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Abstract
This lesson deals with both the classification and the
interrelationships of abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem.
The students will classify everday items as either abiotic or
biotic. Once the students have solidified these two terms, the class
will explore the interelationships of the abiotic/biotic factors in
an ecosystem.
Lesson fundamental understandings:
Essential
Questions: Understanding:
1. Working definition of
abiotic/biotic factors.
2. The interrelatedness in an ecosystem
of different abiotic and biotic factors.. (Without both abiotic and
biotic factors, an ecosytem would not be able to
survive).
Questions:
1. What makes an object abiotic or
biotic?
2. In an ecosystem, what are some examples of abiotic and
biotic factors?
3. How do aboitic and biotic factors interrelate
and what would happen if one of them disappeared?
Standards
National Standards Life Science:
Interdependence of organisms Human beings live within the world's
ecosystems. Increasingly, humans modify ecosystems as a result of
population growth, technology, and consumption. Human destruction of
habitats through direct harvesting, pollution, atmospheric changes,
and other factors is threatening. Current global stability, and if
not addressed, ecosystems will be irreversibly affected. Technology
Standards: Technology research tools Information Literacy Standards:
Information literacy Social Responsibility
State Standards Florida: (SC.G.2.4.6)
The student knows the ways in which humans today are placing their
environment support systems at risk. Nebraska: (12.4.4) Investigate
and describe how humans modify the ecosystem as a result of
population growth, technology, and consumption.
Lesson
Prerequisite Skills
A basic understanding of the terms abiotic and biotic and the
ability to construct a data table.
Teacher
Information/Situations/Setting/Time Time frame: One 45
minute class period.
Materials:
Various abiotic and biotic
objects placed on trays.
Sample ecosystem
Assessment
1. Class discussion using theabiotic/biotic classification
activity.
2. Reviewing the students data tables and their resons
for their classifications.
3. Questions/ class discussions with
the fishbowl example.
4. Collection of group papers on the
activity locating abiotic/biotic factors found in the
classroom.
Student Activity/Tasks 1. Teacher will
ask the class if they have any ideas of what would be considered
abiotic or biotic.
2. Pairs or groups of students will be given a
tray of objects in jars. Each pair/group will be asked to create a
data table. In this table the students will classify the objects as
being either abiotic or biotic. Then, the students will give their
reasoning for the classification results.
3. After the
classification procedure, have a class discussion on why the
students classified the objects as being abiotic or biotic
4.
Bring in a fishbowl with fish and plants. Start by question what are
some items that are abiotic and biotic? Ask the question "What would
happen if the abiotic specimens were not present?" Have students
brain storm and write out their answers.
5. Have a class
discussion of the students/ answers.
6. Then, have the students
work in pairs and observe the classroom as an ecosystem. Have them
name some abiotic and biotic factors in the classroom. Ask the pairs
to discuss how the abiotic and biotic factors relate to each other.
For example, "How do humans interrelate to computers?"
7. In an
appropriate time frame, have the class come together and share some
of their findings.
8. Collect the students’ findings to
assess.
Enrichment/Alternate Activity:
Instead of using the classroom as an ecosystem, the teacher could
assign a homework assignment having the students view their home as
an ecosystem. The students would have to list the abiotic and biotic
factors they found in their home and how they are interrelated.
Cross-Curricular:
Technology
Requirements/Tools/Materials
Acknowledgements:
Additional Resources
Main
URL:
Related Lessons
Related Resources
Copyright © 1997-2003
Career Connection to Teaching with Technology
USDOE Technology Innovation Challenge Grant
Marshall Ransom, Project Manager
All rights reserved.
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