Ecosystems | Lesson 5 - Ecosystems Applications and Unit Posttest

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Overview

Students learn about how humans depend on ecosystem products and services to survive and how we manage ecosystems to provide products and services that we want, as well as how increasing one product or service can decrease others. They develop posters about different ecosystems and complete the unit posttest.

Guiding Question

How do humans change ecosystems to provide products and services that we need?

Activities in this Lesson

Activity 5.1: Introduction to Ecosystem Products and Services (40 minutes)
Activity 5.2: Ecosystem Products and Services Jigsaw (50 minutes)
Activity 5.3a or 5.3b: Ecosystem Posters (40 minutes)
Activity 5.4: Ecosystems Unit Posttest (20 minutes)

Unit Map

Ecosystems Lesson 5 Map

Target Student Performance

Lesson 5- Ecosystems Services and Posttest (students as explainers)
Activity	Target Performance
Activity 5.1: Introduction to Ecosystem Products and Services	Students explain how humans change matter cycling and energy flow in ecosystems to produce products and services.
Activity 5.2: Ecosystem Products and Services Jigsaw	Students explain how humans manage matter cycling and energy flow in specific ecosystems to produce products that they need (beef, corn, forest).
Activity 5.3a: Ecosystem Posters OR Activity 5.3b: Ecosystem Posters	Students use posters to explain matter cycling, energy flow, and ecosystem services in a different ecosystem.
	Students use posters to explain matter cycling, energy flow, ecosystem services, and effects of disturbances in a different ecosystem.
Activity 5.4: Ecosystems Unit Posttest	Students show their end-of unit proficiencies for the overall unit goal: Questioning, investigating, and explaining how carbon cycles and energy flows in ecosystems.

NGSS Performance Expectations

High School

Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics. HS-LS2-2. Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems at different scales.
Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics. HS-LS2-5: Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.
Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics. HS-LS2-6: Evaluate claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.

Middle School

Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems. MS-LS2-4. Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
Earth’s Systems. MS-ESS2-1. Develop a model to describe the cycling of earth’s materials and the flow of energy that drives this process.

Three-dimensional Learning Progression

In Lesson 5, students consider several real-world situations to apply their understanding of ecosystems and carbon cycling. Thinking about real-world situations will help students apply their knowledge and understand the relevance of this topic.

Key Ideas and Practices for Each Activity

In Activity 5.1, students are introduced to human managed ecosystems and ecosystem products and services. Students complete a reading about these ideas and then apply them to new ecosystems.

In Activity 5.2, students read about one human managed ecosystem and the services and products it provides. They then share with peers to learn about other human managed ecosystems in a jigsaw-style discussion.

In Activity 5.3a (1-turtle) or 5.3b (2-turtle), students review what they have learned throughout the unit by creating ecosystem posters focused on tracing matter and energy within an ecosystem.

Activity 5.4 includes the unit posttest. As you look at your students’ responses to the posttest questions, consider how well their answers reflect their progress toward understanding ecological matter cycling and energy flow, and answering the Large-Scale Four Questions for a variety of ecosystems. See 5.4 Grading Ecosystems Unit Posttest for assistance in interpreting your students’ responses.

Content Boundaries and Extensions