Week 1

Lesson 1 -105 Lesson 1- What is an ecosystem?

minutes
Topic 4: Biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics
SACE Connection:
● Distinguish between a species, population, community, and an ecosystem.
● Describe diversity in examples of:
⬥ species
⬥ ecosystems.

KUDS Students will know: that ecosystems are self-sustainable communities of living and
non -living components

Students will understand: understand that organisms interact with their immediate
environment

Students will be able to: define and use terminology relevant to ecology such as
species, community, population, biodiversity

Resources/ AV- video and powerpoint

Equipment Whiteboard and markers
Lesson Activity
Structure
Introduction Warm up activity -What do you want to learn?
(to be completed prior to lesson)
http://bit.do/eco_warmup1

5mins How the wolves change rivers

Main activity
2o-30 mins Powerpoint – encourage student thinking by asking questions
and using class discussion with slides

20 mins Use guided questions for student to explore a particular

ecosystem with pdf’s- can work in pairs and feedback to class
(1 from each)

During feedback to class, elicit key facts from students research.

Question may include
What do you notice? What are the key components that make
up the ecosystem? – need to link in with living and non-living
components to introduce next lesson – Biotic and Abiotic factors
Conclusion Wrap up lesson with recap and explicitly link to KUD’s

EXTENSION Begin defining what components of an ecosystem.

Identify biotic and abiotic components of given ecosystem and how things may
change if any of these factors would be altered.