Food Web Invaders
TEACHER LESSON PLAN Food Web Invaders Grade Length Subjects/strands Topics 4th–8th grade 20–30 minutes Discover how a food Observation, applica- web works by making tion, comparing similari- a live model of biotic ties and differences, gen- components, using the eralization, kinesthetic people in your class. concept development, Then explore how an psycho-motor develop- invasive species disrupts ment that balance. BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION Students will have been introduced to the idea of an ecosystem, and the basic relationships in an ecosys- In this fun, active-learning, game about food webs, tem such as producers and consumers, herbivores and each student is assigned to be a plant or animal that carnivores, predator/prey pairs, and some of the inter- can be found in aquatic ecosystems. Then, they learn relationships of their behavior and adaptations. Middle about the relationships between organisms as they pass school students will have been introduced to the idea of a ball of yarn between students (organisms) that have a limiting factors, and later the idea of carrying capac- predator/prey relationship. As the ball of yarn unravels ity. Students will also be familiar with the concept of a and the string is stretched between the many predator/ food chain with a variety of trophic levels. At the inter- prey relationships in the room, the large and complex mediate level, this could include videos, field activities food web network is reveals visually and symbolically and artwork, as well as reading and writing activities in the room. In the final step, an invasive species is from student magazines and textbooks.
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