Introduction
Grade Level: 6th Grade Science
Subject Focus: L.6.3 and L.6.3.3 Relationships among organisms, populations, and the environment
Introduction
Welcome, young scientists! Have you ever wondered how animals and plants survive in different environments? What happens when changes—like deforestation or pollution—affect an ecosystem? Your mission is to become an ecosystem investigator and explore how living organisms interact and adapt to environmental changes. Your goal is to develop a plan to protect an ecosystem facing threats.
Task
Your job is to research a specific ecosystem, identify a major environmental challenge affecting it, and propose a conservation action plan. You will present your findings as a digital slideshow or an illustrated poster to convince others to help protect your chosen ecosystem.
Process
-
Choose Your Ecosystem – Select from rainforest, ocean, desert, grassland, or freshwater environments.
-
Research – Use the provided resources to learn about the ecosystem’s organisms, food webs, and environmental threats.
-
Investigate the Impact – Identify at least one major issue (e.g., deforestation, climate change, pollution) and how it affects the ecosystem’s balance.
-
Develop a Solution – Create an action plan that could help restore or protect the ecosystem.
-
Create Your Presentation – Summarize your research and solution in a digital slideshow (Google Slides, PowerPoint) or an illustrated poster.
Evaluation
Your work will be graded based on the following criteria:
-
Research (25%) – Uses reliable sources to provide accurate information.
-
Analysis (25%) – Clearly explains the impact of environmental changes on the ecosystem.
-
Creativity (25%) – Engaging and visually appealing presentation/poster.
-
Solutions (25%) – Presents a well-thought-out conservation plan.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have completed your journey as an ecosystem investigator. Now that you understand how ecosystems function and the importance of conservation, think about ways you can help protect the environment in your community. Every small action makes a big difference!
Are you ready to make a change? Let’s protect our planet together!