Samantha Morgan Lesson 1

Lesson Plan
The Ecosystem/Food Web Lesson

Subject, Topic, Grade Level, Time Frame

Science
Ecosystems
5th Grade
20 minutes

Common Core Standards

5-LS2-1: Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals,
decomposers, and the environment.

Objective
Students will be able to comprehend the different aspects of ecosystems and food webs. Students
will participate in a classroom experiment.

Rationale
This lesson is designed to help students better understand ecosystems and food webs.
Students have been learning about ecosystems and food webs in previous lessons. They will now
complete a pre-assessment for the Milk vs. Water Experiment. Each student will choose which
plant will survive using milk or water. Students will later compare and contrast the outcome of
the plants.

Connection
This lesson utilizes Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences by acknowledging the
various ways that students learn and the various ways they can accomplish this project, including
the following:
● Visual-aesthetic learners like to visualize their words (observing the plants).
● Bodily-kinesthetic learners like making things with their hands (taking care of
the plants).
● Musical learners learn through or from music (seeing or observing if the plants
thrive from sounds).
● Intrapersonal learners learn through independent study/self-guided experiences
(observing the health of the plants).
● Interpersonal learners learn through social interaction with others (talking to
other students about their observations).
 ● Linguistic learners learn through verbal expression (verbalizing characteristics of
the plants).
● Logical-mathematical learners enjoy exploring patterns and relationships
(measuring the growth of the plants).
● Naturalistic learners have a sensitivity to the natural world (researching the
plants).

Procedures
Set up: The teacher will open the Smartboard activity created for this lesson.
Instructions: The teacher will evaluate the students’ understanding of ecosystems and
food webs. The teacher and students will discuss different ecosystems and their
characteristics. The teacher will go through the entire lesson on the Smartboard. Finally,
the teacher will introduce the plant experiment.
Activity: The teacher will pass out the Water vs. Milk Worksheet. Each student will make
his or her own hypothesis and begin filling out the worksheet. Then, each student will
turn toward another student and discuss their predictions. Next, the class will discuss
their predictions and outcomes. Lastly, the teacher will discuss the experiment directions.
Experiment: Students will share duties for taking care of the plants in class. Each
student will fill in her or his observations of the plants on Fridays.
Closure: Students will discuss the outcome of the experiment.

Academic Languages
After explaining the activities to the class, the teacher will clarify any vocabulary that students
do not understand. Students will be encouraged to use new vocabulary in the experiment.

Assessment
Students will observe the experiment over the next few weeks in class.

Instructional Accommodations

Accommodations are included for the following:

● High-proficiency learners--students will have the opportunity to explore
additional resources. They may go beyond what is required and study similar
topics to our experiment. For instance, students can study photosynthesis and how
various plants survive in different climates/environments
● Struggling learners--if needed, students will be given more time to record their
observations. If a student needs more time, he or she can complete the worksheet
during silent time. This extra time should not make struggling learners feel
self-conscious about needing more time to record their findings.
 ● ELL students--the teacher will provide resources to help these students access
information in their native language. For example, the teacher can provide the
worksheet in a student’s native language.

Materials
Smartboard
Smartboard Lesson
2 plants
Water
Milk
Ruler
Worksheet

Resources
https://www.melissaanddoug.com/blogpost?postId=5-tips-to-teach-kids-how-to-care-for-pla
nts
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2016/01/30/features/houseplants-teach-children-how-to-car
e-for-living-things-and-solve-problems-when-things-go-wrong/
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/ecosystem/