Unit 44: Ecosystems and Environmental Science

Day 21 of 30

Ecosystem services

6-8Science

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Learning Objective

Students will understand ecosystem services through guided practice and application.

Today's Lesson

In this lesson, we'll explore ecosystem services. Scientific inquiry allows us to investigate and explain natural phenomena.

An ecosystem is a community of living things (plants, animals, microorganisms) interacting with each other and their non-living environment (water, soil, air, sunlight). A habitat is the specific place where an organism lives within an ecosystem. For example, a forest ecosystem includes trees, deer, insects, soil, and rain. Each organism plays a role, and they all depend on each other. When one part changes, it affects the whole system!

As you work through today's material, pay attention to the examples and try to identify the patterns or strategies being used. This will help you apply these concepts to new problems.

Take notes on key points and make connections to what you've already learned in previous lessons.

Key Terms
Ecosystem

A community of organisms and their environment

Investigate

To examine systematically through observation and experiment

Activities
Instructions
1. Read the background information on ecosystem services. 2. Form a hypothesis before beginning. 3. Conduct the investigation following procedures. 4. Record observations and analyze results.
Materials Needed
  • Lab notebook
  • Investigation materials
  • Safety equipment if needed
Practice Problems
1

What is a producer in a food chain?

Hint: These organisms make their own food.
2

Give an example of a simple food chain.

Hint: Start with a plant, then an animal that eats it, then a predator.
3

What would happen if all the plants in an ecosystem died?

Hint: Think about what eats plants.

Teaching Tip

For advanced learners: Encourage deeper analysis and real-world connections. Consider extension activities that allow students to apply ecosystem services to novel situations.

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