Activity 6.2: Explaining Other Examples of Decomposers Growing, Moving, and Functioning (50 min)

Target Student Performance

Students develop integrated accounts of how other fungi (bracket fungi, bread mold, mycorrhizal fungi) grow and function through the processes of digestion, cellular respiration, and biosynthesis.

Resources You Provide

Resources Provided

Recurring Resources

Setup

Prepare several copies of each version of 6.2 Other Decomposers Reading, and 6.2 Bracket Fungi/Bread Mold/Mycorrhizal Fungi Worksheet so that there is one for each student. Gather the class results poster and spreadsheet from Activity 3.2, as well as their completed copies of 1.2 Expressing Ideas Tool for Bread Molding and 3.3 Evidence-Based Arguments Tool for Bread Molding. Prepare a computer and a projector to display the PPT.

Directions

1. Use the instructional model to show students where they are in the course of the unit.

Assessment

Use 6.2 Grading Bracket Fungi/Bread Mold/Mycorrhizal Fungi Worksheet to grade the explanation tools. Although the decomposers are different, the answers should be similar across all the decomposers.

Tips

Emphasize the similarities among the explanations of all decomposers. There are different decomposers, but many of the chemical changes at the atomic-molecular scale are the same. The same rules apply to all examples of decomposers.

Differentiation
  • Hand out Other Decomposers readings strategically to form strong groups
  • Give readings to all groups so that students can read along as groups present their results
  • Students should highlight important information individually
  • Have groups present their findings orally to the whole class, rather than using the Jigsaw model
  • Use Other Decomposers worksheets as a review for the test. All students complete all three before the test.
Modifications
Extending the Learning

Have students read the articles and/or watch the videos listed in the Digging Deeper section of the 6.2 Other Decomposers Readings.