Students will… ●​ Classify organisms as producers or consumers. ●​ Observe a food chain in equilibrium. ●​ Determine how one organism affects others in a food chain. ●​ Observe how disturbing the equilibrium of an ecosystem

can result in long-term population fluctuations.

Activity: Weaving a Food Web

Objective

Overview

Materials

●​ Student learn about food webs by using yarn and pictures of animals in an ecosystem. This helps them

●​ Lesson Plan ●​ Yarn ​​ ​

●​ Students will be able to explain that food chains can be complex in the real world, and really resemble more of a web.

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