Green Room: Biomes & Ecosystems

Our objective this month is to, through the use of an ant ecosystem, traverse through and learn about several different biomes. The Green Room will be focusing on the characteristics of each biome (i.e. geography, weather, plants, animals, etc.) in order to give students a working knowledge and understanding of the many organisms that work together to create the ecosystems within each biome.

Week 1: Ants In Every Biome!

Before the first lesson, teachers will get their classrooms ready for the month by bringing in some of nature’s many gifts (i.e. plants, sticks, rocks, leaves, etc.) to make the Green Room feel like an outdoor classroom.To start the month we will be introducing students to the infamous ant! Since ants live in every biome, they are the perfect guide to lead us through our learning adventures! We will be introducing the terms, biome, ecosystem, niche, predator, prey and camouflage. Students will also work together to create an ant ecosystem that will change to display a variety of biomes throughout the month.

Week 1 Sub Theme Objectives

  1. Be starting to become familiar with the terms biome, ecosystem, niche, predator, prey and camouflage
  2. Create an ant ecosystem
  3. Be familiar with the plant & animal life, the geography and the weather of the Rainforest Biome.
  4. Be familiar with at least one ecosystem within the rainforest (i.e. how a particular group of living and non-living things interact with one another) including an example of a food chain.

Week 2: The Arctic Tundra

During week 2 we will be exploring the Arctic Tundra with our students. To start the week, we have the ant ecosystem created in week 1 travel to the Arctic Tundra (Spending the weekend in the freezer makes this quite realistic). We review key terms and discuss where in the Arctic Tundra ants can live (underground). We also use the book, One Small Square: Arctic Tundra, for information on the characteristics of the Arctic Tundra. It alsoprovides some great pictures of the plant and animal life that exists in the Arctic Tundra. By the end of the week our students should have a basic understanding of the Sub Theme Objectives as well as have been exposed to multiple Number and Shape Opportunities.

Week 2 Sub Theme Objectives

  1. Be starting to become familiar with the terms biome, ecosystem, niche, predator, prey and camouflage
  2. Be familiar with the plant & animal life, the geography and the weather of the Arctic Tundra Biome.
  3. Be familiar with at least one ecosystem within the Arctic Tundra (i.e. how a particular group of living and non-living things interact with one another) including an example of a food chain.

Week 3: The African Savanna

To start week 3, we use the ant ecosystem created in week 1 and transport it to the African Savanna. We review key terms and discuss where in the African Savanna ants can live  (trees & ground). We use the book, One Small Square: African Savanna, for information on the characteristics of the African Savanna.By the end of the week your students should have a basic understanding of the Sub Theme Objectives as well as have been exposed to multiple Number and Shape Opportunities.

 Week 3 Sub Theme Objectives

  1. Be familiar with the terms biome, ecosystem, niche, predator, prey and camouflage.
  2. Be familiar with the plant & animal life, the geography and the weather of the African Savannah Biome
  3. Be familiar with at least one ecosystem within the African Savannah (i.e. how a particular group of living and non-living things interact with one another) including an example of a food chain.

Week 4: The Ocean/Marine Biome

Week 4 will again follow a similar format to that of weeks 1, 2 and 3. During week 4 we will be exploring the Ocean with our students. To start the week, we have the ant ecosystem created in week 1 travel to the Marine Biome. We review key terms and discuss where in the Marine Biome ants can live (hint: the beach). We also use the book, One Small Square: Coral Reef, for information on the characteristics of the Ocean.

By the end of the week your students should have a basic understanding of the Sub Theme Objectives as well as have been exposed to multiple Number and Shape Opportunities.

Week 4 Sub Theme Objectives

  1. Be familiar with the terms biome, ecosystem, niche, predator, prey and camouflage.
  2. Be familiar with the plant & animal life, the geography and the weather of the Marine/Ocean Biome
  3. Be familiar with at least one ecosystem within the Ocean (i.e. how a particular group of living and non-living things interact with one another) including an example of a food chain.
  4. Be able to identify the ecosystem in which they live and the organisms that exist within it.

Learning Goals

Earth Science: 3a  Students know characteristics of mountains, rivers, oceans, valleys and deserts of specific biomes

Life Science : 2c  Students know how to identify major structures of common plants and animals (i.e. stem, root, leaf, leg, arm, etc.).

Number Sense: 1.1 Compare two or more sets of objects (up to ten objects in each group) and identify which set is equal to, more than or less than the other

Numbers and Shapes: Recognition, Writing Numbers and Drawing Shapes

 

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