Life in the Marine Ecosystem: Up Close and Personal
On-site
Activities/Interpreter Led
Grade Level: 5
Content
Area: Science
Time to Complete: 2 hours
Title of Lesson: Life in the Marine
Ecosystem: Up Close and Personal
South Carolina State Standards
Addressed:
|
II.B.1.a. |
Define a population. |
|
II.B.1.b. |
Investigate and
understand how plants
and animals in
aquatic/terrestrial
ecosystems interact with
one another and with the
non-living environment. |
|
II.B.2.a. |
Distinguish among the
roles organisms serve in
a food web (producers,
decomposers, consumers). |
|
II.B.2.b. |
Describe an organism by
its niche in an
ecosystem. |
|
II.B.3.a. |
Recognize that energy
passes from organism to
organism in food webs. |
|
II.B.3.b. |
Diagram how energy flows
through food webs. |
|
II.B.4.a. |
Identify and investigate
the abiotic factors in
an ecosystem such as
quantity of light, air,
and water; range of
temperature; salinity
and soil composition. |
|
II.B.4.b. |
Identify and investigate
the biotic factors in an
ecosystem. |
|
II.B.4.c. |
Describe the effect of
limiting factors such as
food, water, space and
shelter on a population. |
|
II.B.4.d. |
Draw conclusions about
the influence of human
activity on ecosystems. |
Lesson Description:
The following activity is designed to
provide an opportunity for the students
to observe and touch some micro and
macro organisms, and to learn how they
function in the marine ecosystem.
Focus Question For Students:
|
1. |
Discuss the similarities and
differences of producers on land
and the producers in the ocean. |
|
2. |
Discuss the organisms' niches in
their ecosystem. |
|
3. |
Distinguish among the roles
organisms serve in the food
chains. |
Culminating Assessment:
See
Post-site
Activities
Material/Equipment/Resources:
Materials and equipment will be
provided by the park.
| 1. |
several
specimens of marine organisms for both microscope and naked eye
viewing; specimens will consist of organisms such as phytoplankton
(diatoms and dinoflagellates), spartina, mud snails, marsh
periwinkles, fish, and other seasonal creatures |
| 2. |
clipboards |
| 3. |
note paper |
| 4. |
pencils |
|
5. |
lab sheets |
Teacher Preparation:
Read
lesson activities completely and contact Huntington Beach State Park with
any concerns or modifications. Implement pre-site activities several
days before the scheduled program. Plan adequate time for post-site
activities in order to reinforce topics discussed in the program.
Procedures:
|
1. |
Arrive at park on time.
Fees for the program and directions will be given to you by the
person at the entrance booth.
Bathroom facilities are at the North and South parking lots.
Use these before coming to the Education Center. |
|
2. |
The Park Interpreter
will review the marine ecosystem, and explain how to use the
microscopes. |
|
3. |
The students will be
asked to view each specimen and make notes and drawings. |
|
4. |
These will be used to
answer the focus questions. |
|
