General Ecology
Web of Life
This class focuses on the interactions and dependencies of the smallest animals, such as phytoplankton, to the largest animals, or keystone species. Through discussion, activities and exploration each students will see how their everyday actions affect the world around them. Key concepts/vocabulary: food chain/web, predator/prey, consumers, producers, energy transfer, and biomagnification.
- 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.
Food Production and Energy for Life:
4.3.1 Realize that plants and animals use food for energy.
* Explain that animals must obtain and use food for energy.
4.3.2Recognize the function of specific structures in organisms that allow them to obtain and use energy.
* Compare how specific animals obtain oxygen (e.g., gills, lungs).
Heredity and Reproduction:
4.4.3 Investigate the life cycles of different organisms.
* Describe the life cycle of an animal (i.e. frog, mealworm).
Diversity and Adaptation Among Living Things:
4.5.1 Realize that plants and animals can be grouped according to similarities and differences in their characteristics.
* Classify animals, by type, according to their characteristics.
Biological Change:
4.6.2 Recognize that extinction has occurred in the past and continues today.
* Identify certain animal and plant populations as thriving, threatened, endangered, or extinct (e.g., elephants, sea turtles, dodo bird, dinosaur).
Earth Resources:
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.
Math
Data Analysis and Probability
Content Standard 5.0 The student will understand and apply basic statistical and probability concepts as they, organize, and analyze data, and to make predictions and conjectures.
4.5.1 Formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer questions.
a. collect data using observations, surveys, and experiments;
c. represent data using tables, pictographs, line graphs, and bar graphs;
d. interpret data displayed in tables, pictographs, line graphs, and bar graphs;
4.5.3 Make and justify predictions based on data.
a. make predictions based on data;
4.5.4 Understand and apply basic concepts of probability.
a. describe the likelihood or chance of events as certain, possible, or impossible;
b. explain whether an event is likely or unlikely;
| 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:
5.4.2 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
Earth and Space Science
Atmospheric Cycles:
5.8.3 Recognize the basic features of the water cycle.
a. Demonstrate the components and processes of the water cycle.
b. Analyze how temperature affects evaporation, condensation and precipitation.
Earth Resources:
5.10.3 Realize the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources.
* Explain the implications of society's dependence on 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.
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).
Math
Data Analysis and Probability
Content Standard 5.0 The student will understand and apply basic statistical and probability concepts as they, organize, and analyze data, and to make predictions and conjectures.
5.5.1 Formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer questions.
a. collect data using observations, surveys, and experiments;
c. represent data using pictographs, bar graphs, tables, circle graphs, and line graphs;
d. interpret data displayed in pictographs, bar graphs, tables, circle graphs, and line graphs.
5.5.3 Develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data.
a. make predictions and justify conclusions based on data;
d. explain the importance of sample size in investigations.
5.5.4 Understand and apply basic concepts of probability.
a. describe the likelihood or chance of events as likely, unlikely, certain, equally likely, or impossible;
| 6th Grade | TOP |
Science
Life Science
Interactions Between Living Things and Their Environment:
6.2.1 Understand the nature of symbiotic relationships
* Describe commensal, parasitic, and mutualistic relationships.
6.2.2 Examine the competitive relationships among organisms within an ecosystem.
a. Distinguish between predators and prey.
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.
b. Demonstrate interrelationships among organisms in a food chain or food web.
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.
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).
Math
Data Analysis and Probability
Content Standard 5.0
The student will understand and apply basic statistical and probability concepts as they, organize, and analyze data, and to make predictions and conjectures.
6.5.1 Formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer questions.
d. construct, interpret, and use single-bar and single-line graphs to answer questions and solve real-world problems.
6.5.3 Develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data.
a. make conjectures and predictions based on data;
| 7th Grade | TOP |
Science
Earth and Space Science
Atmospheric Cycles:
7.8.1Interpret the relationship between weather and the water cycle.
* Explain how conditions, such as the amount of precipitation, temperature, and wind speed affect the water cycle.
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).
Math
Algebra
Content Standard 2.0 The student will understand and generalize patterns as they represent and analyze quantitative relationships and change in a variety of contexts and problems using graphs, tables, and equations.
7.2.1 Understand patterns, relations, and functions.
c. Use tables, graphs, and symbolic rules to generalize patterns in data;
Data Analysis and Probability
Content Standard 5.0 The student will understand and apply basic statistical and probability concepts as they, organize, and analyze data, and to make predictions and conjectures.
7.5.1 Formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer questions.
b. Construct, interpret, and use multiple-bar graphs, multiple-line graphs, and circle graphs displaying real-world data.
7.5.3 Develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data.
a. Make conjectures and predictions based on data;
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 Resources:
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.
Math
Algebra
Content Standard 2.0 The student will understand and generalize patterns as they represent and analyze quantitative relationships and change in a variety of contexts and problems using graphs, tables, and equations.
8.2.1 Understand patterns, relations, and functions.
a. Represent, analyze, and generalize a variety of patterns with tables, graphs, words, and when possible symbolic rules;
Data Analysis and Probability
Content Standard 5.0 The student will understand and apply basic statistical and probability concepts as they, organize, and analyze data, and to make predictions and conjectures.
8.5.3 Develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data.
a. Make conjectures and predictions based on data;
Go back to TN class list.
- Home |
- Site Map |
- Download Forms |
- Directions |
- Employment |
- Give to Kanuga |
- Privacy Policy |
- Webmaster |
- Page Top