Ecosystem

Ecosystem

The Central Idea for the unit is that "Ecosystems are affected by the choices of consumers". We are using a kit out of the United States called STC Program: Ecosystems Unit Kit. More information about the kit can be found on [] It is an inquiry based program that encourages the students to research the following investigations:

1) What is an ecosystem?

2)How are living and non-living things connected to one another?

3) How does the use of its resources affect an ecosystem?

4) How are resources used by different groups?

5) How can our choices affect ecosystems?

6) Why do some people think it is important to protect ecosystems?

I have created a wiki http://ecosystemgsis.wikispaces.com/ for students to record their thoughts on the above listed investigations. I have also included some website links related to ecosystems.

The students have made an aquarium and terrarium.


 * [[image:Aquarium001.JPG width="302" height="228" caption="The materials set up for the terrarium."]] || [[image:Aquarium003.JPG width="228" height="302" caption="The aquariums that the students set up out of empty 2Litre containers"]] || [[image:AqTE_observations_6b.JPG width="229" height="303" caption="The aquarium with duck weed, elodea and algae in it."]] ||
 * [[image:AqTe_observations026_6b.JPG width="229" height="303" caption="The terrarium with alfafa, mustard and rye seeds planted."]] || [[image:Aquarium019.JPG width="303" height="229" caption="Students watering the seeds in the terrarium."]] || [[image:skin_shed.jpg width="302" height="165" caption="One of the insects shed it's skin"]] ||