3.1.4.A.3: Explain how changes to an ecosystem can impact the balance of living and nonliving components.

3.5.4.A.1: Identify the characteristics of different ecosystems (e.g., forest, grassland, ocean) and their associated habitats.

Grade Level: 4th Grade
Duration: 60 minutes
Materials Needed:

• Whiteboard and markers

• Projector and computer for visuals and videos

• Chart paper and markers

• Printed worksheets with food chain diagrams

• Small plastic animals or cutouts for food chain activity

• Small containers or jars for the ecosystem in a bottle (optional)

• Videos (optional)

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Define what an ecosystem is.

2. Identify the key components of an ecosystem (biotic and abiotic).

3. Understand the difference between different types of ecosystems.

4. Describe the basic structure of food chains and food webs.

5. Discuss the importance of biodiversity and human impact on ecosystems.

For the food chain activity, students will choose from a set of worksheets lined up on the teacher's desk. They would cut out each animal and place it in the empty space where they believe it should go. This activity will be done twice, once in the beginning and once at the end. This would double as an assessment to see what children have gained from the lesson.

From the resources, children will obtain the information needed to make the jar and write a short, single-page paper on what they have learned about each ecosystem. Students will describe what an ecosystem is, and use the body of their essay to explain what they chose to put in their jar and how it benefits their little ecosystem. If they are comfortable, students are welcome to put small insects in their jar to further develop their ecosystem.