Culminating Activity
In this science unit, we have learned about the interactions between different parts of an ecosystem. All abiotic and biotic factors in an environment influence each other, and if one part is changed or removed, the rest of the ecosystem must adapt in order to survive. Examples of an interaction include:
- Climate change causes melting of the polar ice caps, which affect how polar bears can hunt and move in their environment
- Deforestation in tropical rain forests eliminates some tree species, impacting the animals and organisms that rely on those trees for food and shelter
- Humans introducing beavers in Chile as an invasive species creates a domino effect as beavers started destroying river ecosystems through erosion
YOUR TASK
Choose an ecosystem that has been impacted by human interaction. Create a model ecosystem (done on the computer or by hand) showing the impact humans have had on that ecosystem (i.e. what it looked like before and what it looks like after the human interaction/ change). Make sure to include abiotic and biotic elements and the interactions between them, including the roles of producers, consumers and decomposers.
YOU WILL HAND IN:
1) A model ecosystem: This can be a diorama, an illustration that you have drawn, a power point slideshow of pictures, or any other creative idea you may have!
Your model ecosystem must show:
2) A 1 - 2 page description of your model ecosystem that explains:
Your check-in for this assignment (scroll down) is due Monday, November 4, 2013.
Your assignment is due Monday, November 11, 2013.
YOU WILL HAND IN:
1) A model ecosystem: This can be a diorama, an illustration that you have drawn, a power point slideshow of pictures, or any other creative idea you may have!
Your model ecosystem must show:
- what the ecosystem looks like before and after the interaction
- abiotic and biotic factors that are labeled
- producers, consumers, decomposers that are labeled
- an example food chain that is labeled
2) A 1 - 2 page description of your model ecosystem that explains:
- the human interaction that caused the change (e.g. forest fire, logging, etc.)
- the costs and/or benefits of the interaction
- the ways in which the parts of the ecosystem (abiotic and biotic) are connected, and how a change in one factor changes the others
- a solution for protecting or preserving the ecosystem
Your check-in for this assignment (scroll down) is due Monday, November 4, 2013.
Your assignment is due Monday, November 11, 2013.
RESOURCES
For resources, click on one of the website links below. Remember to also look back in our past lessons and notes for ideas, and check the school library for help!
- http://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/ecologists-study-the-interactions-of-organisms-and-13235586
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zPcR7wgh0c
- http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/biodiversity/human_activities.cfm
- http://www.edquest.ca/component/content/article/30
- http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/How_Do_Humans_Affect_the_Environment
CHECK-IN SLIP
science_unit_1_culminating_activity_rubric.pdf | |
File Size: | 195 kb |
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science_unit_1_culminating_activity_outline.pdf | |
File Size: | 117 kb |
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