Tuesday, November 19 & Wednesday, November 20

Teacher: Mr. Berenson

Grade: 9th
Content Area: Environmental Science

1. Content and Standards:​ ​3.2.C.A2 – Structure of Matter.​ 4.1.10.C Evaluate the

efficiency of energy flow within a food web.

2. Prerequisites: ​Students need to be able to classify organisms into the four trophic
levels (producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers).
Students should know the four types of consumers (herbivore, omnivore, carnivore,
and decomposer). Students need the technological skills to navigate the internet in
order to locate and complete a virtual lab activity.

3. Essential Questions: ​How do organisms interactions inform us about nature? How do

matter and energy move through an ecosystem? What happens to ecosystems when
the environment changes? How can ecological energy transfer be related to our own
eating habits?

4. Materials and Equipment: ​SMART Board, Chromebooks, lab worksheet, writing

utensil, Do Now Sheet.

5. Instructional Objective*:
I. Following guided instruction that models proper lab procedure, Level 1 and 2
SWBAT complete the ecological pyramids virtual lab worksheet IOT demonstrate
the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level in three or fewer
attempts.
II. After considerable instruction on the scientific method earlier in the course and
collecting data for the lab, Level 1 and 2 SWBAT form accurate conclusions based on
observations and data when prompted by analysis questions on the lab worksheet
with more than 83% accuracy (5 out of 6)
III. After considerable instruction on the scientific method earlier in the course and
collecting data for the lab, Level 1SWBAT form accurate conclusions based on
observations and data when prompted by analysis questions on the lab worksheet
with more than 50% accuracy (3 out of 6)
6. Instructional Procedures:
I. Before​:
A. Students answer the following question in their “Do Now” tracker: What
group of organisms are found in Level 2 of the ecological pyramid? (5 Min).
II. During​:
A. Direct Instruction: The teacher reviews trophic levels by discussing the four
different trophic levels identified by the class for theirs answers on the Do
Now and pulling out the most important information from the class’ answers
(level 1 = producers, level 2 = primary consumers, level 3 = secondary
consumers, level 4 = tertiary consumers). 4 different students will volunteer
 to identify one level for the class. Using PowerPoint slides teacher describes
the three types of ecological pyramids: energy pyramid, biomass pyramid,
and numbers pyramid. Next, the teacher will present information on the
three types of ecological pyramid (numbers, biomass, and energy) using
Powerpoint slides (will be available in Blackboard). Review questions will be
asked during the lesson to keep the class engaged (Where on the pyramid is
the energy/biomass/organism number highest?, What happens to the
energy/biomass/organism number as you travel up the pyramid?, etc?). A
short video will be shown to reinforce the concept. (URL:
https://youtu.be/wGfOoRrICto​) Students will be asked a few questions
about the video (ie. What is wrong with the pyramid displayed in the video?)
(25 Min).
B. Guided Practice: Teacher provides guided instructions on how to complete
the ecological pyramid virtual lab activity. Teacher will model how to access
the online virtual lab using the projector. He will also demonstrate how to
drag organisms into the pyramid as well as the check answers feature on the
website (7 Min).
C. Independent Practice: Students will work on the virtual lab worksheet
(attached). They will use a Jigsaw in order to complete the activity with each
student completing one or two ecosystems. The class will then share data so
that everyone has data from every ecosystem. My mentor teacher and I will
circulate the room and provide 1 on 1 assistance with students who are
struggling. (32 Min).
III. After:
A. Exit Ticket: What are the three types of ecological pyramids? (3 Min)
7. Assessment:
A. Do Now: I will be looking for students to recall that primary consumers are on the
second level of the ecological pyramid. They may use their notes to recall this
information. This assessment will be graded for accuracy immediately upon
completion.
B. Formative: I will pay attention to student participation and engagement during
direct instruction. I will ask students for feedback about their understanding of the
assignment. I will also monitor progress as they work on the lab activity.
C. Ecological Pyramid Lab WS: I will be looking for all students to complete this activity
with at least 100% accuracy in the data section and 83% accuracy in the discussion
sections (5 out of 6).
D. Exit TicketL I will be looking for students to recall the three types of data that
ecological pyramids can measure (energy, biomass, and numbers, which measures
population count).

8. Differentiated Instruction: ​Level 1 students: Will not work with a partner, and will
be placed in group 1 for data collection on the jigsaw. This means they will organize
organisms within the most complicated ecosystem. They will also be encouraged to be
more independent instead of relying on large amounts of one on one support from the
teachers. Level 2 students will be in group 4 and will have to organize organisms
within two separate (but not complicated) ecosystems. Level 3 students will organize
organisms into one (not complicated) ecosystem. They will also only have to correctly
answer three of the discussion questions instead of 5. They will also receive a lot of one
on one support as they work on the lesson.