Life in a Jar

Drill

• What are the conditions on earth that make life possible? Name at least four.

Drill

• If a person were to go to Mars, would the spaceship have to act as a mini-biosphere? Justify your answer.

The Earth is considered a biosphere because it is basically a

small island of life in the vast emptiness of space. What do you

think “biosphere” means?

Safari Montage clip- The Earth: Biosphere 2

• http://10.4.1.240/?a=303&ch=6

Objective:

• The student will be able to construct a mini-biosphere in order to analyze the interaction of matter and energy within an ecosystem.

On page 1 of your IN, write “Life in the Mini-Biosphere” as the title. (Table of contents)

• Divide page 1 into three, horizontal sections.• Write down then answer the following

questions for each of the three sections.– Section 1: Brainstorm with a partner the needs

required to sustain life. List them.– Section 2: Predict how the materials needed to

sustain life may become limited in a closed system.

– Section 3: Predict how matter and energy will interact within the mini-biosphere model.

Read “Making the Mini-Biosphere”

• What will we be doing?• How is what we are constructing a

biosphere?• Why can’t we let any air go in or

out?• Answer last prediction on page 1

Materials• clear plastic 2-liter soft drink bottles, 2• sterile sand or gravel, (0.7 L)• topsoil, (1 L) • 1 small plant• beaker, 400 mL• graduated cylinder, (100 mL)• scotch tape• scissors• ruler• water, 60 mL

Paste the reading “Matter and Energy in an Ecosystem” on page 2 of your IN.

Read “Matter and Energy in an Ecosystem”

Title page 3, “Flow of Matter and Energy.”

Copy the following diagram on the top half of page 3 of your IN and answer

the question below in complete sentences.• Determine if the diagram

on the left best represents the flow of matter or the flow of energy in an ecosystem. Justify your decision.

A

B

C

Why does the diagram BEST describe the flow of __________ in an ecosystem and not the flow of

__________ in an ecosystem?

• Which words are missing?

On the second half of page 3, title the section “Analysis” and answer the following questions in complete

sentences.:1. Identify the matter in your mini-biosphere and

then classify them as either living or nonliving.2. Identify the energy source for your mini-

biosphere.3. Describe how matter and energy will interact

within the mini-biosphere. Provide examples to support your response.

Do Journal Reflection on page 4.

• Paste worksheet and answer for homework.