5. ECOSYSTEMS
Elementary Benchmark 1 "Identify familiar organisms as part of a food chain or food web and describe their feeding relationships within the web."
Benchmark 2 "Describe the basic requirements for all living things to maintain their existence."
- Dinosaur Anatomy and Behavior - Ecosystems (III.5.E.1)
- Describes the dinosaur's food chain. This site is for general information and is not interactive.
- Ecological Education Through Primary School Science -Ecosystems (III.5.E.1,2,3&4)
- Descriptions, activities, worksheets covering many different aspects of the Ecosystem. This site contains lesson plans for teachers. The entire lesson plan can be downloaded.
- Environmental Biology -Ecosystems (III.5.E.1&2)
- Descriptions of: Roles of organisms, Food Chains, Food Webs, Human vs. Natural Food Chains, Water Cycle, and more information. This site is for general information.
- Fun with Food Webs - Ecosystems (III.5.E.1)
- Outstanding - Elementary students click and drag objects on the computer to create a food web. They can choose from artic, meadow or pond food webs. This is an wonderful activity!
- The Wolf and the Moose -Ecosystems (III.5.E.1&2)
- This site is an lesson plan activity for students to role play the relationship between a predator and prey. It would be more appropriate for 5th or 6th grade. The site has suggestions for assessment.
- Worm World - Ecosystems (III.5.E.1,2&3)
- This site provides information on the ways worms interrelate in the ecosystem. Emphasis is on worms as "recyclers" - movie clips of birth of worm & heart beat; novel sound bytes and graphics.
Benchmark 3 "Design systems that encourage growing of particular plants or animals."
- Ecological Education Through Primary School Science -Ecosystems (III.5.E.1,2,3&4)
- Descriptions, activities, worksheets covering many different aspects of the Ecosystem. This site contains lesson plans for teachers and activities for students. The entire lesson plan can be downloaded.
- Environmental Biology -Ecosystems (III.5.E.1,2,3&4)
- Descriptions of: Roles of organisms, Food Chains, Food Webs, Human vs. Natural Food Chains, Water Cycle, and more information. This site is for general information.
- Fresh Water Wetlands -Ecosystems (III.5.E.2)
- This site has good information on a wetland ecosystem in a question and answer format. Lots of links are available, including a link to become part of a kids club to explore differences in biomes. This site contains general information.
- Great Plant Escape - Ecosystems III.5.E.2&4) New
- The student will need to read one of six mysteries to help find clues, do experiments, and solve problems as they explore the world of plants. The "green link" tab is loaded with resources, sites, and ideas for teaching plant units.
- Seeing Through Camouflage - Ecosystems (III.5.E.2&3)
- This site is a nice interactive site after discussing how animals survive in their environment. The site has the learner dragging an animal picture up and deciding out of four possible answers which answer fits how the animal uses it's camouflage to survive. Great for 3rd and 4th grade levels.
- The Great Habitat Match-up - Magic School Bus - Ecosystems (III.5.E.2)
- Students will match animals to their correct habitat. The game is very simple to play and is appropriate for students in grades K-2.
- The Circle of Life - Ecosystems (III.5.E.2&3)
- Gives general information on the requirements for all living things - food, air, water, minerals, sunlight, and habitat.
- The Wolf and the Moose -Ecosystems (III.5.E.1&2)
- This site is an activity for students to role play the relationship between a predator and prey. It would be more appropriate for 5th or 6th grade. The site has suggestions for assessment.
- USGS - The Learning Web - Global Change - Ecosystems (III.5.E.2)
- Much of the change that takes place on Earth is part of a natural cycle. Human activity, however, can also cause environmental changes. This site is a collection of educational resources that can be used in the classroom on global change.
- Worm World - Ecosystems (III.5.E.1,2&3)
- This site provides information on the ways worms interrelate in the ecosystem. Emphasis is on worms as "recyclers" - movie clips of birth of worm & heart beat; novel sound bytes and graphics.
Benchmark 4 "Describe positive and negative effects of humans on the environment."
- Ecological Education Through Primary School Science -Ecosystems (III.5.E.1,2,3&4)
- Descriptions, activities, worksheets covering many different aspects of the Ecosystem. This site contains lesson plans for teachers and activities for students. The entire lesson plan can be downloaded.
- Environmental Biology -Ecosystems (III.5.E.1,2,3&4)
- Descriptions of: Roles of organisms, Food Chains, Food Webs, Human vs. Natural Food Chains, Water Cycle, and more information. This site is for general information.
- Seeing Through Camouflage - Ecosystems (III.5.E.2&3)
- This site is a nice interactive site after discussing how animals survive in their environment. The site has the learner dragging an animal picture up and deciding out of four possible answers which answer fits how the animal uses it's camouflage to survive. Great for 3rd and 4th grade levels.
- The Circle of Life - Ecosystems (III.5.E.2&3)
- Gives general information on the requirements for all living things - food, air, water, minerals, sunlight, and habitat.
- Welcome to Recycle City -Ecosystems (III.5.E.3&4)
- Description of how city deteriorated and a game to help clean it up. Grades 4-6. The graphics and description is appealing. Many activities to see how garbage and recycling help the habitat. Need Shockwave to run this site. This is a student activity. Excellent site, students must be able to read or have assistance.
- Worm World - Ecosystems (III.5.E.1,2&3)
- This site provides information on the ways worms interrelate in the ecosystem. Emphasis is on worms as "recyclers" - movie clips of birth of worm & heart beat; novel sound bytes and graphics.
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- Welcome to Recycle City -Ecosystems (III.5.E.3&4)
- Description of how city deteriorated and a game to help clean it up. Grades 4-6. The graphics and description is appealing. Many activities to see how garbage and recycling help the habitat. Need Shockwave to run this site. This is a student activity. Excellent site, students must be able to read or have assistance.
- Ecological Education Through Primary School Science -Ecosystems (III.5.E.1,2,3&4)
- Descriptions, activities, worksheets covering many different aspects of the Ecosystem. This site contains lesson plans for teachers and activities for students. The entire lesson plan can be downloaded.
- Environmental Biology -Ecosystems (III.5.E.1,2,3&4)
- Descriptions of: Roles of organisms, Food Chains, Food Webs, Human vs. Natural Food Chains, Water Cycle, and more information. This site is for general information.
- Great Plant Escape - Ecosystems III.5.E.2&4) New
- The student will need to read one of six mysteries to help find clues, do experiments, and solve problems as they explore the world of plants. The "green link" tab is loaded with resources, sites, and ideas for teaching plant units.
- Minnesota Ideal.Bell Live's - Ecosystems (III.5.E.4)
- Outstanding - This site allows the student to build a prarie and a watershed. They do this by answering "What would you do?" questions. At the end of the questioning the student is rated on their answers and given feedback on their answers too. This site is suggested for 4-8 graders.
- Planetpals- Ecosystems (III.5.E.4)
- This site is an online activity where the students move their mouse around to items that we use and see everyday life. When the mouse is on a certain item a fact comes up to tell the student how much of that item is consumed on our earth everyday. Looking at this site will hopefully open some eyes to how we can help our ecosystem.
Middle School Benchmark 1 "Describe common patterns of relationships among populations."
Benchmark 2 "Describe how all organisms acquire energy directly or indirectly from sunlight."
- Geography for Kids: Food Chains - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.1,2&3) New
- This site provides information on food chains. The vocabulary and topics are very student friendly and there are nice visual aids. An additional link takes you to a page on different types of cycles (energy, water, carbon, and nitrogen).
- Population Ecology - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.1)
- This site talks about the basics of symbiosis, competition, mutualism, predator-prey relationships. It gives examples and pictures in some of the links.
- The Flow of Energy Through Plants and Animals - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.1,2&3) New
- Students can investigate how energy flows through living organisms. A description of food chains is given and examples are visually illustrated through hand drawn charts. A variety of links are available on food chains, energy flow, and photosynthesis. Unfamiliar vocabulary words are defined at the click of a button.
- The Wild Habitat - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.1) New
- This site visits four habitats (polar and mountain regions, savanna and grasslands, tropical rainforest, and woodland areas) and lists animals from each. Students can learn about the characteristics of each from physical attributes to hunting practices. Quizzes are available on each group of animals and illustrations of each animal are available.
Benchmark 3 "Predict the effects of changes in one population in a food web on other populations."
- Geography for Kids: Food Chains - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.1,2&3) New
- This site provides information on food chains. The vocabulary and topics are very student friendly and there are nice visual aids. An additional link takes you to a page on different types of cycles (energy, water, carbon, and nitrogen).
- Natural Resources, the Environment, and Ecosystems - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.2,3,5&6)New
- Six topics relate to how people change ecosystems. First, students will study effects of climate on ecosystems using 3 activities which consist of growing tomato plants, growing grass, and research. The second topic is wildlife. Students will research an animal's needs of an ecosystem and look at the needs of local wildlife. The third topic, integrated pest management, uses math by providing students with a table in which they will analyze crop yield. The fourth topic compares soils; the fifth topic introduces sustainable agriculture with a poster presentation activity. The last topic is titled web of life and provides 5 activities to show interdependence within an ecosystem. Most activities have discussion questions or writing prompts.
- Owls: Top of a Food Chain - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.2&3) New
- This site features a lesson plan for teachers on disecting owl pellets. The focus of the lesson is on relationships among food chains and energy transfer through different levels of the food chains. Students are reminded that energy initially comes from the sun. Included in the lesson are worksheets, assessment ideas, and links leading to other "bird topics."
- The Flow of Energy Through Plants and Animals - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.1,2&3) New
- Students can investigate how energy flows through living organisms. A description of food chains is given and examples are visually illustrated through hand drawn charts. A variety of links are available on food chains, energy flow, and photosynthesis. Unfamiliar vocabulary words are defined at the click of a button.
Benchmark 4 "Describe the likely succession of a given ecosystem over time."
- Aquatic Nuisance Species - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.3) New
- Shows pictures of aquatic imported species of plants and animals. Also shows a diagram of a ship and how some of the species were transferred to the U.S.A. in the ballast tank and a map of how the species were transferred.
- Geography for Kids: Food Chains - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.1,2&3) New
- This site provides information on food chains. The vocabulary and topics are very student friendly and there are nice visual aids. An additional link takes you to a page on different types of cycles (energy, water, carbon, and nitrogen).
- Lloyd Center Environmental Resources Room (food chain) - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.3)
- Students are able to learn about the saltwater ecosystem and the food chain in the Northern Atlantic coastal region through quizzes and other activities. Links include: FOOD CHAINS, WEBS AND PYRAMIDS, PRODUCERS, CONSUMERS AND DECOMPOSERS, THE FOOD CHAIN GAME, EAT AND BE EATEN, COASTAL MARINE FOOD WEBS, and FOODWEB AT CHARLIE'S CHOWDER HOUSE. Links to the Interactive Learning Center which shows "living" pictures of the food chain in action.
- Natural Resources, the Environment, and Ecosystems - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.2,3,5&6)New
- Six topics relate to how people change ecosystems. First, students will study effects of climate on ecosystems using 3 activities which consist of growing tomato plants, growing grass, and research. The second topic is wildlife. Students will research an animal's needs of an ecosystem and look at the needs of local wildlife. The third topic, integrated pest management, uses math by providing students with a table in which they will analyze crop yield. The fourth topic compares soils; the fifth topic introduces sustainable agriculture with a poster presentation activity. The last topic is titled web of life and provides 5 activities to show interdependence within an ecosystem. Most activities have discussion questions or writing prompts.
- Owls: Top of a Food Chain - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.2&3) New
- This site features a lesson plan for teachers on disecting owl pellets. The focus of the lesson is on relationships among food chains and energy transfer through different levels of the food chains. Students are reminded that energy initially comes from the sun. Included in the lesson are worksheets, assessment ideas, and links leading to other "bird topics."
- Sea Grant Nonindiginous Species Site - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.3)
- This site can serve as a good supplement to teacher lesson. Student can conduct a search here or click on "Species" There they can choose from Plant, Mollusk, Fish or Crustacean, where they will get a picture and description of the species and their effects on the rest of the lake ecosystem food web. 3D movies are included on some of the links. Teachers may use this as an example of species that are introduced to an ecosystem (e.g. spiny water flea) and their effects on other populations. The fish cannot eat the spiny water flea, but can eat regular water fleas, therefore students can predict that the spiny water flea populations will take over the other water fleas and thereby decrease the predator fish population.
- The Flow of Energy Through Plants and Animals - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.1,2&3) New
- Students can investigate how energy flows through living organisms. A description of food chains is given and examples are visually illustrated through hand drawn charts. A variety of links are available on food chains, energy flow, and photosynthesis. Unfamiliar vocabulary words are defined at the click of a button.
Benchmark 5 "Explain how humans use and benefit from plant and animal materials."
- Ecosystem Services - Water Purification - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.4) New
- The purpose of this activity is to use the example of natural water purification to show students that healthy ecosystems provide services to people that are essential to life as we know it. The site gives a lot of instructional information and is loaded with links so students can apply what they are learning to their regional watersheds. Students will study the process of natural purification and the effects of human interaction. The final assessment of this project is a river newspaper. This also covers V.2.MS.4.
Benchmark 6 "Describe ways in which humans alter the environment."
- A Forest Forever - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.5)
- This is an interactive webquest integrating science, social studies and language arts. Students will work in collaborative teams of four to decide the fate of a newly designated national forest. Each student will assume a different role and write a persuasive essay for their role. Students then as a team decide the best course of action and create a PowerPoint slide show presentation. Rubrics are included for evaluation of essay and slide shows. Students are given general information about forest ecosystems, forest products and human impact on forests, tree rings, photosysthesis and endangered species.
- Natural Resources, the Environment, and Ecosystems - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.2,3,5&6)New
- Six topics relate to how people change ecosystems. First, students will study effects of climate on ecosystems using 3 activities which consist of growing tomato plants, growing grass, and research. The second topic is wildlife. Students will research an animal's needs of an ecosystem and look at the needs of local wildlife. The third topic, integrated pest management, uses math by providing students with a table in which they will analyze crop yield. The fourth topic compares soils; the fifth topic introduces sustainable agriculture with a poster presentation activity. The last topic is titled web of life and provides 5 activities to show interdependence within an ecosystem. Most activities have discussion questions or writing prompts.
- TEACHER GUIDE for: GUPPIES, CYCLES, AND ECOSYSTEMS - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.5)
- Through the set-up and evaluation of an aquatic ecosystem students will be able to view, analyze, and record the various cycles that occur. The lesson plan states that the activity is for grade 7 but it can be done with success by fifth grade students.
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- Movie - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.6)
- This site is a teacher resource that includes a RealPlayer movie about how humans have affected our water with pollution. The movies also discuss what humans can do to help fix the problem.
- Natural Resources, the Environment, and Ecosystems - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.2,3,5&6)New
- Six topics relate to how people change ecosystems. First, students will study effects of climate on ecosystems using 3 activities which consist of growing tomato plants, growing grass, and research. The second topic is wildlife. Students will research an animal's needs of an ecosystem and look at the needs of local wildlife. The third topic, integrated pest management, uses math by providing students with a table in which they will analyze crop yield. The fourth topic compares soils; the fifth topic introduces sustainable agriculture with a poster presentation activity. The last topic is titled web of life and provides 5 activities to show interdependence within an ecosystem. Most activities have discussion questions or writing prompts.
- Rainforest Network - Ecosystems (III.5.MS.6)
- Colorful site that has a Kids Corner and various other links. Describes why the rainforest is important to the earth's environment. Good information on the effects of pollution, hunting, etc. Includes a quiz and updates on environmental issues worldwide. This site is good, but not interactive.
Benchmark 1 "Describe common ecological relationships between and among species and their environments."
Benchmark 2 "Explain how energy flows through familiar ecosystems."
- America's Wetlands - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,4&6)
- Welcome to "America's Wetlands." This site will give you a better understanding of the rich variety of wetlands, their importance, how they are threatened, and what can be done to conserve them for future generations.
- Brain Pop Food Webs - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2&3)
- This site provides a movie on food webs, as well as an idea for an experiment in which you construct an ecosystem. Students can take quizzes, ask questions, and submit their own experiments. This would be appropriate to younger students (freshmen/sophomres), and presents vocabulary such as decomposers, carnivores, and producers.
- Changes in Biological Energy - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2&3) New
- This site explores energy flow in an ecosystem and will help students learn how the energy found in food and other fuel sources helps keep things moving on earth. In addition, students will experience how the energy is changed between various forms on earth!
- Examining the Effects of Pollution on Ecosystems - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1)
- This is an activity plan, which involves students analyzing and researching the effects of hazardous wastes on the ecosystem. This site provides many open-ended questions to prompt students to think about the many ways the ecosystem is affected due to hazardous pollution. You will need to run the related links to complete the activity, because this site is the lesson, not something the students can read and then conduct. Materials need to be printed before you do this activity.
- Gallery of Ecosystem Exhibits - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,3,4&6)
- This site is a gallery of pictures, from different ecosystems. When you select an ecosystem you can read the information about that ecosystem, as well as, the role of many different animals in this particular ecosystem. The really cool part about this web site is that there is a small part about how urban development and agriculture has affected those animals. This site is funded by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Great Lakes Atlas - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2,3,4&6)
- This environmental atlas and resource book is an excellent resource on the Great Lakes, including physical characteristics, natural processes (ecosystems), people, concerns, joint management, and new direction.
- Great Lakes Information Network - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2,4&6)
- Explore the Great Lakes and their connecting channels and discover all aspects of the region's natural components, including air, water, land, plants, and animals. Also learn about human impacts on the environment and interrelated nature of the Great Lakes ecosystem.
- Salt Marshes Field Trip -Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2,3,4,5&6) New
- This site presents a virtual field trip to a salt marsh. Complete with lesson plans, activity guides and more.
- Student Zone/ Food Webs - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1&2) New
- This is an interactive biology site with rubrics, activities, and a movie teaching the student about food webs, food chains and energy flow through an ecosystem.
- The International Wolf Center -Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1&6)
- This site presents information concerning various wolf recovery and reintroduction programs. Information about intraspecies relationships within wolf populations are documented. The effects of human activities are also explained. This site contains general information.
Benchmark 3 "Describe general factors regulating population size in ecosystems."
- Amazing Science at the Roxy: Ecology Lesson Plan -Ecosystems (III.5.HS.2)
- This module investigates the relationship between living things and their abiotic environment. The dynamic interaction of ecosystems will be explored through current techniques in modeling, sampling, decision-making, inference, and prediction. This site list several lesson plans dealing with owl pellets and food chains. It also gave a lot of background info that one can use when teaching about ecosystems.
- Brain Pop Food Webs - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2&3)
- This site provides a movie on food webs, as well as an idea for an experiment in which you construct an ecosystem. Students can take quizzes, ask questions, and submit their own experiments. This would be appropriate to younger students (freshmen/sophomres), and presents vocabulary such as decomposers, carnivores, and producers.
- Brain Pop Photosynthesis - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.2,3&4)
- This is a wonderful site that provides students with a movie on photosysthesis that tells how materials are recycled through the ecosystem. They mention vocabulary such as stroma, and ATP, but present it in an understandable way. The students can ask questions of different people, get ideas for an experiment on photosysthesis, submit their own experiments, and take a quiz over photosynthesis.
- Changes in Biological Energy - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2&3) New
- This site explores energy flow in an ecosystem and will help students learn how the energy found in food and other fuel sources helps keep things moving on earth. In addition, students will experience how the energy is changed between various forms on earth!
- EAT AND BE EATEN-A Card Game - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.2)
- This is a lesson plan for creating a food chain card game.
- FOOD CHAINS, WEBS AND PYRAMIDS - Pre-field Study Activities - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.2)
- At this web site, there is an abundance of background information for students to read before they go on an interactive field trip to marine areas, where they will learn the concepts of food chain, food web and food pyramid. The information is background information for these activities. This web site is also linked to many other lesson plans that deal with the ecosystem.
- Great Lakes Atlas - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2,3,4&6)
- This environmental atlas and resource book is an excellent resource on the Great Lakes, including physical characteristics, natural processes (ecosystems), people, concerns, joint management, and new direction.
- Great Lakes Information Network - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2,4&6)
- Explore the Great Lakes and their connecting channels and discover all aspects of the region's natural components, including air, water, land, plants, and animals. Also learn about human impacts on the environment and interrelated nature of the Great Lakes ecosystem.
- Salt Marshes Field Trip -Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2,3,4,5&6) New
- This site presents a virtual field trip to a salt marsh. Complete with lesson plans, activity guides and more.
- Student Zone/ Food Webs - Ecosystem (III.5.HS.1&2) New
- This is an interactive biology site with rubrics, activities, and a movie teaching the student about food webs, food chains and energy flow through an ecosystem.
Benchmark 4 "Describe responses of an ecosystem to events that cause it to change."
- Brain Pop Food Webs - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2&3)
- This site provides a movie on food webs, as well as an idea for an experiment in which you construct an ecosystem. Students can take quizzes, ask questions, and submit their own experiments. This would be appropriate to younger students (freshmen/sophomres), and presents vocabulary such as decomposers, carnivores, and producers.
- Brain Pop Photosynthesis - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.2,3&4)
- This is a wonderful site that provides students with a movie on photosysthesis that tells how materials are recycled through the ecosystem. They mention vocabulary such as stroma, and ATP, but present it in an understandable way. The students can ask questions of different people, get ideas for an experiment on photosysthesis, submit their own experiments, and take a quiz over photosynthesis.
- Changes in Biological Energy - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2&3) New
- This site explores energy flow in an ecosystem and will help students learn how the energy found in food and other fuel sources helps keep things moving on earth. In addition, students will experience how the energy is changed between various forms on earth!
- Gallery of Ecosystem Exhibits - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,3,4&6)
- This site is a gallery of pictures, from different ecosystems. When you select an ecosystem you can read the information about that ecosystem, as well as, the role of many different animals in this particular ecosystem. The really cool part about this web site is that there is a small part about how urban development and agriculture has affected those animals. This site is funded by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Great Lakes Atlas - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2,3,4&6)
- This environmental atlas and resource book is an excellent resource on the Great Lakes, including physical characteristics, natural processes (ecosystems), people, concerns, joint management, and new direction.
- Presentations on Aspects of Population Growth - - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.3)
- This site offers suggestions for topics for student presentations on the effects of population growth and factors that affect growth.
- Salt Marshes Field Trip -Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2,3,4,5&6) New
- This site presents a virtual field trip to a salt marsh. Complete with lesson plans, activity guides and more.
Benchmark 5 "Describe how carbon, and soil nutrients cycle through selected ecosystems."
- America's Wetlands - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,4&6)
- Welcome to "America's Wetlands." This site will give you a better understanding of the rich variety of wetlands, their importance, how they are threatened, and what can be done to conserve them for future generations.
- Brain Pop Photosynthesis - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.2,3&4)
- This is a wonderful site that provides students with a movie on photosysthesis that tells how materials are recycled through the ecosystem. They mention vocabulary such as stroma, and ATP, but present it in an understandable way. The students can ask questions of different people, get ideas for an experiment on photosysthesis, submit their own experiments, and take a quiz over photosynthesis.
- Gallery of Ecosystem Exhibits - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,3,4&6)
- This site is a gallery of pictures, from different ecosystems. When you select an ecosystem you can read the information about that ecosystem, as well as, the role of many different animals in this particular ecosystem. The really cool part about this web site is that there is a small part about how urban development and agriculture has affected those animals. This site is funded by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Great Lakes Atlas - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2,3,4&6)
- This environmental atlas and resource book is an excellent resource on the Great Lakes, including physical characteristics, natural processes (ecosystems), people, concerns, joint management, and new direction.
- Great Lakes Information Network - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2,4&6)
- Explore the Great Lakes and their connecting channels and discover all aspects of the region's natural components, including air, water, land, plants, and animals. Also learn about human impacts on the environment and interrelated nature of the Great Lakes ecosystem.
- Mount St. Helens - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.4)
- Outstanding -This site allows for an exploration of Mount St. Helens. There are sections which show Mt. St. Helen before, during and after the eruption. Information on succession of plant and animal life as well as photographs are provided. Lesson plans are available.
- Salt Marshes Field Trip -Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2,3,4,5&6) New
- This site presents a virtual field trip to a salt marsh. Complete with lesson plans, activity guides and more.
Benchmark 6 "Explain the effects of agriculture and urban development on selected ecosystems."
- 9(s) The Nitrogen Cycle - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.5) New
- An informational page that discusses the nitrogen cycle. All terms that may be unfamiliar to students are linked to a glossary. This page was designed and is maintained by a Canadian professor.
- Activity 15 Teacher Guide: What is the Carbon Cycle - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.5) New
- This lesson was developed as part of the LEARN project from 1991 aimed at improving atmosphere education at the middle school level. This lesson corresponds very well with the high school benchmark of nutient cycles. The page begins with some basic information on the carbon cycle accompanied by some excellent images. Then, the site presents a basic lesson on the carbon cycle.
- BioGeoChemical Cycles - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.5)
- Outstanding - This web site includes text and various diagrams to describe four biogeochemical cycles that operate in nature.
- Carbon Trip - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.5) New
- This page is a very simple, creative writing based lesson on the carbon cycle. Although written for the carbon cycle, this lesson could be applied to any nutrient cycle.
- EO Library: The Carbon Cycle - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.5) New
- This entry in NASA's Earth Observation library provides a lot of great information on the carbon cycle. Useful for students doing research, teachers that need a refresher, or in class presentations. The entry covers Biological/Physical Carbon Cycle: Photosynthesis and Respiration, Carbon on the Land and in the Oceans: The modern carbon cycle, The Human Role, NASA Missions to Study the Global Carbon Cycle and Climate, and lists its resources.
- Lesson 1 Nitrogen Cycling - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.5) New
- This lesson centers around a class role-play of the nitrogen cycle. The site includes all needed materials and links to background information.
- Salt Marshes Field Trip -Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2,3,4,5&6) New
- This site presents a virtual field trip to a salt marsh. Complete with lesson plans, activity guides and more.
- The Carbon Cycle- Lesson 8 - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.5) New
- This is a four day carbon cycle lesson with environmental overtones. A very simplistic model is used to demonstrate different states of the carbon cycle numerically.
- The Global Carbon Cycle - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.5) New
- "The global carbon cycle," is an introductory lesson. It involves identifying carbon reservoirs and the movement of carbon between them. Students work in groups to create a poster diagraming a simple carbon cycle then answer questions.
- America's Wetlands - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,4&6)
- Welcome to "America's Wetlands." This site will give you a better understanding of the rich variety of wetlands, their importance, how they are threatened, and what can be done to conserve them for future generations.
- Gallery of Ecosystem Exhibits - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,3,4&6)
- This site is a gallery of pictures, from different ecosystems. When you select an ecosystem you can read the information about that ecosystem, as well as, the role of many different animals in this particular ecosystem. The really cool part about this web site is that there is a small part about how urban development and agriculture has affected those animals. This site is funded by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
- GLOBE Landcover Investigation - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.6)
- GLOBE (Gobal Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) is an international program where your students can join students from around the world in monitoring their local environment. Students can then submit their findings to a growing database on the Internet. Scientists and other students can access the data for research about the global environment. In this activity, GLOBE students will be mapping land cover and providing ground observations which will advance their own understanding of the landscape around them as well as the research of Earth system scientists. This mapping involves distinguishing the types, or classes, of cover on the surface. The protocols for the activities are described, although to become an official GLOBE site, teachers must also attend an official GLOBE training session. Information on training sessions can be obtained on the GLOBE site: http://www.globe.gov/
- Great Lakes Atlas - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2,3,4&6)
- This environmental atlas and resource book is an excellent resource on the Great Lakes, including physical characteristics, natural processes (ecosystems), people, concerns, joint management, and new direction.
- Great Lakes Information Network - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2,4&6)
- Explore the Great Lakes and their connecting channels and discover all aspects of the region's natural components, including air, water, land, plants, and animals. Also learn about human impacts on the environment and interrelated nature of the Great Lakes ecosystem.
- OLogy: Connect the Dots - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.6) New
- This site presents an interactive food web game. Studetns are asked to link together species in one of three ecosystems.
- OLogy: Going, Going... Gone? - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.6) New
- This site explores species extinction and the causes of extinction and what people can do to help.
- Ology: Saving Species - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.6) New
- Stories of real scientists studying the human impact on ecosystems.
- Rainforest, Diversity and Destruction - Ecosystems (III.5.HS.6)
- This report is about many aspects of the rainforest: what rainforests are, a brief summary of the importanaces of the rainforests, a description of the destruction of the rainforest, and an informative section about how an average person can help to save the rainforest. This site has persistant pop-up advertisements.
- Salt Marshes Field Trip -Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1,2,3,4,5&6) New
- This site presents a virtual field trip to a salt marsh. Complete with lesson plans, activity guides and more.
- The International Wolf Center -Ecosystems (III.5.HS.1&6)
- This site presents information concerning various wolf recovery and reintroduction programs. Information about intraspecies relationships within wolf populations are documented. The effects of human activities are also explained. This site contains general information.