Let's create continuous conversations about climate change education: Spreading the Sediment of Science!

Energy Use in an Ecosystem

Provided by: Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education |Published on: October 16, 2023

Lesson Plans Grades 6-8, 3-5

Synopsis

This lesson explores the components of an ecosystem, how these components interact, how further climate change may impact ecosystems within Wisconsin, and some climate mitigation strategies that can be employed at a personal level.
Students will observe local ecosystems during an outdoor activity, record observations, analyze data, and discuss climate mitigation strategies with their peers.

Subjects: Biology, Earth and Space Sciences

Authors: Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education

Region: North America, USA - Midwest, United States, Wisconsin

Languages: English

Positives

After this lesson, students will have a better understanding of their community's ecological features.
This lesson reveals a link between climate change and extreme rainfall events.

Prerequisites

Students should know how to use various measuring tools, such as thermometers and meter sticks.
It may benefit students to know what biodiversity is and why it's important.
A lesson about food chains and food webs would the provide necessary background information for students to complete student sheet S5.
The link for the Beings on the Move Activity, referenced in resources, takes you to a page that requires you to request access. This activity can be found here.
The materials section references the DEN kit, which Wisconsin educators can borrow from UWSP. However, the materials for this particular lesson can easily be found online or around the school, so this kit isn't necessary.

Differentiation & Implementation

This lesson can fit within a larger unit on how climate change impacts ecosystems everywhere.
Students can use data from the outdoor activity for an informative essay on ecosystems in Wisconsin.
This lesson can enhance a classroom discussion on how to inform more people about climate change and inspire them to take action.
This lesson can support a classroom discussion on the rights of animals and how we can consider those rights in our daily lives.
Teachers can use KEEP's Discovering Energy in Nature Kit and lesson series to extend the topics in this lesson.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format