Science Objectives from ALEX (Alabama Learning Exchange), Science (2005) Grade: 4 Describe the interdependence of plants and animals. Describing behaviors and body structures that help animals survive in particular habitats. Examples: - Behaviors- migration, hibernation, mimicry; - Body structures- quills, fangs, stingers, webbed feet Describing life cycles of various animals to include incomplete and complete metamorphosis. Examples: damsel fly, mealworms Tracing the flow of energy through a food chain. Example: producer, first-level consumer, second-level consumer, and third-level consumer Identifying characteristics of organisms, including growth and development, reproduction, acquisition and use of energy, and response to the environment

Science Objectives from ALEX (Alabama Learning Exchange), Science (2005)Grade: 4Describe the interdependence of plants and animals. Describing behaviors and body structures that help animals survive in particular habitats. Examples:- Behaviors- migration, hibernation, mimicry;- Body structures- quills, fangs, stingers, webbed feet Describing life cycles of various animals to include incomplete and complete metamorphosis. Examples: damsel fly, mealworms Tracing the flow of energy through a food chain. Example: producer, first-level consumer, second-level consumer, and third-level consumer Identifying characteristics of organisms, including growth and development, reproduction, acquisition and use of energy, and response to the environment

Connected PlanetInterdependence of Plants and Animals

Mr. Jonathan WoolleyEcology4th Grade

Did you know there are 1.75 million scientifically identified living forms on this planet?!

If you include yet-to-be identified organisms, 30 million different forms of life are believed to exist!!!!

To put this into perspective, Tokyo, Japan, the worlds most populated city, has 3O million inhabitants.

Now imagine if each person in Tokyo was a unique organism.

To keep the numbers going

Did you know that there are about 4,000,000,000,000 trees on Earth?

There are 1,000,000 ants for every single person (this comes to about 100,000,000,000,000 ants!)??

Also, there is an estimated 100,000,000,000,000 bacterium living inside of each and every one of us. Which just happens to outnumber our own human cells 10 to 1.

Mind Blowing!!!!As you can see, our world supports a massive amount of life forms.

This vast number of unique creatures include fungi, microorganisms, animals and plants. It also includes us humans.

Our lives and existence are all interconnected and dependent on each othereven in ways we have not yet discovered.

Ecologists are people who look for these connections. What do Ecologists do?Video link

One of the best ways ecologists study environments is by direct observation.

Throughout this unit we will reflect on what we observe in field journals.

Lets make our own field journals!

Go to this website for instructions!As we embark on our exploration, dont forget to look for Connections.

Remember, everything is connected somehow!In field journal, write down plant and animal topics you are interested in.

For Homework~ Write in field journal.

What is an ecosystem?

Ecosystem video

2. What is your favorite biome?

Explore biomes

Dont forget: You can copy-paste this slide into other presentations, and move or resize the poll.Press F5 or enter presentation mode to view the pollIn an emergency during your presentation, if the poll isn't showing, navigate to this link in your web browser:http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/EY2QBA0s82uBX0U

If you like, you can use this slide as a template for your own voting slides. You might use a slide like this if you feel your audience would benefit from the picture showing a text message on a phone.15Rainforest wins!

Video linkIn field journals, write/draw some facts you have learned about rainforest ecosystems.

List open-ended questions pulled from video

What would you like to learn more about?The term environment in ecology refers to both the physical and biological factors affecting organisms. The physical environment consists of abiotic, or nonliving, factors. These include resources such as light, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and soil; physical characteristics such as atmospheric pressure, temperature, and rainfall; and disturbances such as fire or tsunamis. The biological environment is made up of biotic, or living, factorsanything that is living or was living, as well as things that are immediately related to life. For example, the biotic factors in a rainforest include all of the organisms living in itplants, animals, fungi, and microbesas well as animal droppings, leaf litter, and rotting logs.The interactions between living things and their environment occur at different scales. The most basic of these is the interaction between an individual organism and its environment. The largest scale is the biosphere, which consists of the relatively thin layers of Earth's air, soil, and water that are capable of supporting life together with all organisms that live there. The biosphere extends from roughly 6 miles (10 kilometers) above Earth's surface to the deep-sea vents of the ocean. The biosphere is divided into large regions called biomes (or major life zones) that are distinguished by climate and vegetation patterns.Most studies in ecology focus on interactions taking place at scales that fall in between the extremes of individuals and the biosphere: populations, communities, and ecosystems.

Compton's by Britannica. Britannica Online for Kids.Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 22 Apr. 2013..

Vocab List 1Directions: Match each word with its correct definition.OrganismEnvironmentHabitatEcosystemBiomePopulationCommunityNiche

group of parts that work together as a unita group of the same species living in the same place at the same timea group of living things and the environment in which they liveall the populations that live in the same areaan individual formed to carry on the activities of lifeeverything that surrounds and affects an animal, including living and nonliving thingsplace that meets an organism's needsrole of an organism in its habitatA large naturally occurring ecosystem of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat

The two principal groups of living organisms are plants and animals. From the very early phase of evolution plants and animals have lived together side by side in an intimate relationship. This relationship is also known as the biotic environment or biosphere. In a stable ecosystem the plants and animals form a delicate nutritional interdependence which with minor fluctuations is rebalanced fairly rapidly. In addition to their nutritional interdependence biotic population of an ecosystem have various other types of interdependence like reproduction, protection etc.

The organization and stability of a biological community results from the interactions between its member species. Each interaction between two species directly affects each of them. These effects may be beneficial or detrimental, depending on the species and the interaction. Some interactions have a distinct effect on one species but no effect on another.

In addition to their direct effects, some interactions between two species have indirect effects on other members of the community. The connection between all of the direct and indirect effects forms an interactive web that binds the community together. There are four main types of species interactions: competition, predation, commensalism, and mutualism.The various ways of interdependences among the member populations of an ecological community have led to various specializations in structure and function. In a large number of cases such specialization of the population in a community are even more propound, for a community contains not only free living population but also organisms of different species that live together in more or less permanent physical contact. These associations are instances of symbiosis, an expression of the most intimate form of communal life. A brief survey of the interdependence between plants and animals is presented below.Symbiosis is a close relationship between two different kinds of organisms, or living things. There are three basic types of symbiotic relationships:

Mutualism-association between organisms of two different species in which each is benefited.

Commensalism- a relation between individuals of two species in which one species obtains food or other benefits from the other without either harming or benefiting the latter.

Parasitism- a relation between individuals of two species in which one species obtains food or other benefits from the other without either harming or benefiting the latter.Match each term with its correct imageMutualism

Commensalism

Parasitism

Food Chain

Video Lessonhttp://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/ecosystems/food-chains.htm

A food chain, in ecology, the sequence of transfers of matter and energy in the form of food from organism to organism. Food chains intertwine locally into a food web because most organisms consume more than one type of animal or plant. Plants, which convert solar energy to food by photosynthesis, are the primary food source. In a predator chain, a plant-eating animal is eaten by a flesh-eating animal. In a parasite chain, a smaller organism consumes part of a larger host and may itself be parasitized by even smaller organisms. In a saprophytic chain, microorganisms live on dead organic matter.

food chain (2013). In Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved April 22, 2013, from Encyclopedia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/212636/food-chain

Vocab Quiz 2http://quizstar.4teachers.org/servlet/quizrepositoryservletLets play a food chain game!

Life Cycles:

Slide Show

Game

A life cycle is defined as the complete succession of changes undergone by an organism during its life. A new cycle occurs when an identical set of changes is begun. All organisms go through stages of development. Environmental conditions such as water, temperature, and light affect the development of organisms. Scientists can even describe the life cycle of a star or a plastic bottle.

In most mammals the stages of life go from the fertilized egg, to the fetus, the juvenile, and then to the adult.

Birds go from the egg, to the chick, to the adult.

Amphibians go from the egg, to the larva, to the adult.

Can you identify all of the stages of a frogs life cycle?

Plants go from the seed, to the seedling , to the flowering plant

What is the difference between complete and incomplete metamorphosis in insects?

The number of life cycle stages insects go through during their transformation from egg to adult differs. Complete metamorphosis has 4 life cycle stages. Incomplete metamorphosis has 3 life cycle stages.

Complete Metamorphosis

The majority of insects go through complete metamorphosis. There are four distinct life cycle stages:egglarvapupaAdult

The larva can be worm-like, although you can still see the six legs. The larvae for moths and butterflies are called caterpillars. Maggots are the larval stage of flies. The larvae eat constantly and grow rapidly.

A hard, protective case forms around the larva: this is the pupa stage. The pupa stage for a butterfly is called a chrysallis. The pupa stage for a moth is called a cocoon.Incomplete Metamorphosis

Incomplete metamorphosis only has three life cycle stages:

eggnymphAdult

The nymph looks like a smaller version of the adult, but is wingless. Instead of going into a cocoon, the nymph grows into an adult by shedding its outer layer or exoskeleton. Once wings develop, the nymph has become an adult and will no longer shed its outer shell.Complete or Incomplete?

_________________________________________Adaptations:Behaviors and Body Structures

Being able to adapt is a matter of life or death. Animals who can't adapt - die! For animals, adaptation is the idea that animals have developed features that help them to survive and thrive where they live.

Some adaptations are purely physical. Fish have fins to help them swim and gills that let them breathe underwater. Without those two special traits, they would have a very hard time surviving in their watery environment. Animals also adapt through certain behaviors. When threatened, a porcupine extends its quills, making it very hard for a fox to eat them.Source: http://www.tburg.k12.ny.us/mcdonald/ANIMAL%20ADAPTATIONS/AAdapt.htm

Circle the physical adaptations in each picture~MigrationWhat is migration?

At its most basic, migration is the movement of a group of animals from one place to another and, in most cases, back again. Most migration is seasonal. That is what we see when many birds return to Idaho in the spring and leave in the fall. These birds also represent a complete migration because all members of a : species leave. Sometimes not all members of a migratory population leave an area. This is called a partial migration. Red-tailed hawks are a good example of a kind of bird that is a partial migrant.

http://idahoptv.org/dialogue4kids/season13/animal_migration/facts.cfmBut we humans kind of cheat -we use technology to adapt to change. We can fit in almost any environment on the planet - from icy cold Antarctica to the bottom of the ocean. We design and build better air conditioners, warmer parkas, better diving suits, and lights to see in the dark. Technology lets us adapt quickly to changes in our environment. However, for other animals, adaptation is a slow, steady process which may take hundreds of thousands of years to accomplish. Some of the changes we humans make can lead to the death of entire species of animals. We can change things so fast that we make it hard for other animals to "fit in". They do not have the time needed to develop sufficient means of adapting to the changed environment.Source: http://www.tburg.k12.ny.us/mcdonald/ANIMAL%20ADAPTATIONS/AAdapt.htmCreative writing assignment:

On the following page, choose an animal that is interesting to you. Go to the website link to learn more about its life. read carefully, and see if you can find what special adaptations these animals have.

Now imagine you are this animal. Write a paragraph in which explore these questions: where do you live?" "what do you eat?" what about the way you look helps you live? what special behaviors do you have that help you survive?

Mountain goatGiraffeAlligatorPolar BearFinal Class ProjectWisely choose one of the following teams based on your personal interest:

Team Jungle FeverTeam Desert StormTeam Artic FreezeTeam Ocean ExplosionBefore We go to the Computer Lab

Lets Play A Game!!!Website link on digital citizenship: http://pbskids.org/webonauts/Team Mission: Separate into small groups based on your chosen team.As a group, discuss what you already know about your teams biome. Create a Google Slides doc for your team. Design should include colors and pictures that best represent your world. Next use the computer lab and library to find additional awesome facts about your teams world. What is life like in your biome? Who lives here? Look for connections!Share your findings with your team. Remember to talk about adaptations and food chains. Post your findings onto your teams Slides Doc to create an introduction for the Final Project.

* Example of Google Slides Doc using a made-up biome.Team: Candy Meadow

Candy Meadow is a large and vibrant ecosystem that sustains life for many different organisms. The regions mild climate is well suited for habitation. However, rare but violent jellybean storms have prompted several interesting physical and behavioral adaptations of local inhabitants.

Here are some life forms that thrive in this habitat:

Individual Mission

Choose a favorite organism that lives in your teams world.

Research books and websites about your chosen topic.

Imagining you are this organism, write a 1st person perspective narrative of what your life is like. Make sure you use our ecology terms when describing your life.

Feel free to include photos, drawings, and music to illustrate your experience.

After you are finished, we will turn your work into a Digital chapter and upload this into your teams Google Slides Doc for publication.