Energy Flow Through An Ecosystem by Cynthia Llewellyn and Kimberly Knepper

This lesson will introduce students to the pattern of energy flow through an ecosystem begininning with small food chains, progressing to food webs and finally, to the entire energy pyramid. The first activity will be to have students view a media 100 production to identify trophic levels . The second activity will be to complete the lab titled "a vital commodity in ecosystems". The third activity will be to have students complete a graphic organizer on the energy pyramid and create a drawing of a food chain and food web. This activity will include the new american lecture strategy and group cooperative learning.

Learners will:

Acquire:
1. Name and define trophic levels in ecosytems
2. List examples of organisms at each trophic level
Process:
1. Differentiate between an autotroph and a heterotroph.
2. Categorize organisms in trophic levels.
3. Compare and contrast a food chain and a food web.
4. Draw a food web.
Extend:
1. Analyze the effects of limiting factors on food chains and food webs.
2. Dissect an owl pellet.
3. Select components of a selfcontained ecosystem and defend each selection.
4. Analyze the opening slide in the media 100 film presentation as it pertains to this unit.

Science Proficiency Outcomes:

9TH GRADE: 1,7,13,14,20
10TH GRADE: 4,5,8,9
12TH GRADE: 1,4,6,14,17,18
Science Model Domain:

environmental science
integrated science
biology
botony
chemistry
Interdisciplinary Ties:

math
language arts
art
computer science
Appropriate Grade Levels: 9-12

Edited portions from the;

"Lion King,"
"Winnie the Pooh",
"Little Mermaid",
"Jurassic Park",
"Bugs' Life"
Energy pyramid graphic organizer
Poster paper and old magazines
Materials for lab exercise:

role cards
bag of beans
large "supply " box/jar
large "losses" box/jar
light source
lab guide
Materials for extensions;

owl pellets
white paper
dissecting tools
owl pellet poster
computer
reference materials
lab guides

"Lion King,"-Walt Disney Production

"Winnie the Pooh",-Walt Disney Productions

"Little Mermaid",-Walt Disney Productions

"Jurassic Park", -MGM studios and Amblin productions

"Bug's Life"-Walt Disney Productions

"Vital Commodity and Ecosystems Lab" from Environmental Science Lebel (publisher)

"Owl Pellet Analysis Lab" modified from lab unit in Biology: Explanations and Explorations - Holt,Rinehart, Winston (publisher)

Environmental Science-Holt,Rinehart, Winston

Energy flows through ecosystems in a particular pattern. As energy flows, 10% is lost at each trophic level . by examining food chains and foodwebs, students begin to see patterns and relationships in ecosystems. The energy pyramid is a diagram in the form of a pyramid that shows how energy is lost from one trophic level to the next.

This module will use a Media 100 production along with the aid of a student worksheet to introduce the different trophic levels in an ecosystem. Students will then categorize these organisms based on their diets. Next, Students will explore these concepts using the vital commodity lab and evaluate their findings as a group. Using the new american lecture strategy and a graphic organizer students will explain an energy pyramid and gain content knowledge of the set up of an energy pyramid. Finally, students will apply the knowledge gained by dissecting an owl pellet, selecting and defending their choices for a self-contained biosphere. Further, students will make a journal entry explaining the relationship between the opening quote and the knowledge gained in this unit.

KEY TERMS:

autotroph: self-feeding organism that obtains its nutrients by synthesis from the environment

carnivore: consumer that eats only consumers.

consumer: an organism that gets its energy by eating other organisms

decomposer: consumer that gets its food by breaking down dead organisms, causing them to rot.

detritivores: organisms that help recycle the dead matter on the planet such as decomposers and scavengers.

ecosystem: all living organisms in a certain area as well as their physical environment.

energy pyramid: diagram in the form of a pyramid that shows how energy is lost from one trophic level to the next.

herbivore: consumer that eats only producers.

heterotroph: consuemr orgnanism that gets its energy from eating other organisms.

limiting factor: a single factor that limits the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population.

omnivore: consumer that eats both plants and animals.

producer: organsims that makes its own food.

Engagement Activites:
1. Have students define autotroph and heterotroph.
2. Use a series of movie clips from media 100. Ask students to categorize organisms based on trophic levels. Worksheet distributed for this activity. (see attached)
Exploration Activites:
1. Vital commodity lab exercise (see attached) working in cooperative groups.
Explanation Activites:
1. Students present lab findings. Answers on lab sheet discussed.
2. New american lecture strategy using graphic organizer to complete energy pyramid. (see attached)
3. Using examples from magazines students will construct a food web and explain their selections.
Extension Activites:
1. Owl pellet lab(See Attached)
2. Selection for biosphere.
3. Journal entry explaining the relationship between the opening quote and the knowledge gained in this unit.
Evaluation Activites:
1. Written: lab reports, selection for biosphere and justification of selection, journal comparison of opening slide with flow of energy through an ecosystem. (see attached)
2. Performance: evaluation of owl pellet lab and vital commodity Lab. Poster project of food web.
Assessment Techniques Utilized: Both written and performance based assessments as listed above.