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Environmental Changes
Appropriate for 3-5
Class Objective:
Students will explore and analyze environmental changes on many levels, including seasonal changes, decomposition, change over time, and plant and animal adaptation to change. Students will discuss the human impact on environmental changes in an ecosystem, along with how changes may affect the energy flow through an ecosystem.
Example of field activities:
Magic Spot (seasonal change): This activity allows students to carefully examine a study plot, making observations and journaling, later making predictions of how abiotic factors might affect the site through the seasons. The initial examination, observations, and journaling of the study site will take place at the Arboretum and should be followed up with additional predictions/ research in the classroom.
Camo Critters and Thicket (adaptation to change): This activity allows students to both passively and actively investigate animal adaptation to change in the environment. Students will explore how camouflage helps animals to survive and then determine for themselves actions that allow animals to survive.
Fallen Log (decomposition): This activity allows students to look more closely at decomposition and its function in the natural cycle. Students will observe and explore organisms unique to various stages of decomposition.
Web of Life (energy flow and human impact): This activity allows the students to explore the different roles organisms have in an ecosystem (consumer, producer, decomposer) and their relationship between all the components of an ecosystem. Students will also discuss what happens to the balance of an ecosystem when it is disrupted by human impact.
Key points covered in each class:
- How seasonal change will affect the biotic and abiotic factors within a specific area
- Classifying organisms as producers, consumers, and decomposers and the path of energy flow among life on earth
- How species adapt to the changing conditions to the environment and the effect of their survival.
- Decomposition and how matter is recycled in the natural world
- Human impact on changes in the environment
Minnesota State Science Standards covered during the class:
1. The student will recognize the natural processes that cause rocks to break down into smaller pieces and eventually into soil. 2. The student will investigate the formation, composition and properties of soil. 3. The student will describe how waves, wind, water and ice shape and reshape the Earth’s surface. The student will know that biological populations change over time. 2. The student will recognize that extinction of a species occurs when the environment changes and the adaptive characteristics of a species are insufficient to allow its survival.
GRADE 5
III. EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
A. Earth Structure and Processes
The student will explore the structures and functions of Earth systems.
GRADE 5
IV. LIFE SCIENCE
E. Biological Populations Change Over Time
1. The student will recognize that individuals of the same species differ in their characteristics and that sometimes the differences give individuals an advantage in surviving and reproducing.
GRADE 5
IV. LIFE SCIENCE
F. Flow of Matter and Energy
The student will know that matter and energy flow into, out of, and within a biological system.
1. The student will recognize that organisms need energy to stay alive and grow, and that this energy originates from teh sum.
2. The student will use food webs to describe the relationships among producers, consumers, and decomposers in an ecosystem in Minnesota.
3. The student will recognize that organisms are growing, dying and decaying, and that their matter is recycled.