Instructional Software

Lesson Idea Name: Ecosystems

Content Area: Science
Grade Level(s): 7th Grade

Content Standard Addressed:

S7L4. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to examine the interdependence of organisms with
one another and their environments.

a. Construct an explanation for the patterns of interactions observed in different ecosystems in terms of
the relationships among and between organisms and abiotic components of the ecosystem. (Clarification
statement: The interactions include, but are not limited to, predator-prey relationships, competition,
mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism.)

Technology Standard Addressed: ISTE-S Standard 3 – Knowledge Constructor

Selected Technology Tool: BrainPOP.com

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):

https://www.brainpop.com/science/ecologyandbehavior/ecosystems/

Type of Instructional Software:

BrainPOP

☐ Drill and Practice ☒ Tutorial ☐ Simulation ☐ Instructional Game ☐ e-books/e-references

Features of this software (check all that apply):

☒ Assessment Monitoring/Reporting
☐ Allows teacher to create customized lessons for students
☐ Multi-user or collaborative functions with others in the class
☐ Multi-user or collaborative with others outside the class
☒ Accessible to students beyond the school day
☒ Accessible via mobile devices
☒ Multiple languages
☒ Safety, security and/or privacy features

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☒ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating ☐ Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☐ Level 2: Exploration ☒ Level 3: Infusion ☐ Level 4: Integration
☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Lesson idea implementation:

The BrainPOP video will introduce learning about differing ecosystems that we see on Earth. This video will
start a lesson that helps students learn vocabulary and concepts about the types of living and nonliving
organisms, how they are grouped, and how they affect each other in their environments. The teacher will
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show the students pictures and videos of differing ecosystems around Earth to introduce this topic. Students
will then move on to the BrainPOP website and in their class tab they will see this Ecosystem module. They
would watch the video, take a short review quiz expressing what they saw in the movie (not graded). The
class will then watch a presentation that would go further in-depth in the topic.

At the end of the lesson the students would be assessed by going back to the BrainPOP course to create a
Make-a-Map to analyze the components of a chosen ecosystem to categorize the terms ecosystem,
community, population, and organism and will order them from broadest to most narrow groups. The
students would also show some examples of the living and non-living organisms in these categories. A rubric
will be provided as they compose their chart. They will also include a paragraph summary about why they
chose that specific ecosystem and what would happen to the ecosystem as a whole if a key species
disappeared.

Reflective Practice:
This lesson could be extended by printing out the concept maps and summaries and posting them in the hall
or classroom or by posting them in a classroom blog to share with parents and families.
Students can extend their concept maps to the local nature centers to post or invite a National Park ranger to
come and share local examples of the ecosystem that we live in.

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