view a plan
Here students develop a digital ecosystem PowerPoint photo album
Computers & Internet, Science
6, 7, 8, 9
Title – Ecosystem Photo Album
By – Amy Malowitz
Primary Subject – Science
Secondary Subjects – Computers / Internet
Grade Level – 6-9 Content:
- Students will evaluate factors involved in ecosystems including biotic and abiotic factors. They will provide evidence of individuals, populations, habitat, competition, and a symbiotic relationship.
- Students will develop a digital photo album providing evidence of ecological factors and relationships. Students will use the wooded park behind the school as their ecosystem. The photo album will include:
- 3 biotic factors in the ecosystem
- 3 abiotic factors
- 2 producers
- 2 consumers
- 1 decomposer
- Evidence of an individual
- Evidence of a population
- Evidence of a feeding relationship
- Evidence of competition (extra credit)
- Evidence of a symbiotic relationship (extra credit)
Learning Resources and Materials
- Students will create a digital photo album using digital cameras and PowerPoint.
- Students will take pictures using digital cameras, download their photos, and insert them into a PowerPoint to display and explain their images.
Development of Lesson
- Students will view PowerPoint of ecology definitions to introduce concepts.
- Students will interact during PowerPoint to discuss prior knowledge and examples of ecology terms (For examples, most students are familiar with the terms producer and consumer).
- Examples of ecology terms will be discussed throughout the presentation.
- Essential Question: How is our own “backyard” an ecosystem?
- Students will be given instructions on how to properly use digital cameras. Students will sign (if they haven’t already done so) acceptable use/responsibility forms for using school cameras.
- Students will work in pairs/trios to brainstorm what they think will find to provide evidence for each task criteria.
- Students will work in pairs/trios to take photographs for each task criteria. They should aim to find their brainstorms first before taking pictures of alternate organisms/factors.
- Students will evaluate the photos they took, justifying rationale for taking photos of organisms/factors other than ones on their original brainstorm.
- Students will take their photos and insert them into a PowerPoint that discusses how each photo fits into the assigned criteria of the assignment.
- Instructions will be read orally and in a handout. There will also be an overhead.
- Examples of each factor will be discussed with students before beginning to take photos.
- PowerPoint may be adjusted into a poster as needed to decrease time spent on task if needed.
- Students will have a greater understanding of how their own “backyard” is an ecosystem. They will know components of an ecosystem, reinforce examples of these components, and learn interactions between these components.
- We will reflect by discussing what they think may be occurring that we didn’t see. If time permitting, students could write a paragraph/paper identifying “What might they have seen if rather than using a still camera they had used a video camera?” or “What if it was left in the same location recording for 24 hours?”
- Presentations will be evaluated for student understanding of ecology terms relationships.
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