Forest Ecology
The Wonders and Mystery of Forests
By exploring healthy forests students learn that there is much more to a forest than just trees. They will learn how a tree works, why certain species grow where they do and why humans and animals need trees. Students also discuss forests as a system of plants, animals, and decomposers. Key concepts/vocabulary: succession, dichotomous key, habitat, erosion, photosynthesis, decomposers, deciduous/evergreen, xylem, phloem, seed dispersal, and succession.
- 3 hours
- Ideal for 3rd-8th graders
- Has been adapted successfully for older students
From the Tennessee Standard Course of Study
Go back to TN class list.
| 4th Grade | TOP |
Science
Life Science
Interactions Between Living Things and Their Environment:
4.2.1 Investigate the relationships among organisms in a specific ecosystem.
* Examine and relate how plants and animals interact with each other and their environment.
4.2.2 Recognize that organisms are able to change their environment.
* Provide evidence and give examples of environmental changes caused by living things.
Earth Resources:
4.10.2 Know the basic characteristics of soils.
* Identify the different components of soil.
4.10.3 Realize the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources.
* Identify renewable and non-renewable resources
English
Reading
Content Standard: 1.0
The student will develop the reading and listening skills necessary for word recognition, comprehension, interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and appreciation of print and non-print text.
Accomplishement:
4.1.01 Continue to develop oral language and listening skills.
a. Listen attentively by facing the speaker, asking questions, and paraphrasing what is said.
b. Use established rules for conversation (e.g., do not interrupt, ask questions, provide appropriate feedback).
d. Formulate and respond to questions from teachers and other group members.
f. Summarize orally what has been learned or accomplished after completing an activity or assignment.
| 5th Grade | TOP |
Science
Life Science
Interactions Between Living Things and Their Environment:
5.2.1 Investigate the relationships among organisms in a specific ecosystem.
* Classify specific kinds of relationships among plants and animals within an ecosystem.
5.2.2 Recognize that organisms are able to change their environment.
* Predict the consequences of a human action on the environment
Food Production and Energy for Life:
5.3.1 Realize that plants and animals use food for energy.
* Explain how plants produce their own food.
5.3.2 Recognize the function of specific structures in organisms that allow them to obtain and use energy.
* Describe how various plant structures are associated with food production (i.e., stems, leaves, stomata).
Heredity and Reproduction:
5.4.1 Realize that certain characteristics are passed from parents to offspring.
a. Explain the function of the flower in plant reproduction.
b. Observe specific plants and explain how they grow from and produce seeds (i.e. sunflowers, beans).
c. Compare and contrast how different plants reproduce (i.e. flowers, spores).
5.4.2 Realize that reproduction is necessary for the survival of the species.
a. Recognize that new generations of living things arise through reproduction.
b. Explain that the continuation of a species is dependent upon the reproduction of its members
Diversity and Adaptation Among Living Things:
5.5.1 Realize that plants and animals can be grouped according to similarities and differences in their characteristics.
* Classify plants according to their characteristics.
5.5.2 Determine that adaptations help organisms to survive in their environments.
* Compare how plants are adapted to different environments (e.g., palm tree, fir tree, cactus).
English
Reading
Content Standard: 1.0
The student will develop the reading and listening skills necessary for word recognition, comprehension, interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and appreciation of print and non-print text.
Accomplishment:
5.1.01 Continue to develop oral language and listening skills.
a. Listen attentively by facing the speaker, asking questions, and paraphrasing what is said.
b. Use established rules for conversation (e.g., do not interrupt, ask questions, provide appropriate feedback).
d. Formulate and respond to questions from teachers and other group members.
f. Summarize orally what has been learned or accomplished after completing an activity or assignment.
j. Interpret and use a variety of non-verbal communication techniques (e.g., gestures, facial expression, posture).
| 6th Grade | TOP |
Science
Life Science
Interactions Between Living Things and Their Environment:
6.2.2 Examine the competitive relationships among organisms within an ecosystem.
b. Describe the impact of competition among species within an ecosystem.
c. Interpret how humans impact ecosystems.
Food Production and Energy for Life:
6.3.1 Recognize relationships within food chains.
a. Classify organisms as producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Diversity and Adaptation Among Living Things:
6.5.1 Understand how organisms are adapted for surviving in particular environments.
* Explain how the relationship between the form and function of an organism is associated with survival in a given environment.
Biological Change:
6.6.3 Reason how environmental changes are associated with the extinction of a species.
a. Predict how a specific environmental change might affect the survival of a plant or animal species.
b. Evaluate possible causes of extinction.
English
Reading
Content Standard: 1.0
The student will develop the reading and listening skills necessary for word recognition, comprehension, interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and appreciation of print and non-print text.
Accomplishment:
6.1.01 Continue to develop oral language and listening skills.
a. Model active listening in both formal and informal settings.
b. Know and use rules for conversations.
c. Continue to formulate and respond to questions from teachers and classmates.
d. Organize and share information, stories, experiences, ideas, and feelings with others in both formal and informal situations.
h. Continue to interpret and use a variety of non-verbal communication techniques to enhance meaning (e.g., posture, gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, eye contact).
| 7th Grade | TOP |
Science
Life Science
Food Production and Energy for Life:
7.3.2 Distinguish between the photosynthesis and respiration process.
a. Compare and contrast photosynthesis and respiration.
English
Reading
Content Standard: 1.0
The student will develop the reading and listening skills necessary for word recognition, comprehension, interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and appreciation of print and non-print text.
Accomplishment:
7.1.01 Continue to develop oral language and listening skills.
a. Continue to model active listening in both formal and informal settings.
b. Adhere to rules for public conversation.
c. Continue to formulate and respond to questions from teachers and classmates.
d. Continue to organize and share information, stories, experiences, ideas, and feelings with others in both formal and informal situations.
h. Continue to use a variety of non-verbal communication techniques to enhance meaning (e.g., posture, gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, eye contact).
Social Studies
Geography
7.3.08 Understand how human activities impact and modify the physical environment.
a. Describe effects of human modification on the physical environment including global warming, deforestation, desertification, and urbanization.
b. Explain the ways in which human induced changes in the physical environment in one place can cause changes in other places.
c. Analyze the environmental consequences of humans changing the physical environment.
| 8th Grade | TOP |
Science
Life Science
Diversity and Adaptation Among Living Things
8.5.2 Identify characteristics used by scientists to classify organisms into different categories.
a. Infer the relatedness of different organisms using a system of classification.
b. Compare different organisms according to similarities and differences in their structures and function.
Earth and Space Science
8.10.3 Investigate how human activities affect the earth's land, oceans, and atmosphere.
a. Analyze and evaluate the impact of man's use of earth's resources.
b. Research how technological advances have impacted the environment (e.g., the use of fertilizers, fossil fuels).
8.10.5 Analyze approaches to conserving energy and natural resources.
* Evaluate the effectiveness of various conservation strategies on the earth's energy and natural resources.
English
Reading
Content Standard: 1.0
The student will develop the reading and listening skills necessary for word recognition, comprehension, interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and appreciation of print and non-print text.
Accomplishment:
8.1.01 Continue to develop oral language and listening skills.
a. Continue to model active listening in both formal and informal settings.
b. Continue to adhere to rules for public conversations.
c. Continue to formulate and respond to questions from teachers and classmates.
d. Continue to organize and share information, stories, experiences, ideas, and feelings with others in both formal and informal situations.
h. Analyze a variety of non-verbal communication techniques and how they impact the audience and speaker.
Go back to TN class list.
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