The Ecosystem
By: Angela McFetridge
Introduction
Our world is in danger- not from
invading aliens or asteroid impacts, but
from the consequences of our own
irresponsible actions. It has been widely
documented that our environment is
warming. We are destroying the
ecosystems around us and polluting our
water systems on which we depend.
Obviously, there is a problem- but do we
understand the delicate systems in
which we live and how the destruction
of even one of these can have
irreversible effects. Your job as a
scientist will be to research and create a
virtual ecosystem museum in
PowerPoint.
4/29/2009
Wilkes University ED 526
2
Task
Congratulations! Your team of scientists has been chosen by
the National Preservation Society to take part in an
ecology research educational project. Your team of
distinguished scientists includes a meteorologist, botanist,
zoologist, and ecologist. Your task is to visit, explore and
research an ecosystem of your choice. Your team will
then assemble back in Quakertown to design a virtual
ecosystem museum in PowerPoint using the information
you discovered. The National Preservation Society will
share your virtual presentations with other students
around the world to help educate them about our
environment.
4/29/2009
Wilkes University ED 526
3
Process 1
1. First you'll be assigned to a team of 3 or 4 students...
2. Then your team will be sent on an expedition to one of the following
biomes: rain forest, desert, grassland, deciduous forest, boreal forest,
tundra, freshwater biome, or marine biome to study the ecosystem of your
choice.
3. Each member of your team will need to become an expert in one of the
following areas:
Area of Expertise
Meteorologist
Biologist
Zoologist
Ecologist
Your Focus
Climate & Location
Plant Life
Animal Life
Populations, Food Chains,
Environmental Concerns
4. You will need to research your biome according to your area of expertise.
Take good notes! Look for pictures and note the website they are located on.
5. Your team will create ten slides in a PowerPoint.
Each virtual museum tour will include the following:
–
–
–
–
–
–
4/29/2009
Introduction - a short paragraph in which you briefly describe your biome
and introduce your team
Two slides from the meteorologist
Two slides from the biologist
Two slides from the zoologist
Two slides from the ecologist
Conclusion
Wilkes University ED 526
4
Resources
Biomes and Ecosystems
The World’s Biomes
Fact Monster
Ecosystems and Biomes
MBGnet-Biome
Meteorologist:
World Climate
MBGnet
Enchanted Learning
Ecosystems
Zoologist:
eNature
Enchanted Learning- Animal
MBGnet
Animal Diversity Web
Biologist:
MBGnet
EcoWorld- Plants
Biomes - Plants
Ecologist:
Geography4Kids
Planet Pals
The Nature Conservancy
EcoWorld- Global Issues
4/29/2009
Wilkes University ED 526
5
Evaluation
1
4/29/2009
2
3
4
Scientific
Concepts
Weak development of
topic
Lack of organization
Limited supporting
details
Description of biome
lacks details
Simplistic development
of topic
Some attempts at
organization
Description of biome is
included, but needs
more facts and
supportive details
Moderate
development of topic;
evidence of outside
res Description of
biomes is mostly
supported by facts and
details
Well developed
topic; work clearly
shows evidence of
outside research
Description of biome
is supported by facts
and details
Virtual
Museum
Display
Display is completed
to minimal
requirements; all
areas addressed; little
or no images
Display is completed;
Informative and easy to
understand; all areas
addressed; includes
minimum of 4 images
Display is completed
and minimum
requirements are
exceeded; attractive,
easy to
understand; includes
a 6-9 images that
reflect most specialty
areas.
Display is complete,
attractive, easy to
follow; includes
minimum of 10
images, labeled and
reflect all specialty
areas
Group
Cooperation
Did not cooperate with
others in the group to
complete the overall
task.
Little cooperation with
others in the group to
complete the overall
task.
Some cooperation
with others in the
group to complete the
overall task.
Cooperated with
others in the group
to complete the
overall task.
Conventions
Many grammatical and
spelling errors, Primary
use of
language/sentence
structure
Some to several
grammatical or spelling
errors Basic supporting
details and sentence
structure
Some grammatical or
spelling errors Some
variety of grammar,
vocabulary and
sentence structure
No grammatical or
spelling errors Wide
variety of grammar,
vocabulary and
sentence structure
Wilkes University ED 526
6
Conclusion
Hopefully your team has gathered lots of information
and pictures from your ecosystem. Your team will
have a day or two to perfect your presentation. At
that time The National Preservation Society will join
us for your presentations and will use your displays
to educate others.
4/29/2009
Wilkes University ED 526
7
Teacher Page
•
Students should work simultaneously on their own individual slides and then create a
new presentation to copy and paste all group slides into. This is the presentation they
will use for their virtual display and add hyperlinks.
QCSD District Benchmarks:
1.4 Populations and ecosystems, such as the
roles of producers, consumers, and
decomposers in a food web; and the effects of
resources and energy transfer on populations
PA State Standards:
4.6.7 Bullets A 1-10
A. Explain the flows of energy and matter from organism to organism within an
ecosystem.
4.6.7 Bullets C 1-4
C. Explain how ecosystems change over time.
4.7.7 Bullets A 1-4
A. Describe diversity of plants and animals in ecosystems.
3.3.7 Bullets D 1-7
D. Explain basic concepts of natural selection
4/29/2009
Wilkes University ED 526
8