4.5 Interactions between Plant and Animals
The student will investigate and understand how plants and animals, including humans, in an ecosystem interact with one another and with the nonliving components in the ecosystem. Key concepts include
a) plant and animal adaptations;
b) organization of populations, communities, and ecosystems and how they interrelate;
c) flow of energy through food webs;
d) habitats and niches;
e) changes in an organism’s niche at various stages in its life cycle; and
f) influences of human activity on ecosystems.
a) plant and animal adaptations;
b) organization of populations, communities, and ecosystems and how they interrelate;
c) flow of energy through food webs;
d) habitats and niches;
e) changes in an organism’s niche at various stages in its life cycle; and
f) influences of human activity on ecosystems.
Understanding the Standard:
· Organisms have structural adaptations or physical attributes that help them meet a life need.
· Organisms also have behavioral adaptations, or certain types of activities they perform, which help them meet a life need.
· All the organisms of the same species that live in the same place at the same time are a population.
· Populations of species that live in the same place at the same time together make up a community.
· The organization of communities is based on the utilization of the energy from the sun within a given ecosystem. The greatest amount of energy in a community is in the producers.
· Within a community, organisms are dependent on the survival of other organisms. Energy is passed from one organism to another.
· All the populations and the nonliving components in an environment that interact with each other form an ecosystem.
· The sun’s energy cycles through ecosystems from producers through consumers and back into the nutrient pool through decomposers.
· A habitat is the place or kind of place in which an animal or plant naturally lives. An organism’s habitat provides food, water, shelter, and space. The size of the habitat depends on the organism’s needs.
· A niche is the function that an organism performs in the food web of that community. A niche also includes everything else the organism does and needs in its environment. No two types of organisms occupy exactly the same niche in a community.
· The organization of a community is defined by the interrelated niches within it.
· During its life cycle, an organism’s role in the community — its niche — may change. For example, what an animal eats, what eats it, and other relationships will change.
· Humans can have a major impact on ecosystems.
· Organisms have structural adaptations or physical attributes that help them meet a life need.
· Organisms also have behavioral adaptations, or certain types of activities they perform, which help them meet a life need.
· All the organisms of the same species that live in the same place at the same time are a population.
· Populations of species that live in the same place at the same time together make up a community.
· The organization of communities is based on the utilization of the energy from the sun within a given ecosystem. The greatest amount of energy in a community is in the producers.
· Within a community, organisms are dependent on the survival of other organisms. Energy is passed from one organism to another.
· All the populations and the nonliving components in an environment that interact with each other form an ecosystem.
· The sun’s energy cycles through ecosystems from producers through consumers and back into the nutrient pool through decomposers.
· A habitat is the place or kind of place in which an animal or plant naturally lives. An organism’s habitat provides food, water, shelter, and space. The size of the habitat depends on the organism’s needs.
· A niche is the function that an organism performs in the food web of that community. A niche also includes everything else the organism does and needs in its environment. No two types of organisms occupy exactly the same niche in a community.
· The organization of a community is defined by the interrelated niches within it.
· During its life cycle, an organism’s role in the community — its niche — may change. For example, what an animal eats, what eats it, and other relationships will change.
· Humans can have a major impact on ecosystems.
Book Resources:
Exploring Ecosystems with Max Axiom, Super Scientist (Graphic Science Series)
By Agneisezka Biskup. 2007. 32p. Capstone Press.(978-0736878944).
Grades 3+
Ages 8+
http://tinyurl.com/6utccx3
*2008 Teachers' Choice Award for Children's Books.*This book is in graphic novel format. Children will follow Max Axiom through an adventure as he explores ecosystems.
Grades 3+
Ages 8+
http://tinyurl.com/6utccx3
*2008 Teachers' Choice Award for Children's Books.*This book is in graphic novel format. Children will follow Max Axiom through an adventure as he explores ecosystems.
Earth's Ecosystems (Planet Earth)
By Jim Pipe. 2008. 32p. Gareth Stevens Publishing. (978-0836889239).
Grades 4+
Ages 9-10+
http://tinyurl.com/7vxjthl
*This book looks at earth's ecosystems. For some of your more advanced readers they may be able to read and follow through alone. But this might be a book that you share with the class during whole group reading time.
Grades 4+
Ages 9-10+
http://tinyurl.com/7vxjthl
*This book looks at earth's ecosystems. For some of your more advanced readers they may be able to read and follow through alone. But this might be a book that you share with the class during whole group reading time.
What are Food Chains and Webs (Science of Living Things)
By Bobbie Kalman & Jacqueline Langille. 1998. 32p. Crabtree Publishing Company. (978-0865058880).
Grades 2+
Ages 7+
http://tinyurl.com/6pd7xw9
*Students can learn about food chains and food webs. Great book to have in a reading station for your students during this lesson.
Grades 2+
Ages 7+
http://tinyurl.com/6pd7xw9
*Students can learn about food chains and food webs. Great book to have in a reading station for your students during this lesson.
What is a Life Cycle? (Science of Living Things)
By Bobbie Kalman & Jacqueline Langille.1998. 32p. Crabtree Publishing Company. (978-0865058866).
Grades 2+
Ages 7+
http://tinyurl.com/7kdjtkg
*This book is by the same authors as the one above. It looks at the life cycle and what exactly it is. Another great book to have a reading station or for whole group.
Grades 2+
Ages 7+
http://tinyurl.com/7kdjtkg
*This book is by the same authors as the one above. It looks at the life cycle and what exactly it is. Another great book to have a reading station or for whole group.
Would You Survive? Animal and Plant Adaptation (Raintree Fusion)
By John Townsend. 2005. 32p. Heinemann-Raintree. (978-1410919694).
Grades 4+
Ages 9+
http://tinyurl.com/7roybvn
*How do organisms survive? This book brings an interactive and interesting spin to adaptations. Allowing your students to run wild with their imagination while learning about animal and plant adaptations.
Grades 4+
Ages 9+
http://tinyurl.com/7roybvn
*How do organisms survive? This book brings an interactive and interesting spin to adaptations. Allowing your students to run wild with their imagination while learning about animal and plant adaptations.
Study Jams:
*Study Jams: Animal Adaptations
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/animals/animal-adaptations.htm
*Study Jams: Plant Adaptations
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/plants/plant-adaptations.htm
*Study Jams: Ecosystems
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/ecosystems/ecosystems.htm
*Study Jams: Food Chains
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/ecosystems/food-chains.htm
*Study Jams: Food Webs
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/ecosystems/food-webs.htm
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/animals/animal-adaptations.htm
*Study Jams: Plant Adaptations
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/plants/plant-adaptations.htm
*Study Jams: Ecosystems
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/ecosystems/ecosystems.htm
*Study Jams: Food Chains
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/ecosystems/food-chains.htm
*Study Jams: Food Webs
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/ecosystems/food-webs.htm
Interactive Websites for Children:
National Geographic for Kids:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
Plant and Animal Habitat Game:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/living_things/plant_animal_habitats/play.shtml
Habitats:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/8_9/habitats.shtml
*Perfect for kids to go through the motions of animals and plants in the environment.
Food Chains:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/living_things/food_chains/play.shtml
*Have your students explore food chains on land and in the sea.
Pond Food Chain:
http://www.eduweb.com/portfolio/earthsystems/food/foodweb4.html
Fun with Food Webs:
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/food/food_menu.html
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
Plant and Animal Habitat Game:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/living_things/plant_animal_habitats/play.shtml
Habitats:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/8_9/habitats.shtml
*Perfect for kids to go through the motions of animals and plants in the environment.
Food Chains:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/living_things/food_chains/play.shtml
*Have your students explore food chains on land and in the sea.
Pond Food Chain:
http://www.eduweb.com/portfolio/earthsystems/food/foodweb4.html
Fun with Food Webs:
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/food/food_menu.html
Printable Worksheets and Activity Links:
Rainforest Food Chain Worksheet:
http://www.education.com/worksheet/article/rainforest-food-web/
Ocean Food Chain Worksheet:
http://www.education.com/worksheet/article/ocean-food-chain/
Food Chain Pyramid:
http://www.education.com/worksheet/article/food-chain-pyramid/
*For students to review and keep in a binder. Great resource!
Assessment:
Quiz: Animal and Plant Habitats
http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/schools/ks2bitesize/science/quizengine?quiz=plantanimalhabitats&template
Quiz: Food Chains
http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/schools/ks2bitesize/science/quizengine?quiz=foodchains&template
Quiz: Habitats
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/quiz5.htm
National Geographic Ecosystem Quiz and Move:
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/0403/quickflicks/
National Geographic Food Chain Quiz and Movie:
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/0309/quickflicks/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/schools/ks2bitesize/science/quizengine?quiz=plantanimalhabitats&template
Quiz: Food Chains
http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/schools/ks2bitesize/science/quizengine?quiz=foodchains&template
Quiz: Habitats
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/quiz5.htm
National Geographic Ecosystem Quiz and Move:
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/0403/quickflicks/
National Geographic Food Chain Quiz and Movie:
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/0309/quickflicks/