Transformations in Matter and Energy Carbon TIME is an NSF-funded partnership led by Michigan State University
Ecosystems | IM & Storyline
Ecosystems is one of the six Carbon TIME units. If you are new to teaching Carbon TIME, read the Carbon TIME FAQ: Which Units Should I Teach.
The Ecosystems Unit supports students in using core disciplinary ideas, science practices, and crosscutting concepts to develop scientific explanations of how different ecosystems transform matter and energy as the organisms in them live, grow, and die.
Follow these steps to get ready to teach the Ecosystems Unit
Lead Editor for 2019 Version
Kirsten D. Edwards, Department of Teacher Education, Michigan State University
Principal Authors
Kirsten D. Edwards, Department of Teacher Education, Michigan State University
Joyce Parker, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michigan State University
Craig Kohn, Department of Teacher Education, Michigan State University
Wendy Johnson, Kentwood Public Schools
Jenny Dauer, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Elizabeth Tompkins, Michigan State University
Charles W. “Andy” Anderson, Department of Teacher Education, Michigan State University
Contributing Authors
Sarah Bodbyl Roels, Beth Covitt, Elizabeth Xeng de los Santos, Jennifer Doherty, Allison Freed, Bonnie McGill, Lindsey Mohan, Emily Scott, Carly Seeterlin, Nick Verbanic, Alex Walus
Illustrations
Craig Douglas
This research is supported in part by grants from the National Science Foundation: A Learning Progression-based System for Promoting Understanding of Carbon-transforming Processes (DRL 1020187) and Sustaining Responsive and Rigorous Teaching Based on Carbon TIME (NSF 1440988). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the United States Department of Energy.
Contact the MSU Environmental Literacy Program for more information: EnvLit@msu.edu.
Before beginning the Ecosystems Unit, you need to decide what to teach and importantly, what not to teach! Use this page to choose the unit sequence that’s most appropriate for your students.
Some activities are TWO-TURTLE ACTIVITIES (), which place a higher demand on students. Decide whether the higher demand required by these activities will be useful or distracting for your students. The Carbon TIME Turtle Trails Document document provides further info about choices for making units more or less demanding, depending on your students’ needs.
Unless otherwise noted in the table below, all activities in the unit should be taught.
Ecosystems Unit Sequence and Decisions Table