Forest Ecosystem
Observe and manipulate the populations of four creatures (trees, deer, bears, and mushrooms) in a forest. Investigate the feeding relationships (food web) in the forest. Determine which creatures are producers, consumers, and decomposers. Pictographs and line graphs show changes in populations over time.
Launch GizmoForest Ecosystem
Observe and manipulate the populations of four creatures (trees, deer, bears, and mushrooms) in a forest. Investigate the feeding relationships (food web) in the forest. Determine which creatures are producers, consumers, and decomposers. Pictographs and line graphs show changes in populations over time.
5 Minute Preview
Use for 5 minutes a day.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Understand the role each type (consumer, producer, decomposer) of creature plays in the carbon cycle.
- Determine the feeding dependencies in a forest ecosystem.
- Determine which consumers are decomposers.
- Interpret pictographs and line graphs.
VOCABULARY:
- consumer, decomposer, inorganic, organic, population, producer
LESSON MATERIALS:
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User Lesson Materials (showing 5 of 7):
Forest Ecosystem Scientific Explanation Writing Prompt
This worksheet asks students to write a proposal for allowing hunting in this forest, while keeping deer ... (more)populations at a level of 50%. They will support their proposal with evidence and reasoning in order to convince the State Department of Natural Resources committee to select their proposal.
Best For:
3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade Science
Forest Ecosystem 1st grade Student Sheet
Student Sheets recreated for first graders
Best For:
3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade Science
L'écosystème de la forêt
This document is the French translation of the Assessment Questions of Forest Ecosystem. This translatio... (more)n was graciously provided by the Consortium provincial francophone de l'Alberta.
Best For:
3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade Science
L'écosystème de la forêt
This document is the French translation of the Student Exploration Guide for Forest Ecosystem. This tran... (more)slation was graciously provided by the Consortium provincial francophone de l'Alberta.
Best For:
3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade Science
Forest Ecosystem for NECAP
NECAP is the New England Common Assessement Program and serves Vermont, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. ... (more)This GIZMO has been adapted to reflect the style and format of the NECAP Inquiry task.
Best For:
3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade Science
User Recommendations (showing 5 of 6):
Students enjoyed manipulating various factors
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Great interactions. Good visuals, especially for students who may be more 'city' than rural.
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My students loved manipulating the variables and seeing who could survive the longest. I don't think they realized they were even learning.
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Excellent Gizmo to complement instruction with Food Chain Gizmo
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