Topic: Life Science-­‐ Ecosystems Software: Cyber Science 3D, zView
Owl Pellet and Food Chain Lesson Overview
Students will learn about the food chain of an owl by analyzing and dissecting both a virtual and a real owl pellet. Objectives
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Learn how matter moves up a food chain
Analyze the food chain of an owl
Compare and contrast a virtual and real model Standards (NGSS and Common Core) For state specific standards visit edu.zspace.com
Next Generation Science Standards
● Life Science -­‐ Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics o 5-­‐LS2-­‐1 Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment. Common Core Connections
● Language Arts
o RI.5.7 Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.
Grade Level: 4th -­‐ 6th Lesson Time: 60 Minutes Key Terms: Carnivore Consumer Decomposer Ecosystem Food Chain Food Web Herbivore Omnivore Predator Pray Producer Resources: Cyber Science 3D Sessions -­‐Food Chain of an Owl -­‐Owl Pellet Materials needed: Real owl pellets Latex gloves o RI.5.9 Compare and contrast stories in the same genre (e.g., mysteries and adventure stories) on their approaches to similar themes and topics.
o SL 5.5 Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, sound) and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas for themes.
Differentiation
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Group students heterogeneously to allow students with a strong command of the English language to assist in reading or interpreting questions
Provide paper copies of diagrams to students to use as a reference
Provide a handout with a list of vocabulary terms and definitions that will appear in their activity
Allow students to provide answers that are handwritten, typed, or verbal
Give students a variety of presentation styles to choose from (using charts/graphs, PowerPoint, making 3D presentations, creating videos/movies, making posters)
Work in partners or small groups (younger children could partner with older buddies)
Owl Pellet and Food Chain 1
Topic: Life Science-­‐ Ecosystems Software: Cyber Science 3D, zView
Introduction
Students need a prior knowledge of food chains and how matter moves up the food chain. The teacher will review key vocabulary including producers, consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores), and decomposers. Using zView and the “Food Chain of an Owl” session in Cyber Science 3D, the teacher will show what an owl eats and what structures are involved with the owl’s digestive system. The teacher will then explain to the students that they will take a closer look at the food chain of an owl by dissecting a virtual and real owl pellet. Activity -­‐ Owl Pellet and Food Chain
1. Open the “Owl Pellet” model in the Zoology section of Cyber Science 3D. 2. Using the Peel and Label tools simultaneously, slowly dissect the virtual owl pellet. 3. Analyze the contents of the owl pellet and note the names of the bones that you found. Try to piece the skeletons back together as much as possible. 4. Determine which animals the bones come from, for example, rodent, shrew, mole, or bird. 5. Count how many different animals you found in the virtual owl pellet. 6. At another center, dissect a real owl pellet and follow the same steps as above. 7. Find similarities and differences between the real and virtual owl pellets.
Closing
Students will share their observations about the similarities and differences between the real and virtual owl pellets. They will make conclusions about how matter moves up the food chain. Questions for Discussion
1. Based on your observations, where does the initial energy for ALL food chains come from? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: Water, air, sunlight, and soil. Producers use these four necessary components in order to produce energy through photosynthesis.
2. Why are the organisms within the same ecosystem so dependent upon one another for survival? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: All organisms within a specific ecosystem are intertwined. They are all part of an intricate food web, where one organism is either a predator or a prey of another organism.
3. What would happen to a food chain if one of the organisms were to become endangered or extinct? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: If one organism were to become endangered or extinct, it would upset the balance of the ecosystem. It would have two effects: It would cause its prey to become overpopulated and its predators to become endangered or extinct.
4. What would happen to a food chain if one of the organisms were to become overpopulated? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: If one organism were to become overpopulated, it would also upset the balance of the ecosystem. It would have two effects: It would cause its prey to become endangered or extinct and its predators to become overpopulated.
5. What kinds of things could affect the population of a certain organism? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: Many things could affect the population of a certain organism: 1. The introduction of a new species 2. Human interference (destroying habitats, hunting, etc.) 3. Disease 4. Natural disasters (earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, tsunamis, etc.)
Owl Pellet and Food Chain 2