DELTA STUDIES CURRICULUM · 2020-03-04 · DELTA STUDIES CURRICULUM Ecosystems in the Delta...
Transcript of DELTA STUDIES CURRICULUM · 2020-03-04 · DELTA STUDIES CURRICULUM Ecosystems in the Delta...
DELTASTUDIESCURRICULUM
EcosystemsintheDelta
MS-LS2-3Ecosystems:Interactions,Energy,
andDynamics
SanJoaquinCountyOfficeofEducationSTEMPrograms
Fundingprovidedby
CaliforniaBay-DeltaAuthority
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MS-LS2-3EcosystemsintheDeltaAcknowledgementsProjectDirectorJudiWilson,SanJoaquinCountyOfficeofEducationProjectCoordinatorsHeatherFogg,SanJoaquinCountyOfficeofEducationJulieSchardt,SanJoaquinCountyOfficeofEducationProjectFacilitatorOlgaClymire,LakeCountyOfficeofEducationPrincipleCurriculumWritersBarryScott,SanJoaquinCountyOfficeofEducationOlgaClymire,LakeCountyOfficeofEducationOtherCurriculumWritersJenniferAndermahr,MantecaUnifiedSchoolDistrictSheilaCochran-Locke,StocktonUnifiedSchoolDistrictTimEllis,KeyesUnionElementarySchoolDistrictLynnHansen,ModestoJuniorCollegeTeresaIgnatovich,TracyUnifiedSchoolDistrictVictoricaStirling,ModestoCityElementarySchoolDistrictDeirdreWishom,StocktonUnifiedSchoolDistrictFieldTestersJenniferAndermahr,MantecaUnifiedSchoolDistrictTimEllis,KeyesUnionElementarySchoolDistrictKathyPrince,StocktonUnifiedSchoolDistrictJulieSchardt,StocktonUnifiedSchoolDistrictBarryScott,SanJoaquinCountyOfficeofEducationVictoricaStirling,ModestoCityElementarySchoolDistrictLottieTone,AmadorUnifiedSchoolDistrict
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ReviewersforTechnicalAccuracyJayBell,LodiUnifiedSchoolDistrictOlgaClymire,LakeCountyOfficeofEducationSuzanneDeleon,CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlifeJohnFulton,SanLuisNationalWildlifeRefugeDonnaSnell,CeresUnifiedSchoolDistrictJamesStarr,CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlifeSteveStocking,SanJoaquinDeltaCollegeIllustratorCarolDellinger,DellingerDesignLayoutArtistJo-AnneRosen,WordrunnerTechnicalAssistantMelanieNewsome,SanJoaquinCountyOfficeofEducationCommunityPartnersSuzanneDeleon,CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlifeJohnFulton,SanLuisNationalWildlifeRefugeLynnHansen,ModestoJuniorCollegeReneeHill,SanJoaquinCountyDepartmentofPublicWorks,SolidWasteDivisionDonnaHummel,U.S.DepartmentofFishandWildlifeDaleSanders,EnvironmentalEducatorJamesStarr,CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlifeSteveStocking,SanJoaquinDeltaCollegeOtherAcknowledgementsDr.FredrickWentworth,Superintendent,SanJoaquinCountyOfficeofEducationDr.GaryDeiRossi,AssistantSuperintendent,SanJoaquinCountyOfficeofEducationCaliforniaBay-DeltaAuthority
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ECOSYSTEMS IN THE DELTA CONTENTS NextGenerationScienceStandards 7Overview 11Storyline 12InstructionalMaterialsRequired 13Exploration1–MuralofEnvironments 15Exploration2–FoodChains,WebsandEcosystems 21Exploration3–Producers,Consumers,Scavengers, 43
andDecomposersExploration4–FoodChainSkit 53Exploration5–EcosystemRelatedProjectsandSimulationActivity 57Pre-test/Post-test 63California’sEnvironmentalPrinciplesandConcepts 65
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ECOSYSTEMS IN THE DELTA NextGenerationScienceStandardsWorkingtowardsPerformanceExpectationMS-LS2:Ecosystems:Interactions,Energy,andDynamics:MS-LS2—3Developamodeltodescribethecyclingofmatterandflowofenergyamonglivingandnonlivingpartsofanecosystem.MS-LS2-4Constructanargumentsupportedbyempiricalevidencethatchangestophysicalorbiologicalcomponentsofanecosystemaffectpopulations.ScienceandEngineeringPractices:DevelopingandUsingModelsModelingin6–8buildsonK–5experiencesandprogressestodeveloping,using,andrevisingmodelstodescribe,test,andpredictmoreabstractphenomenaanddesignsystems.§ Developamodeltodescribephenomena.(MS-LS2-3)AnalyzingandInterpretingDataAnalyzingdatain6–8buildsonK–5experiencesandprogressestoextendingquantitativeanalysistoinvestigations,distinguishingbetweencorrelationandcausation,andbasicstatisticaltechniquesofdataanderroranalysis.§ Analyzeandinterpretdatatoprovideevidenceforphenomena.(MS-LS2-1)ConstructingExplanationsandDesigningSolutionsConstructingexplanationsanddesigningsolutionsin6-8buildsonK-5experiencesandprogressestoincludeconstructingexplanationsanddesigningsolutionssupportedbymultiplesourcesofevidenceconsistentwithscientificideas,principles,andtheories.DisciplinaryCoreIdeas:LS2.A:InterdependentRelationshipsinEcosystems§ Organisms,andpopulationsoforganisms,aredependentontheirenvironmentalinteractionsbothwithotherlivingthingsandwithnonlivingfactors.(MS-LS2-1)
§ Inanyecosystem,organismsandpopulationswithsimilarrequirementsforfood,water,oxygen,orotherresourcesmaycompetewitheachotherforlimitedresources,accesstowhichconsequentlyconstrainstheirgrowthandreproduction.(MS-LS2-1)
§ Growthoforganismsandpopulationincreasesarelimitedbyaccesstoresources.(MS-LS2-1)§ Similarly,predatoryinteractionsmayreducethenumberoforganismsoreliminatewholepopulationsoforganisms.Mutuallybeneficialinteractions,incontrast,maybecomesointerdependentthateachorganismrequirestheotherforsurvival.Althoughthespeciesinvolvedinthesecompetitive,predatory,andmutuallybeneficialinteractionsvaryacross
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ecosystems,thepatternsofinteractionsoforganismswiththeirenvironments,bothlivingandnonliving,areshared.(MS-LS2-2)
LS2.B:CycleofMatterandEnergyTransferinEcosystems§ Foodwebsaremodelsthatdemonstratehowmatterandenergyistransferredbetweenproducers,consumers,anddecomposersasthethreegroupsinteractwithinanecosystem.Transfersofmatterintoandoutofthephysicalenvironmentoccurateverylevel.Decomposersrecyclenutrientsfromdeadplantoranimalmatterbacktothesoilinterrestrialenvironmentsortothewaterinaquaticenvironments.Theatomsthatmakeuptheorganismsinanecosystemarecycledrepeatedlybetweenthelivingandnonlivingpartsoftheecosystem.(MS-LS2-3)
LS2.C:EcosystemDynamics,Functioning,andResilience§ Ecosystemsaredynamicinnature;theircharacteristicscanvaryovertime.Disruptionstoanyphysicalorbiologicalcomponentofanecosystemcanleadtoshiftsinallitspopulations.(MS-LS2-4)
§ BiodiversitydescribesthevarietyofspeciesfoundinEarth’sterrestrialandoceanicecosystems.Thecompletenessorintegrityofanecosystem’sbiodiversityisoftenusedasameasureofitshealth.(MS-LS2-5)
CrosscuttingConceptsPatterns§ Patternscanbeusedtoidentifycauseandeffectrelationships.(MS-LS2-2)CauseandEffect§ Causeandeffectrelationshipsmaybeusedtopredictphenomenainnaturalordesignedsystems.(MS-LS2-1)
EnergyandMatter§ Thetransferofenergycanbetrackedasenergyflowsthroughanaturalsystem.(MS-LS2-3)StabilityandChange§ Smallchangesinonepartofasystemmightcauselargechangesinanotherpart.(MS-LS2-4),(MS-LS2-5)
Common Core State Standards Connections: ELA/Literacy–RST.6–8.1 Citespecifictextualevidencetosupportanalysisofscienceandtechnical
texts.(MS-LS2-1),(MS-LS2-2),(MS-LS2-4)RST.6–8.7 Integratequantitativeortechnicalinformationexpressedinwordsina
textwithaversionofthatinformationexpressedvisually(e.g.,inaflowchart,diagram,model,graph,ortable).(MS-LS2-1)
RST.6–8.8 Distinguishamongfacts,reasonedjudgmentbasedonresearchfindings,andspeculationinatext.(MS-LS2-5)
RI.8.8 Delineateandevaluatetheargumentandspecificclaimsinatext,assessingwhetherthereasoningissoundandtheevidenceisrelevantandsufficienttosupporttheclaims.(MS-LS-4),(MS-LS2-5)
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WHST.6–8.1.a–e Writeargumentsfocusedondiscipline-specificcontent.(MS-LS2-4)WHST.6–8.2.a–f Writeinformative/explanatorytexts,includingthenarrationofhistorical
events,scientificprocedures/experiments,ortechnicalprocesses.(MS-LS2-2)
WHST.6–8.9 Drawevidencefromliteraryorinformationaltextstosupportanalysis,reflection,andresearch.(MS-LS-2),(MS-LS2-4)
SL.8.1.a–d Engageeffectivelyinarangeofcollaborativediscussions(one-on-one,ingroups,andteacher-led)withdiversepartnersongrade8topics,texts,andissues,buildingonothers’ideasandexpressingtheirownclearly.(MS-LS2-2)
SL.8.4 Presentclaimsandfindings(e.g.,argument,narrative,responsetoliteraturepresentations),emphasizingsalientpointsinafocused,coherentmannerwithrelevantevidence,soundvalidreasoning,andwell-chosendetails;useappropriateeyecontact,adequatevolume,andclearpronunciation.CAa. Plan and present a narrative that: establishes a context and
point of view, presents a logical sequence, uses narrative techniques (e.g., dialogue, pacing, description, sensory language), uses a variety of transitions, and provides a conclusion that reflects the experience. CA (MS-LS2-2)
SL.8.5 Integratemultimediacomponentsandvisualdisplaysinpresentationstoclarifyclaimsandfindingsandemphasizesalientpoints.(MS-LS2-3)
Mathematics–MP.4 Modelwithmathematics.(MS-LS2-5)6.RP.3.a-d Useratioandratereasoningtosolvereal-worldandmathematical
problems,e.g.,byreasoningabouttablesofequivalentratios,tapediagrams,doublenumberlinediagrams,orequations.(MS-LS2-5)
6.EE.9 Usevariablestorepresenttwoquantitiesinareal-worldproblemthatchangeinrelationshiptooneanother;writeanequationtoexpressonequantity,thoughtofasthedependentvariable,intermsoftheotherquantity,thoughtofastheindependentvariable.Analyzetherelationshipbetweenthedependentandindependentvariablesusinggraphsandtables,andrelatethesetotheequation.(MS-LS2-3)
6.SP.5.a-d Summarizenumericaldatasetsinrelationtotheircontext.(MS-LS2-2)
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ECOSYSTEMS IN THE DELTA OVERVIEW UNDERSTANDINGS• Foodchainsandfoodwebsrepresentrelationshipsamongorganismsinan
ecosystem.• Foodwebssupportecosystems.• Populationsoforganismscanbecategorizedbythefunctionstheyserveinan
ecosystem.ESSENTIALQUESTIONSWhichecosystemisthemostimportant?Whyisknowingaboutfoodchainsandfoodwebsimportant?KNOWLEDGEANDSKILLSStudentswillknow:• Energyistransferredoneorganismtoothersthroughfoodchainsandwebs.• Organismsinecosystemsexchangeenergyandnutrientsamongthemselvesand
withtheenvironment.• Organismscanbecategorizedintofourtypes:producers,consumers,scavengers,
anddecomposers• Livingthingsdependononeanotherandtheirenvironmentforsurvival.• Decomposersrecyclematterfromdeadorganisms.• Humansaffectecosystems.Studentswillbeableto:• IdentifySacramento-SanJoaquinDeltaorganismsandhowtheyinteractinthefood
web.• DrawfoodchainsandfoodwebsfoundintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDelta.• Identifyanddiscussimpactsofhumansonanecosystem.• NameanddescribesomeecosystemsintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDelta.
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ECOSYSTEMS IN THE DELTA STORYLINE Thesixth-gradeDeltaCurriculumunitfocusesonEcology.InLesson1,“MuralofEnvironments”studentswilllearnaboutvariousenvironmentsintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDeltaandwillidentifyorganismsthatlivethere.Thislessonintroducestheunittostudents.Lesson2,“FoodChains,Webs,andEcosystems”hasstudentslearnaboutvariousfoodchainsandfoodwebsthatexistintheDelta.EachstudentwillalsolearnaboutanorganismthatlivesintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDeltabydesigningaposteroftheorganism.EachgroupofstudentswillreadexpositorytextregardingaspecificecosystemwithintheDelta,andwillcreateaworkofartthatwillincludeanartisticconceptionoftheecosystem.InLesson3,“Producers,Consumers,Scavengers,andDecomposers”studentswillbecomefamiliarwithvariouslivingorganismsoftheSacramento-SanJoaquinDeltaandwillcategorizetheseorganismsintofourmajorgroups(producers,consumers,scavengers,anddecomposers)basedonhoworganismsobtaintheirenergy.Studentswillalsowriteoneparagraphaboutaselectedorganism.Asanassessmentofthelesson,studentswillreviewalistofsomeSacramento-SanJoaquinDeltaorganismsandcategorizethemintoproducers,consumers,scavengers,anddecomposers.InLesson4,“FoodChainSkit”studentswilldesigncostumesforvariousorganismsandperformskitsdemonstratingfoodchains.Theywilldiscussanddescribeinwritingseveralecologicaldisruptionsthatcouldhappentoaffecttheirfoodchainandhowthismightaffectotherorganismsintheecosystem.InLesson5,“Ecosystem-RelatedProjectsandSimulationActivity”studentswilleitherdoaprojectorparticipateinasimulationactivity.Theprojectsfocusonthestudyofminiatureecosystems(e.g.,wormbin,aquarium,nativeplantgarden,ecosysteminabottle)intheclassroomorintheschool’sgardenarea.Studentswillmonitortheecosystem’shealthovertimeandwilldiscuss:“Howdoorganismsinthisecosystemexchangeenergyandnutrientsamongthemselvesandwiththeenvironment?”Inthesimulationactivity,studentswilllearnhowpeoplecanimpactanecosystemandwillusetheirdecision-makingskillsbasedonwhattheyhavelearnedaboutecosystemsinthisunit.
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ECOSYSTEMS IN THE DELTA INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS REQUIRED Lesson1Map:CaliforniaWaterMapMap:TheDeltaVideo:TideoftheHeronStickynotes3”x3”fivesheetsperstudentLesson2Book:WhatAreFoodChainsandWebs?ByBobbieKalmanandJacquelineLangilleFieldguidestoplantsandanimalslivingintheDeltaareaandotherreferencematerials,suchasencyclopediasandtextbooks;alsoEcologyHandbook:California’sSierraFoothills,CentralValleyandDeltabyDerekMadden,KenCharters,andCathySnyderLesson3Nospecialmaterialsareneeded.Lesson4Butcherpaper,constructionpaper,yarn,scissors,glue,maskingtape,andotheravailablematerials(e.g.,cardboardsbox,papercups,eggcartons,paperplates)outofwhichstudentscanmakemasksandcostumes.Lesson5Materialswilldependontheprojectselected.OtherHelpfulResourcesBirdsofNorthAmerica:AGuidetoFieldIdentificationbyChandlerS.Robbins,BertelBruunandHerbertS.ZimOtherfieldguidestoplantsandanimals(fish,reptiles,insects,etc.)
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Exploration 1 Mural of Environments OBJECTIVEStudentswilllearnaboutvariousenvironmentsintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDeltaandwillidentifyorganismsthatlivethere.BACKGROUNDOurenvironmentistheareathatsurroundsusandincludeslivingandnonlivingthings(naturalandhuman-madeobjects).Thenaturalenvironmentofanorganism(alivingthing)includesitsphysicalsurroundings,suchasotherplantsandanimals,soil,rocks,air,andwater.TheSacramento-SanJoaquinDeltahasavarietyofenvironmentsincludingrivers,marshlands,grasslands,forests,hills,mountains,towns,andcities.Manyoftheseenvironmentsareactuallyecosystemswithspecificpopulationsofplantsandanimalsthatinteractwitheachotherandthenonlivingenvironment.ApartiallistoforganismsthatliveintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDeltaisprovidedattheendofthislesson.PREPARATIONUsinga10to12footsectionofbutcherpaper,drawanoutlineofasideviewofalandscapefromtheoceantothemountains.Includemarshlands,grasslands,riverforest,andoakwoodlandinthismural.Itisnotnecessarytohaveadetaileddrawing.Note:YouwillneedtokeepthemuralforLesson2.
MATERIALS• Posterof“CaliforniaWaterMap”(providedinkit)• Posterof“TheDeltaMap”(providedinkit)• Video:“TideoftheHeron”(providedinkit)• Self-adhesive3”X3”notepads(fivesheetsforeachstudent)• Felt-tippedpens(oneforeachstudent) TIMEPreparation:15minutesLesson:two45-minuteperiods
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ENGAGEMENT• Askstudents:Whohasbeenoutfishing,hiking,camping,orboatinginthe
Sacramento-SanJoaquinDelta?Whattypesofenvironmentsdidyousee?Liststudent’answers(e.g.,river,ocean,hills,mountains)onthechalkboard.
• Showthe“CaliforniaWaterMap.”Havestudentlocateonthemapsomeoftheareastheyhavevisited.
EXPLORATION1. TellstudentsthattheywillseeavideoaboutanareainOregon.Explainthatmostof
theenvironmentsshowninthisvideoaresimilartothoseintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDelta.ThetypesofplantsandanimalsshownalsoliveintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDelta.
2. Showthevideo“TideoftheHeron.”Askstudentstothinkaboutwhattheysawin
thevideoandtohelpyouaddtothelistofenvironments.(Theymightaddmarshland,forest,ocean,andestuary.)
3. Showtheposterof“TheDeltaMap”andaskstudentstoidentifyanyother
environmentsthatmightexistintheDeltaarea.4. Askstudentswhatanorganismis.(Anorganismisalivingthing.)Askthemtoname
severalorganismstheyhaveseenwhenoutdoors.5. Distributefiveself-adhesivenotesheetsandonefelt-tippedpentoeachstudent.6. Separatestudentsintogroupsoffourorfive.7. Askstudentstothinkoftwodifferentplantsandthreedifferentanimalsthatcanbe
foundoutdoorsintheareaoftheSacramento-SanJoaquinDeltaandtowriteeachnameonanotesheet.Thegroupshouldcheckthatnotwostudentswithinthegrouplistthesameorganism.
8. Whenallstudentshavewrittenthenamesoftheirfiveorganisms,havestudents
comeuponeatatimeandplacetheirstickersonthemuralbasedonwhereeachplantoranimalmightlive.Allowotherstudentstorecommendplacestoputthestickers.
9. Suggestadditionalexamplesoforganismsthatstudentsdidnotidentify,suchas
algae,phytoplankton,earthworms,anddecomposers(bacteriaandalgae)andposttheseonthemural.
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10. Tellstudentsthatinthenextlessontheywillidentifytherelationshipsamongthese
organisms.EVALUATION• Assessstudents’participationinthisactivity.• Havestudentswritethreesentencesabouthowthevideotheysawappliestothe
Sacramento-SanJoaquinDelta.Note:KeepthemuralforLesson2.
RESOURCESMaps• “CaliforniaWaterMap”fromtheWaterEducationFoundation;717KStreet,#51;7
Sacramento,CA95814;916-444-6240;www.water-ed.org.• “TheDeltaMap”fromtheWaterEducationFoundation;www.water-ed.org.Video• “TideoftheHeron”(OdysseyProductions)
AlthoughthisvideofocusesonanareainOregon,mostanimalsshownalsoliveintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDeltaarea.Theseanimalsare:GreatBlueHeron,deer,Red-tailedHawk,BaldEagle,bear,raccoon,riverotter,bobcat,cougar,beaver,WhiteEgret,Red-wingedBlackbird,salmon.Thevideoalsoshowsavarietyofplants,includingsundews,lichens,ferns,andpickleweed.
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APartialListofOrganismsthatLiveintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDelta
BIRDS NativeCommonEgretAmericanBitternVarietyofheronsVarietyofblackbirdsVarietyofsparrowsLong-billedMarshWrenCommonCrowYellow-billedMagpieVarietyofhawksVarietyofowlsKingfisherVarietyofwoodpeckersVarietyofgrebesOspreyBaldEagleWhitePelicanDouble-crestedCormorantPeregrineFalconVarietyofswallowsVarietyofFinchVarietyofducksVarietyofgeeseScrubJayCommonSnipeKilldeerAmericanCootLesserYellowlegsWesternMeadowlarkVarietyofgullsTurkeyVultureVarietyofhummingbirdsMourning Dove Western Sandpiper Non-native EuropeanStarlingPheasantRockDove
MAMMALS NativeCaliforniagroundsquirrelSanJoaquinkitfoxVarietyofbatsSaltmarshharvestmouseRiverotterVarietyofwoodratsBeaverVarietyofvolesRaccoonStripedskunkCoyoteVarietyofshrewsVarietyofrabbitsNon-Native OpossumBlackratMuskratNorwayratFeralcatsFeraldogsHousemouse FISH NativeGreensturgeonSacramentoblackfishChinooksalmonSacramentosplittailDeltasmeltSacramentoperchNon-native BrowntroutGoldenshinerGoldfishCarpBrownbullhead
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ChannelcatfishMosquitofishStripedbassBluegillGreensunfishBlackcrappieLargemouthbassSmallMouthbassREPTILES NativeNorthwesternpondturtleCommongartersnakeGiantgartersnakeBlue-belliedfencelizardAlamedawhipsnakeAMPHIBIANS Native Californiared-leggedfrogWesternspadefoottoadPacifictreefrogCaliforniatigersalamanderCalifornianewtNon-Native BullfrogPLANTS NativeCaliforniapoppyandotherwildflowersWildpeasCloversFieldmintWildroseWildgrapeVariousberriesBuckbrushWildlilacRedbudBoxelderAmericandogwoodVariousoaktreesVariouscottonwoodtrees
VariouswillowtreesManzanitaVariouspinetreesVariouscedartreesAssortedrushesandreedsCattailsAssortedtulesVariousfernsNon-NativeWaterhyacinthCordgrassPickleweedSaltbushVariousthistlesBullrushBermudagrass,Johnsongrass,othergrassesFoxtailPondweedHemlockOleanderWildmustardVariouseucalyptustreesAcaciaAlderVariousvinesVariousberriesOTHER ORGANISMS InsectsSpidersEarthwormsCentipedesMillipedesCrayfishCrabShrimpAlgaeFungiProtozoaBacteria Zooplankton Phytoplankton
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Exploration 2 Food Chains, Webs, and Ecosystems OBJECTIVEStudentswilllearnaboutvariousfoodchainsandecosystemsfoundintheDelta.EachstudentwillalsolearnaboutanorganismthatlivesintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDeltabydesigningaposteroftheorganism.EachgroupofstudentswillreadexpositorytextregardingaspecificecosystemwithintheDelta,andwillcreateaworkofartthatwillincludeanartisticconceptionoftheecosystem.BACKGROUNDAfoodchainrepresentsthetransferofenergyfromoneorganismtoanother,usuallyasoneeatstheother.Plantsarethebeginningofeachfoodchain.Allanimalsdependonplantsdirectlybyeatingthemorindirectlybyeatingananimalthatpreviouslyateaplant.Sunlightplaysanimportantrolebecausethesun’senergyisrequiredbyallgreenplantstoproduce(throughtheprocessofphotosynthesis)theirownfood.Becausemostanimalseatavarietyoffoods,foodchainsbecomepartsoffoodwebsthatdemonstratehoweveryorganisminanecosystemisconnected.Forexample,avarietyofplantsareeatenbyinsects.Someinsectseatbothplantsandotherinsects.Someinsectsareeatenbymice,butmicemightalsoeatseeds,mushrooms,andspiders.Smallerowlseatinsectsandlargerowlseatmiceaswellassquirrelsandbirds.Foodwebsinanecosystemcontainhundredsandeventhousandsofdifferentspecies.Awidevarietyofspeciesmakesafoodwebmorestable.Studyingfoodchainsandfoodwebsallowpeopletobetterunderstandtherolethatanorganismplaysinanecosystem..Forexample,whatroledoesamosquitoplayinanecosystem?Ifwelookatafoodchainorwebofwhichamosquitoisapart,wecanseethatamosquitoprovidesfoodforbats,swallows,nighthawks,fish,andmanyotheranimals.Anecosystemisacommunityoforganismsinteractingwitheachotherandwiththephysicalenvironment.Thereforeanecosystemincludesliving(biotic)andnon-living(abiotic)components.Anecosystemcanbeidentifiedbyitsmajorvegetation,suchasredwoods,mixedconifer,kelp,orchaparral,orbytheamountofrainfallitreceives,suchasadesert.Anecosystemcanalsobedescribedbyitsrelationshiptobodiesofwater,suchasanocean,riverforest(riparian),orwetland.
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Seethehandoutsofthevariousecosystemsinthislessonforadditionalbackgroundinformation.EcosystemsoftheSacramento-SanJoaquinDeltainclude:•River(AquaticEcosystem)•Freshwatermarsh•Saltmarsh•Riparian(riverforest)•Oakwoodland•Grasslands•Estuary(wheresaltandfreshwatermix)PREPARATION• Cutapartthe“OrganismCards”andplaceintoacontainerallcardsexceptthesixth
cardoneachpage,whichisan“AnswerCard.”Theseanswercardswillbeusedinlessons3and4.
Note:These“OrganismCards”willalsobeusedinLesson4.• Adjustthenumberofcardsandecosystemsbasedonthenumberofstudentsinyour
class.Therearesevenecosystemsandfiveorganismscardsforeachecosystem.Youwillneedan“organismscard”foreachstudent,makingcertainthatthereareatleastfourstudents(deletethescavenger,ifnecessary)ineachecosystemgroup,althoughitisbesttohaveallfiveorganismsrepresentedineachecosystem.Youcanalsodeleteoneecosystem.
• Copythe“EcosystemHandouts”(oneforeachgroupoffourorfivestudents).• Makeatransparencyof“AquaticPlants,Catfish,andEgretFoodChain.”• Makeatransparencyof“ADeltaFoodWeb.”• Provideseventablesorworkareas,oneforeachecosystem.• ProvideaccesstotheInternetwhenstudentsaredoingresearchontheirorganism.MATERIALS• Muralwithself-adhesivenotesheets(fromLesson1)• Acontainer(e.g.,boxorhat)inwhichtoplacetheorganismcards• Whiteconstructionpaper(ifavailableuse12”x18”)foreachstudent• Coloredpencils,crayons,highlightmarkers• Sevenlargepieceofbutcherpaper(oneforeachecosystemgroup)• BookWhatAreFoodChainsandWebs?byBobbieKalmanandJacquelineLangille• FieldguidestoplantsandanimalsintheDeltaareaandotherreferencematerials,
suchasencyclopediasandtextbooks
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TIMEPreparation:15minutesLesson:two45-minuteperiodsENGAGEMENT• Askstudentstodescribewhattheyateforlunch.Havetheclassselectafoodmade
frommeat(e.g.,ahamburgerortunafishsandwich).Tracethemeatbacktotheanimalandtowhattheanimalate.Forexamplehamburger,cow,grass;ortunafish,smallerfish,plankton(smallwaterplants).Askstudentsifthereisanythingtheyeatthatwasnotatonetimealivingthing.Havestudentsnotethatmosteverythingtheyeatwaslivingatonetime.Theexceptionsareminerals,likeiron,calcium,andzinc,whichourbodiesneed.Thesemineralscomefromnonlivingthings;howevertheycanalsobeacquiredbyeatinglivingthings.
• Tellstudentsthatwhentheyweretracingbackthefoodtheyate,theyweredescribingafoodchainbackwards.Afoodchaindescribesapatternofeatingandbeingeatenandusuallystartswithaplant.Havestudentsdescribethefoodchaintheydiscussed(basedontheirlunch)fromaplanttothemselves.
EXPLORATION1. UsethebookWhatAreFoodChainsandWebs?byBobbieKalmanandJacqueline
Langilleandreadthepartaboutfoodchainsonpage4.Askstudentsifthereisanythingthattheylearnedfromthebookthattheydidn’talreadyknow.
2. Showstudentsthetransparencyof“AquaticPlants,Catfish,andEgretFoodChain.”
TellthemthatthisisanexampleofafoodchainthatexistsintheDeltaarea.Bringtheirattentiontothefactthatthisfoodchain,likemostothers,startswithaplant.
3. ReferstudentstothemuraldevelopedinLesson1.Askthemtohelpyoumakea
foodchainmadeupofthreeorfourorganisms.Modeltheactivitybyusingafelt-tippedpentodrawarrowsfromaplanttoananimalthateatstheplanttoananimalthateatsthatanimal,andpossiblytoanotheranimalupthefoodchain.Forexample,grasstograsshoppertobirdtofalcon.Remindstudentsthattheyaretracingtheenergygoingfromoneorganismtoanotherasoneeatstheother.
4. Askstudentstoreviewthenamesoftheorganismsonthemuralandtodetermine
whichorganismsareeatenbyotherorganisms.Haveonestudentdrawanarrowfromoneorganismtoanothertoidentifythefoodchainrelationship.Continuehavingdifferentstudentsdrawarrowsonthemuraluntilallstudentshaveparticipatedorallorganismsareidentifiedasbeingpartofsomefoodchain.
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5. Showstudentsthetransparency“ADeltaFoodWeb.”Askstudentstonoticethe
foodchainmadeupofaquaticplants,acatfish,andanegret.Tellstudentsthatconnectingfoodchainsmakefoodwebs.Becausemostanimalseatavarietyoffood,foodchainsbecomepartoffoodwebsthatdemonstratehoweveryorganisminanareaisconnected.Askstudentstoidentifyonthetransparencyotherfoodsthatanegretmighteatthatarenotyetconnectedbyarrows(e.g.,mousetoegretandsalmonfrytoegret).
6. Havestudentslinkfoodchainstodevelopfoodwebsonthemural.Thiscanbedone
byaddingarrowstomakeadditionalconnectionsshowingsomeorganismseatingmorethanonetypeofplantoranimal.
7. Introducetheword“ecosystem.”Anecosystemisacommunityoforganisms(living
things)thatinteractwitheachotherandwiththenonlivingenvironment.Eachecosystemhasitsownpopulationsofplantsandanimalsthatusuallydifferfromotherecosystems.ExamplesofecosystemsintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDeltainclude:river(aquaticecosystem),freshwatermarsh,saltmarsh,riparian(riverforest),oakwoodland,grasslands,andestuary(wheresaltandfreshwatermeet).Provideexamplesoftheseecosystemsbyreferringtostudents’experiences(hiking,camping).Tellstudentsthatfoodwebsinanecosystemcontainhundredsandeventhousandsofdifferentspecies.
8. Tellstudentsthattheywilldesignaposteraboutanorganismthatlivesinthe
Sacramento-SanJoaquinDelta.Theywillalsodrawanecosystemintowhichtheywillplacetheirorganismposters.Havestudentsreachintothecontaineroforganismcardsandtopulloutacard.Thisistheorganismthateachwilllearnmoreabout.Whenallstudentshavepickedanorganism,placeall“OrganismCards”backintothecontainerforuseinLesson4.
9. Placeadescriptionofadifferentecosystemoneachtable(thereareseven).Ask
studentstolookatthedescriptionofeachecosystemtodetermineinwhichecosystemtheirorganismbelongs.
10. Havestudentsmeetingroupsbasedontheecosysteminwhichtheiranimalslive.
Instructgroupstoreadthedescriptionabouttheirecosystemsandtodrawtheirecosystemsonlargepiecesofbutcherpaper.Whentheyhavecompletedtheirorganismposters,theywilltapetheseontheirecosystemillustrationsaddingarrowstoshowthefoodchainrelationship.
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11. Provideapieceofwhiteconstructionpapertoeachstudent.Askstudentstolookinfieldguides,referencebooks,textbooks,encyclopedias,andontheInternettogetinformationabouttheirorganisms.Eachpostermusthavethefollowinginformation:• Anillustrationoftheorganism• Descriptionoftheorganism(color,size,shape)• Descriptionoftheecosysteminwhichitlives• Threethingsthatiteats(ifapplicable)• Threeorganismsthateatit
12. Posttheillustrationsofecosystemswithstudents’organismpostersonbulletin
boardsorclassroomwalls.Makecertainthatstudentsaddedarrowstoshowthefoodchainrelationshipswithintheirecosystems.ThesewillbeusedinLesson4.
EVALUATION• Reviewthepostersoforganismsdesignedbystudentsandcheckforcompletionof
informationasdescribedinitem#11.Assesstheaccuracyoftheecosystemillustrations.
• Usingthetransparencyofthe“DeltaFoodWeb,”askstudentstoexplainthesimilaritiesanddifferencesinthisillustrationtothefoodwebstheydevelopedonthemural.
RESOURCESBooks• EcologyHandbook:California’sSierraFoothills,CentralValley&DeltabyDerek
Madden,KenCharters,andCathySnyder• WhatAreFoodChainsandWebs?byBobbieKalmanandJacquelineLangille• TheEstuaryEcosystembyDonaldMcLusky• Estuaries:WhereRiversMeettheSeabyLaurenceP.Pringle• SaltMarsh(WebsofLife)byPaulFleisher• FoodChains(ScienceConcepts)byAlvinSilverstein,VirginiaSilverstein,Laura
SilversteinNunn• TheMagicSchoolBusGetsEaten:ABookAboutFoodChainsbyPatriciaRelf,Bruce
Degen,JoannaCole,(ScholasticProductions)• BirdsofNorthAmerica:AGuidetoFieldIdentificationbyChandlerS.Robbins,Bertel
Bruun,andHerbertS.Zim• TheAudubonSocietyFieldGuidetoNorthAmericanMammalsbyJohnO.Whitaker,
Jr.SierraNevadaNaturalHistorybyTracyI.StorerandRobertLUsinger• TheAudubonSocietyFieldGuidetoNorthAmericanBirds:WesternRegionbyMiklos
D.F.Udvardy
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• TheAudubonSocietyFieldGuidetoNorthAmericanInsectsandSpidersbyLorusandMargeryMilne
• TheAudubonSocietyFieldGuidetoNorthAmericanTrees:WesternRegionbyElbertL.Little
• Otherfieldguidestoplantsandanimals(fish,amphibians,reptiles,insects,etc.)
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DeltaFoodWeb
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EcosystemHandout
RIVER(AQUATICECOSYSTEM)Waterrunningdownstreaminrivers,streams,andcreeksisanexampleofoneofthemajortypesofaquaticecosystemsinthevalley.Theotheraquaticecosystemsincludestandingwatersuchasinlakes,marshes,andtemporarypoolssuchasvernalpools.Riversbecomeanintegralpartoftheriparianecosystemandareclassifiedaspartofthewetlands.Thewaterqualitydetermineswhatlivesintheaquaticriverecosystem.Thephysicalenvironmentincludingtemperature,pH,salinity,oxygenconcentration,andrateofflowdetermineswhatorganismscansurviveinthisecosystem.Warm,slowmovingwaters,suchasthosethatoccurinvalleyrivers,containlessoxygenthancool,fast-movingwaterofmountainstreams.Dissolvedoxygenisproducedasaby-productofphotosynthesisbyaquaticplants.Additionaloxygenisprovidedtothewaterwhenthewindstirsthewater,whenwaterflowsrapidlyoverrocks,andwhenoxygenfromtheairmixesatthewatersurface.Thebaseofthefoodchainintheaquaticecosystemconsistsofaquaticplantsandphytoplankton,suchasgreenalgaeanddiatoms.Detritus(organicmatteratthebottomoftheriver)isformedfromdecayingaquaticandterrestrialplantsandalsoprovidesfoodforavarietyoforganisms.Theprimaryconsumersinanaquaticfoodwebincludezooplanktonsuchasamphipods,protozoans,androtifers.DragonflynymphsandDobsonflylarvaearepredatorsofthezooplankton.Therearealsoaquaticsnailsthatscrapealgaefromrocksandvegetationlocatedinthewater.Avarietyoffishliveinriverecosystemandmanyotheranimalsvisititsshores.FoodChain:phytoplankton–zooplankton(copepod)–dragonflynymph–SacramentosquawfishPlants/Algae:phytoplankton,diatoms,duckweed,watermilfoil,ElodeaMammals:riverotter,beaverBirds:WoodDuck,GreatBlueHeron,WhiteEgret,AmericanCootReptiles/Amphibians:Westernpondturtle,bullfrog,Pacifictreefrog,CaliforniatigersalamanderFish:lamprey,Sacramentosucker,carp,ChinooksalmonInvertebrates:zooplankton,fresh-waterclam,insectlarvae,crayfish
FoodChainCards:Producer: PlanktonConsumer: MosquitolarvaeConsumer: SacramentosuckerConsumer: GreatBlueHeronScavenger: Crayfish
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EcosystemHandout
FRESHWATERMARSHFreshwatermarsheshavewetlandsoilsthatarekeptwetbyaconstantsupplyoffreshstandingorslow-movingwater.Theywereatonetimethemostextensiveofthevalleyhabitatsformingwetlandsimportanttomigratorywaterfowl.Largeplantssuchascattailsandtulesformthickstandsofvegetationgrowinginthewater.Thetemperatureofthewaterinthesemarshesisoftenwarmerthansurroundingriverorbaywaterduetoshallowdepthsandslowmovementofthewater.Forthesereasons,oxygenlevelsinthewaterareoftenlow.Theinternalstructureoftheplantsconsistsofanetworkoftubesthattransportairtothewaterloggedrootsallowingtheplantstoliveinstandingwater.Thelargeconcentrationoftallplantsgrowinginfreshwatermarshesslowsthewatermovementallowingforsmalleraquaticplantssuchasyellowwaterweedandduckweedtoliveonthewater’ssurface.Theseplantsprovideadirectfoodsourcefororganismslivinginthemarsh.Theyalsoformdetritus(organicmatter)thatisremovedfromthewaterorexposedmudsurfacebyfilter-feedingorganisms(suchasthefreshwaterclams)andscavengers(suchasworms).TheDelta’sfreshwatermarshes(foundalongtheCosumnesRiver)andthebrackish(mixtureofsaltandfreshwater)marshes(suchasSuisunBay)areinfluencedbytheactionoftides.Suchmovementofwaterstirsthesediments,bringingfoodparticlesuptotheupperportionofthewater.FoodChains:cattails–muskrat–coyote diatoms–caddisflylarvae–bullfrogpollywog–GreatBlueHeronPlants:cattails,tule,duckweedMammals:muskrat,beaver,riverotter,raccoonBirds:MarshWren,Red-wingedBlackbird,GreatBlueHeron,CommonEgretReptiles:Red-leggedfrog,Westernterrestrialgartersnake,WesternpondturtleFish:minnow,Chinooksalmonfry,bassInvertebrates:Freshwaterclam,crayfish,commonbackswimmer,waterboatman
FoodChainCards:Producer: AlgaeConsumer: WaterBoatmanConsumer: GoldenshinerConsumer: EgretScavenger: Flylarvae(maggots)
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EcosystemHandout
SALTMARSHThesaltmarshecosystemsareoneofthemostproductiveecosystemsintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDelta.TheyoccuralongthenorthSanFranciscoBayandextendintotheSuisunbay.Thesaltiness(salinity)ofthewaterassociatedwiththesaltmarshdeterminesthetypeofplants(producers)foundinthiscommunitythatisdominatedbysalt-lovingplants.Thelargerwetlandplantsincludecordgrass,pickleweed,andsaltgrass.Eachhasauniqueadaptationtolivinginthesaltywater.Forexample,pickleweedaccumulatessaltinthetipsofthegrowingplantsthatdropoffinthefall.Saltgrasssecretessaltonitleaves.
Theplantsareeatenbymanyanimals(e.g.,herbivores).Whentheplantsnoteatenbyanimalsdie,theyformdetritus(particulateplantmaterial)whichsupportsthefilterfeedersandscavengers,likeclamsandwormslivinginthemudflatsbelow.Otherimportantproducersinthiscommunityarethediatomsthatcreateagoldencoloronthesurfaceofexposedmudduringtidalebb.
Watermovementthroughsaltmarshesisinfluencedbytheactionofoceantides.Themarshplantsslowthewater,allowingsedimentstosettleout.Thisformsrichmudflatsandtidalflowcausingstirringofsedimentsandfoodintothewater.Clayparticles,acomponentofthesedimentsinmudflats,bindtoorganicmaterialskeepingthefoodinthewater.Becauseoftheirproductivity,quietwaterandprotection,saltmarshesbecomenurseriesforyoungfishandhabitatforinvertebrates,suchasworms,snails,clams,andinsects.Assuch,theyformanimportantrefuelingstopalongthepacificflywayformigratorywaterfowl.FoodChain:diatoms-Californiahornsnail-CaliforniaClapperRail–grayfox
Plants:cordgrass,pickleweed,saltgrassMammals:saltmarshharvestmouse,grayfox,shrew,CaliforniavoleBirds:CaliforniaClapperRail,GreatBlueHeron,Black-neckedStilt,migratorywaterfowlReptiles:gophersnake,SanFranciscogartersnake,PacifictreefrogFish:baypipefish,yellowfingoby,halibutInvertebrates:Californiahornsnail,ribbedmussel,yellowshorecrabFoodChainCards:Producer: SaltgrassConsumer: SaltmarshharvestmouseConsumer: FeralcatsConsumer: GrayfoxScavenger: Yellowshorecrab
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EcosystemHandout
RIPARIANTheplantcommunityborderingriversandstreamsisreferredtoasriparianhabitat,derivedfromtheLatinwordmeaning“growingbytheriver”.Thevegetationalongtheriverisoftendenseandisdividedintoover-storytreesandunder-storyshrubs,herbs,andvegetationthathangsoverthewater.Thisecosystemisinfluencedbytheriverandfollowsitscourse.Godding’swillow,Fremontcottonwood,Californiablackwalnut,andboxaldercomposethedenseover-storyforest,whilesandbarwillowandbuttonbushformdenseunder-storyalongtheripariancorridor.Mugwort,cocklebur,wildgrape,elderberry,wildrose,stingingnettle,andblackberryalsocontributetotheunder-storyplants.
Thedensevegetationprovidesexcellenthabitatforinsects(valleyelderberrylonghornbeetle,tentcaterpillars),birds(BeltedKingfisher,WoodDuck,CliffSwallow,Wilson’sWarbler,Swainson’sHawk)andmammals(beaver,riverotter,raccoon,grayfox).Thetreesandshrubsthatoverhangtheriverdropleavesandorganicdebrisintothewater,providinganimportantfoodsourceforinvertebrateslivingintheaquaticecosystem.Riparianhabitatisimportantforfloodcontrol,groundwaterrecharge,foodfordownstreamfisheries,andrecreation.FoodChain:Algae–mayflylarvae–minnow–BeltedKingfisherPlants:Fremontcottonwood,Californiablackwalnut,boxalder,mugwort,willow,wildgrape,cocklebur,elderberry,wildrose,stingingnettleMammals:beaver,muskrat,riverotter,raccoon,opossumBirds:GreatBlueHeron,BeltedKingfisher,WoodDuck,Swainson’sHawk,Red-shoulderedHawk,OspreyAmphibians/Reptiles:Westernpondturtle,Westerntoad,gartersnakeFish:Sacramentosucker,lamprey,Chinooksalmonfry,largemouthbass,bluegillInvertebrates/Insects:Deltagreengroundbeetle,Westerntigerswallowtailbutterfly,tentcaterpillar,valleyelderberrylonghornbeetle FoodChainCards:Producer: WillowtreeConsumer: TentcaterpillarConsumer: SparrowConsumer: CrowScavenger: Catfish
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EcosystemHandout
VALLEYOAKWOODLANDThevalleyoakwoodlandoftenoccursnexttotheriparian(streamside)woodland.Thevalleyoakisthelargestofthewesternoaksandformerlycarpetedthevalleyfloor,especiallywherewaterisplentiful.Theycantoleratethestandingwaterfromspringrun-offfloodsaswellasthesummer-timedroughtcharacteristicoftheDelta’sMediterraneanclimate.Valleyoakshavebecomeavictimofhabitatalterationprimarilyduetofarmingandfloodcontrol.Theremainingoaksprovidevaluablehabitatforavarietyofwildlifeaswellasanabundantfoodsourceintheformofacornsandleafmaterial.Valleyoakforestsaredeciduous(losetheirleavesinthewinter)admittingmoresunlightunderthetreesandallowingwinterannualstoflourish.Thecombinationofleaflitteranddecayingwinterannualsprovidesarichsoil.Valleyoaksinfullleafcreateamicroclimateallowingmoisturetoaccumulate,facilitatingthegrowthofannualplants.Valleyoaksalsohaveavarietyoftumorsorgallsproducedbyinsects(mostlygallwasps).Oakapplegallslocatedonbranchesandspinedturbangallsfoundontheunder-sideofvalleyoakleavesareexamples.Valleyoaksprovidefood,shelter,andnestingsitesforawidevarietyofwildlifesuchashawks,owls,woodpeckers,smallbirds,insects,spiders,reptiles,andmammals.Animalsfromsurroundinggrasslandsoftenseekshadeduringthesummerheatinthevalleyoakwoodlands.FoodChain:Valleyoakacorn–Californiagroundsquirrel–Red-tailedHawkPlants:valleyoak,perennialgrasses,annualgrassesandwildflowersMammals:Californiagroundsquirrel,Californiavole,pocketgopher,stripedskunk,mountainlionBirds:ScrubJay,NorthernFlicker,AcornWoodpecker,Nuttall’sWoodpecker,Red-tailedHawkReptiles:alligatorlizard,gophersnake,WesternfencelizardInvertebrates:Cynipidwasps,weevils,earthworms FoodChainCards:Producer: ValleyoakConsumer: WeevillarvaConsumer: AcornwoodpeckerConsumer: Cooper’shawkScavenger: Vulture
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EcosystemHandout
GRASSLANDSGrasslandscontainmostlyannualplants,suchasgrasses(Purpleneedlegrass,nativebunchgrass)andwildflowers(owl’sclover,Californiapoppies,redmaids),withoccasionalshrubs.Annualplantsarethosethatcompletetheirlifecycleinoneseasonoroneyear.Rainfallisthesourceofmoisturewithoccasionalfloodingfromnearbywaterways.DuringthecoolwetwinterandspringintheCentralValley,theplantsgrowrapidly,producespectacularwildflowerdisplays,andsetseed.Inthehotdrysummerandcoolerbutdryfall,grassesandwildflowersturnyellowandbrownremainingdormantuntilwinterrainsreturn.Grasslandsareextremelyproductiveecosystemsduetotheamountofgrassesandherbsgrowingthere.Atonetimenaturallyoccurringfireswereimportantincontrollingthepresenceofshrubs,providingasuitableenvironmentforgrasslandspecies.Herbivores(plant-eatingorganisms)andburrowinganimalsaredominantinthegrasslands.Burrowinganimals,suchaspocketgophers,groundsquirrels,andrabbits,areimportantintillingthesoilandkeepingthesoilaerated.Thisisalsoahabitatthatsupportsburrowingowls.Largegrazinganimalssuchasthetuleelk,pronghornantelope,anddeeronceformedlargeherdsofgrazinganimals.Thesehavelargelybeenreplacedbydomesticgrazinganimals,insects(grasshoppers),androdents(Californiavole,Californiagroundsquirrel,andpocketgopher).Predators,suchascoyotesandhawks(NorthernHarrier,Swainson’sHawk,Red-tailedHawk)huntforrodentsandrabbitsinthegrasslands.FoodChain:Purpleneedlegrassseeds–pocketgopher–gophersnake–Red-tailedHawkPlants:purpleneedlegrass,Californiapoppy,nativebunchgrass,owl’scloverMammals:pocketgopher,black-tailedjackrabbit,cottontailrabbit,Californiavole,deermouse,kitfoxBirds:Red-tailedHawk,NorthernHarrier,BurrowingOwl,SavannaSparrow,Reptiles:gophersnake,Westernfencelizard,SouthernalligatorlizardAmphibians:TigersalamanderInvertebrates:grasshoppers,solitarybees,silverfishFoodChainCards:Producer: BunchgrassConsumer: GrasshopperConsumer: WesternfencelizardConsumer: CoyoteScavenger: Opossum
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EcosystemHandout
ESTUARYTheSacramento-SanJoaquinDeltaiswheretheSacramentoandtheSanJoaquinriversmeetsandthenemptyintotheSanFranciscoBay,creatingthelargestestuaryontheWestCoastofNorthAmerica.Anestuaryisdefinedastheplacewherefreshwaterriversmixwithseawaterfromanadjacentocean.IntheSacramento-SanJoaquinDelta,thespecificlocationwherefreshandsaltwatermeetvariesaccordingtotheamountoffreshwaterflowingoutoftherivers,butisusuallyconsideredtobelocatedaroundSuisunandHonkerbays.Attheinterfaceofthefreshwaterwithsaltwater,smalleddiesormixingregionsoccurbecauseofthedifferencesindensitybetweenfreshwaterandseawater.Themixingatthissitecausestracenutrientstofallintoazonecalledthe“entrapmentzone”wheretheyareusedbyphytoplanktonthatarethenconsumedbyzooplanktonorganisms.ThisuniquecirculationofnutrientssupportsarichfoodsourceforthemanyorganismslivingintheDelta.Theestuaryisoftensurroundedbymarsheswherebothfreshwaterandsaltmarshvegetationoccurs.
FoodChain:algae(phytoplankton)–zooplankton–smelt–stripedbassPlants:fathen,saltgrass,pickleweed,cattails,tules,zosteraMammals:muskrat,beaver,Californiavole,saltmarshharvestmouse,shrewBirds:NorthernHarrier,Black-shoulderedKite,AmericanAvocet,Black-neckedStilt,GreatBlueHeron,CommonEgret,waterfowlReptiles/Amphibians:bullfrog,Pacifictreefrog,gartersnakeFish:Chinooksalmonsmolts,stripedbass,smelt,flounder,sturgeonInvertebrates:shrimp,clam,zooplankton,solitarybeesFoodChainCards:Producer: PickleweedConsumer: MeadowVoleConsumer: GartersnakeConsumer: NorthernHarrierScavenger: CaliforniaGull
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Exploration 3 Producers, Consumers, Scavengers, and Decomposers OBJECTIVEStudentswillbecomefamiliarwithvariouslivingorganismsoftheSacramento-SanJoaquinDeltaandwillcategorizetheseorganismsintofourmajorgroups(producers,consumers,scavengers,anddecomposers)basedonhoworganismsobtaintheirenergy.Studentswillalsowriteoneparagraphaboutaselectedorganism.BACKGROUNDOrganisms(livingthings)canbeseparatedintofourcategoriesbasedonhowtheyacquiretheirenergy:
• Producersareorganisms(e.g.,plants,algae)thatgettheirenergybyproducingtheirownfoodfromrawmaterialsofsunlight,water,andcarbondioxide.Theyalsoacquirethenutrientstheyneedtogrowfromthesoilorwater.
• Consumersareorganisms(e.g.,fish,birds,mammals)thatgettheirenergybyeatingotherorganisms.
• Scavengersareorganisms(e.g.,crabs,earthworms,TurkeyVultures,crows)thatgettheirenergybyeatingdeadthings.
• Decomposersareorganisms(e.g.,bacteriaandfungi)thatgettheirenergybyeatingorabsorbingdeadmatter.Decomposersbreakdown(decompose)theremainsofdeadplantsandanimalsandputtherawmaterials(includingminerals)backintotheenvironmentenrichingthesoilandwaterforplants.
PREPARATION• Makeatransparencyorprojectablepdfof“ExamplesofProducers,Consumers,
Scavengers,andDecomposers.”• Makeatransparencyorprojectablepdfofthe“TerrestrialFoodChain.”• Makeatransparencyorprojectablepdfofthe“AquaticFoodChain.”• Makeacopyforeachstudent,onetransparencyorprojectablepdfof“Questions
AboutanOrganism.”• Makeacopyof“RolesofSomeOrganismsintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDelta”for
eachstudentoreachgroupofstudents.
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MATERIALS• Butcherpaperorablanksheetofanoverheadtransparency• Acopyofthesevenanswercards(onefromeachecosystem)fromthe“Organism
Cards”inLesson2TIMEPreparation:15minutesLesson:two45-minuteperiodsENGAGEMENT• Askstudents:Towhatpartofthegrocerystoredoyougotogetfruitsand
vegetables?(The“produce”section.)Explainthatproducersaregreenplantsthatproducetheirownfoodusingsunlightasanenergysource.
• Whyarepeoplecalledconsumers?(Weconsumethings;webuythings;weeatthings)Explaintostudentsthatallanimalsarecalledconsumersbecausetheyneedtoconsumeoreatanotherorganismonordertolive.
EXPLORATION1. Introducevocabularyusingthetransparency“ExamplesofProducers,Consumers,
Scavengers,andDecomposers”andleadawholeclassdiscussionregardingcategories.Helpstudentstodefineandtoprovideexamplesofthefourcategoriesoforganisms.Thedefinitions(see“Background”)canbewrittenonthechalkboard,butcherpaper,oronanoverheadtransparency.Examplescouldbe:• Producers:plants(trees,shrubs,wildflowers,grasses,aquaticplants,algae,
phytoplankton)• Consumers:frog,fish,rabbit,GreatBlueHeron,shrimp,fish• Scavengers:earthworms,crabs,insectlarvae,crayfish• Decomposers:bacteria,fungi,suchasmushrooms.Mostdecomposerscannotbe
seenwiththeunaidedeye.
2. Explainthatdecomposersarebacteria(single-celledorganisms)andfungi.Theybreakdown(decompose)materialthatwasoncelivingintoitsoriginalcompoundsorrawmaterials,includingminerals,suchasnitrogenandphosphorus.Plantsusethemineralsthatarereleasedbackintotheenvironmentbydecomposerstogrow.Thuswithinecosystems,nutrientsarecycledthroughlivingthings.Decomposersarealsoanimportantfoodsourceforworms,insects,andothersmallorganismsthatliveinthesoilandwater.
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3. Project the transparency of the “Aquatic Food Chain” and have students identify each organism as a producer (algae), consumer (shrimp, fish, Great Blue Heron), scavenger (crayfish), or decomposer (bacteria).
4. Askstudentstoselectoneorganismfromthefoodwebsdrawnonthemural.Have
eachstudentwriteoneparagraphabouttheselectedorganism.Intheparagraphstudentsshouldstatewhethertheorganismisaproducer,consumer,scavenger,ordecomposer.Thentheyshouldanswerthreeofthequestionsonthe“QuestionsAboutanOrganisms”sheet.Projectthetransparencyofthequestionsorprovideacopytoeachstudent.
5. Havestudentsreadtheirparagraphstotheclassandthenpostthemnexttothe
ecosystemposter(fromLesson2)towhichtheybelievetheybelong.6. AskstudentstolookattheecosystemillustrationstheydidinLesson2andhave
themidentifywhichorganismisaproducer,whichareconsumers,andwhichisascavenger.Checkthattheirlistiscorrect,andthengivethemtheanswercardfortheirecosystem(fromLesson2)totapeontheirecosystemillustration.Anexampleofan“AnswerCard”forthefreshwatermarshisprovidedbelow:
EVALUATIONProjectthetransparencyof“TerrestrialFoodChain”andhavestudentsidentifytherolesofeachorganismillustrated.Ifprovidedwiththeirowncopiesofthisfoodchain,studentscouldbeaskedtoexpandthefoodchainintoafoodweb.Theycouldalsobeaskedtoexplaintherelationshipsinthisfoodchain.Forexample:
Thisfoodchainconsistsofpartsofaplant(oaktreeleaves)thatareeatenbyamousethatiseatenbyasnakethatiseatenbyahawk.Whenthehawkdies,aTurkeyVulturemighteatitsmeatandtherestofthehawk’sbodyisusedbybacteriaandfungi.Theseorganismsareabletoreleasethehawk’snutrientsintothesoiltobeusedbyplants.
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• The“RolesofSomeOrganismsintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDelta”canbecompletedbystudentsindividually,inpairs,orsmallgroups.Thiscanalsobegivenasahomeworkassignment.Allowstudentstoconductresearchonanyorganismonthelistthattheydon’tknow.1. Distributethe“RolesofSomeOrganismsintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDelta”to
students.2. Instructstudentstowritewhateachcategoryoforganismeatsorhowitgetsits
energy.Thenstudentsshouldidentifyintowhichcategoryeachorganismmostlikelyfitsandplacea“P”,“C”,“S”,or“D”nexttoeachorganism’sname.
3. Gradetheworksheetaccordingtocategoryaccuracy.EXTENSION• Havestudentsexpandtheirparagraphtodeveloponeofthefollowing:
- Anarrativeestablishinganddevelopingaplotandsettingandpresentingapointofviewthatisappropriatetothestory.
- Anarrativetoincludesensorydetailsandconcretelanguagetodevelopplotandcharacter.
- Anexpositorycomposition(e.g.,explanation,comparisonandcontrast,problemandsolution)
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Questions About An Organism
1. Whatareyouafraidof?2. Whatdoyouneed?3. Wheredoyoulive?4. What’syourfavoritefood?5. Whatdoyouspendyourfreetimethinkingabout?6. Howmightpeopleaffectyou?Andwhatcantheydotohelpyou?7. Whatcouldhappeniftherearetoomanyofyourtypeinoneplace?8. Whyareyouimportantinnature?9. Describeyourself.10. Whatisafraidofyou?
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RolesofSomeOrganismsintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDeltaName: Directions:1.Writewhateachcategoryoforganismeatsorhowitgetsitsenergy.Producer: Consumer: Scavenger: Decomposer: 2.Identifyintowhichcategoryeachorganismmostlikelyfits.Thennexttoeachorganism’snameplacea“P”forproducer,“C”forconsumer,“S”forscavenger,or“D”fordecomposer.Seethefirstexample.
Willow (P) Salt grass Muskrat Beaver Insect larvae California vole Gopher snake Red-tailed Hawk California horn snail Pickleweed Cattails Tules Yellow shore crab Great Blue Heron
Great Egret Bullfrog Pacific tree frog Earthworms California black walnut Owl’s clover California blackberry Valley oak Wild rose Purple needle grass California poppy Bunch grass Cord grass Hydrilla Mushrooms E. coli (bacteria)
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RolesofSomeOrganismsintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDelta
AnswerKey
Producer:Anorganism(livingthing)thatgetsitsenergybyproducingitsownfoodfromrawmaterialsofsunlight,water,andcarbondioxide.Consumer:Anorganismthatgetsitsenergybyeatingotherlivingthings.Scavenger:Anorganismthatgetsitsenergybyeatingdeadthings.
Decomposer: An organism that gets its energy by eating or absorbing dead matter.
Willow (P) Salt grass (P) Muskrat (C) Beaver (C) Insect larvae (S) California vole (C) Gopher snake (C) Red-tailed Hawk (C) California horn snail (D) Pickleweed (P) Cattails (P) Tules (P) Yellow shore crab (S) Great Blue Heron (C)
Great Egret (C) Bullfrog (C) Pacific tree frog (C) Earthworms (S) California black walnut (P) Owl’s clover (P) California blackberry (P) Valley oak (P) Wild rose (P) Purple needle grass (P) California poppy (P) Bunch grass (P) Cord grass (P) Hydrilla (P) Mushrooms (D) E. coli (bacteria) (D)
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Exploration 4 Food Chain Skit OBJECTIVEStudentswilldesigncostumesforvariousorganismsandperformskitsdemonstratingfoodchains.Theywilldiscussanddescribeinwritingseveralecologicaldisruptionsthatcouldhappentoaffecttheirfoodchainandhowthismightaffectotherorganismsintheecosystem.BACKGROUNDStructuresoforganismsshowtheiradaptationstotheirenvironmentsandwaysoflife.Physicaladaptationsofanimalsincludespecificbodystructures,suchasshapeandcolorofbody,typeofbodycovering,andstructureofappendages,likefeet,tails,antennae,wings,etc.Plantsadapttospecificecosystemsonthebasisoftheamountofrainfall,theintensityandheatofsunlight,andtheconditionandamountofsoil.Thecolor,size,shape,andcoveringoftheplants’leavesorneedlesoffercluestotheclimateandthesoil’sconditionoftheareainwhichtheplantsgrow.Organismsadapttohelpthemsurviveintheecosystemsinwhichtheypresentlylive.Butorganismsusuallycannotrapidlychangewhattheyarelikeandwhattheydoiftheirenvironmentischangedsuddenly.Forexample,atreesquirrelcannotsuccessfullybecomeagroundsquirrelifallthetreesareremovedfromanareainashortperiodoftime.Itmightbeabletofindanalternatefoodsource,butitisnotlikelytolocateanalternatenestingsiteoradequateshelterfrompredators.Peoplehavebeenchanginghabitatsfasterthantherateatwhichmostorganismslivinginthesehabitatscanadapt.Thishasledmanyspeciestobecomethreatened,endangered,andevenextinct.Itisimportanttounderstandfoodchainsforseveralreasons.Oneisfortheprotectionofhumanhealth.Studyingfoodchainscanhelpusunderstandhowchemicals,likepesticidesthathavebeensprayedintheenvironment,contaminateourfood.Knowingaboutecologicallinkageshelpspeopletoevaluatetheconsequencesoftheiractionsandtomodifytheirchoicestominimizedamagetoorganismsandtheirhabitatandevenpreventtheextinctionofspecies.Understandingtheneedsoforganismsandtheirinterrelationshipscanhelppeoplerecognizetheimportanceofpreservingbiodiversity,whichinturnsupportsstabilityinanecosystem.
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MATERIALS• Student’secosystemhandoutsforeachrespectivegroupfromLesson2.• Butcherpaper,constructionpaper,yarn,scissors,glue,maskingtape,andother
availablematerials(e.g.,cardboardbox,papercups,eggcartons,paperplates)• Crayons,markers,coloredpencils,tape• “OrganismCards”fromLesson2• Provideseventablesorworkareas,oneforeachecosystem.TIMEPreparation:15minutesLesson:two45-minuteperiods(oneperiodtopreparethecostumesandoneperiodtopresenttheskit)ENGAGEMENT• Tellstudentsthattheywillhavetheopportunitytoworkingroupstoportray
organismswithinafoodchain.First,theywillpickanorganismcardandthenbecomean“expert”onthatorganism.Theywillmakecostumesandmasksandwillperformaskitwithotherstudentsintheirecosystemgroup.Conductadiscussiononwhattypesofskitsmightbepossible(e.g.,theskitcouldincludeapoem,rap,song,play,etc.)
PROCEDURE1. Haveeachstudentpickan“OrganismCard”(usedinLesson2)outofacontainer.
Displayan“AnswerCard”fromthesetof“OrganismCards”(fromLesson2)foreachecosystem.
2. Askstudentstojoinwiththeotherstudentsintheirecosystemtoworkontheir
presentations.Theycancheckthe“AnswerCard”toseeinwhichecosystemtheywillwork.Theymayrefertothe“organismposters”fromLesson2andotherresourcesforuseintheirperformances.
3. Provideoneclassperiod(45minutes)forcostumepreparation.Studentsmightalso
wishtowriteapoem,song,play,oranarrativetodescribetheirfoodchain.Youmightwanttocopyonthechalkboardthequestionsfromitem#5tohelpguidestudentsintheirpresentations.
4. Whenallgroupsareready,havegroupspresenttheirskitstotheclass,emphasizing
theinteractionswithintheirecosystem.Discusswhylearningaboutfoodchainsisimportant(seeBackground).
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5. Duringtheskit,promptthegroupwiththefollowingquestions:• “Whichofyouistheproducerandwheredoyougetyourenergyandnutrients?”• “Whichofyouistheconsumerandwheredoyougetyourenergyand
nutrients?”• “Whichofyouisthescavengerandwheredoyougetyourenergyand
nutrients?”• “Whatdoyoueat,whateatsyou?”• “Whathappenstoyourenergyandnutrientswhenyoudie?”• “Whyareyouimportant?Towhat,towhom?• “Whatwouldhappeniftherewas:Adrought?Anoilspill?Newconstruction
project?(Suggestdifferentecologicaldisruptionsforeachgroupandallowthemtoreact.)
• Havetheperformersanswerquestionsfromtheclass.EVALUATION• Assessparticipationinthecostumeconstructionandcooperationofstudentsduring
theirpresentations.• Askstudentstodescribeinwritingseveralecologicaldisruptionsthatcouldhappen
toaffecttheirfoodchainandhowthismightaffectotherorganismsintheecosystem.
EXTENSION• Playthe“LinkingElbowsGame”
o Askstudentstogatherintotheirecosystemgroups.o Withineachgroup,havestudentstositonthefloorinacirclewiththeirbacksto
eachother.Thenaskthemtolinkelbowswhilesitting.o Havegroupsattempttostandupwiththeirelbowslinked.o Aftereachgroupachieveditstaskofstandingupasagroup,havethemdiscuss
thefollowing:HowarethisgameandourclassdiscussiononinterrelationshipsoftheDeltaecosystemrelated?Invitegroupstosharetheirpossibleanswers.(Possibleanswers:Eachecosystemhasvariouslivingthingsthatsupporteachother.
o Thisgamecanalsobeplayedagainwithsixmembersineachteamaddingairandwater.Discusstheimportanceoftheserelationships(e.g.,livingandnon-livingorganismsarepartofanecosystem.Allcomponentsinanecosystemareessentialtolivingthings).
• Teachstudentsabouttheprocessofphotosynthesisanditsimportanceto
ecosystems.
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Exploration 5 Ecosystem-Related Projects and Simulation Activity Theformatofthislessonisdifferentfromtheotherfourlessonsinthisunit.Thetitleofeachprojectislistedandabriefdescriptionisprovided,buttheteacherandstudentswilldecidehowbesttoimplementtheprojectorthesimulationactivity.Considerdevelopingtheselectedprojectaroundthefollowingscienceprocesses.InvestigationandExperimentationScientificprogressismadebyaskingmeaningfulquestionsandconductingcarefulinvestigations.Asabasisforunderstandingthisconcept,andtoaddressthecontentoftheotherthreestrands,studentsshoulddeveloptheirownquestionsandperforminvestigations.Studentswill:
a.developahypothesis.b.selectanduseappropriatetoolsandtechnology(includingcalculators,computers,balances,springscales,microscopes,andbinoculars)toperformtests,collectdata,anddisplaydata.
c.constructappropriategraphsfromdataanddevelopqualitativestatementsabouttherelationshipsbetweenvariables.
d.communicatethestepsandresultsfromaninvestigationinwrittenreportsandverbalpresentations.
e.recognizewhetherevidenceisconsistentwithaproposedexplanation.h.identifychangesinnaturalphenomenaovertimewithoutmanipulatingthephenomena(e.g.,atreelimb,agroveoftrees,astream,ahillslope).
OBJECTIVEStudentswilleither:• Setupandstudyaminiatureecosystem(e.g.,wormbin,aquarium,nativeplant
garden,ecosysteminabottle)intheclassroomorintheschool’sgardenarea.Theywillmonitortheecosystem’shealthovertimeandwilldiscuss:“Howdoorganismsinthisecosystemexchangeenergyandnutrientsamongthemselvesandwiththeenvironment?”
• Participateinasimulationactivitythatfocusesonhowpeoplecanimpactanecosystemandencouragesstudentstousetheirdecision-makingskillsbasedonwhattheyhavelearnedaboutecosystemsinthisunit.
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BACKGROUNDInthislesson,avarietyofprojectsaredescribedandlinkedtowebsitesthatprovideadditionalinformation.Theprojectorprojectsthatyouandyourstudentsselectwilldependonstudents’interests,thetopicsandconceptsthatyouwantstudentstolearn,andtheskillsthatyouwantstudentstoexperience.Inaddition,thislessonalsoprovidesasimulationactivitythatfocusesonhowpeoplecanimpactanecosystem.PREPARATION• Willdependontheprojectselected.MATERIALS• Identifyandcollectmaterialstoimplementtheproject.TIMEPreparation:WilldependontheprojectselectedLesson:WilldependontheprojectselectedENGAGEMENTEncourageyourstudentsto:• Selectaprojecttoimplementtoobserveaminiatureecosystemordothesimulation
activity.• DevelopexperimentsandinvestigationsconcerningtheprojectPROCEDUREAvarietyofprojectsandonesimulationactivityaredescribedforyouandyourstudentstoselect.Ifyouarereadingthislessononacomputerscreen,simplyclickontheURLtogettotheselectedwebsite.Studentsshouldkeepajournalofwhattheydoandwhattheyobserveaswellasconclusionstheyformulate.Theyshouldbeabletoanswerthequestion:“Howdoorganismsinthisecosystemexchangeenergyandnutrientsamongthemselvesandwiththeenvironment?”Theycandosobyidentifyingtheproducers,consumers,scavengers,anddecomposersandbydevelopingfoodchainsandfoodwebsthatmightexistintheminiatureecosystem.
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Project1:PrepareandMonitoraVermicompostingBinStudentssetupandmonitoravermicomposting(worm)bin.Studentscouldcountthenumberofwormsandotherorganismsovertime.Theycanalsomeasurethetemperature,pH,andthemoisturecontentofthewormbin.Applicablewebsite:http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Education/Curriculum/Worms/Thiswebsitecontains:“TheWormGuide:AVermicompostingGuideforTeachers”(informationonhowtosetupandmaintainavermicompostingbin).https://www.kidsgardening.org/gardening-basics-worm-composting/KidsGardeningwebsitealsohasinstructionsoncreatingawormbinProject2:SetUpanAquariumStudentssetupanaquariumandmonitortheenvironmenttokeepithealthyfortheorganismslivingintheaquarium.Applicablewebsites:• http://www.marineland.com/Guides/starting-an-aquarium-beginners.aspx
Marinelandhascreatedthispagetohelpbeginnersproperlysetupandmaintainanaquarium.http://www.tetra-fish.com/aquarium-information/how-to-set-up-an-aquarium-fish-tank-setup.aspxTheTetrafishfoodcompanyhasaquariumset-upinstructionsaswellaslinkstoothertopics,suchasfishdiseases.
Project3:GrowaNativePlantGardenStudentsgrowanativeplantgardenandobserveandrecordtheorganismsthatlivethereandthosethatvisitthegarden.Applicablewebsites:
• https://www.fws.gov/chesapeakebay/pdf/habitatguide.pdfTheU.S.FishandWildlifeServiceprovidesinformationonhowtocreateanativeplantgarden.• http://www.plantnative.org/how_intro.htmHowtonaturescapehttp://www.nativeplants.org/wp-content/uploads/Websites-with-Information-about-California-native-plants.pdfResourceswithinformationaboutCalifornianativeplants
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Project4:MakeEcosystemsinBottlesStudentsmakemini-ecosystemsintwo-literplasticbottles.Theymonitorthesetomakecertainthattheorganismswithinthesebottlesarekeptalive.Iforganismswerecollectedfromanaturalenvironment,theyshouldbereturnedbacktotheirenvironmentwhenstudentshavecompletedtheirstudies.Applicablewebsites:http://www2.nau.edu/lrm22/lessons/bottle_biology/Instructionsonhowtobuildabottlebiospherehttp://reekoscience.com/science-experiments/miscellaneous/how-to-create-terrarium-vivarium-self-sustainable-bottle-gardenHowtocreateaterrariuminaself-containedbottleProject5:DevelopaHabitatforCricketsorMealwormsStudentsdevelopahabitatforcricketsormealworms.Theseorganismscanbepurchasedinmostperstores.Applicablewebsites:
http://www.wikihow.com/Raise-MealwormsProvidesanumberofinstructionsononraisingmealworms.
• http://allaboutfrogs.org/info/doctor/raisebugs.htmlFroglandhasawebsitedevotedtobreedingcricketsandprovideslinkstootherprojects.
SimulationActivity:InWhatEcosystemShouldWeBuild?Havestudentsparticipateinasimulationactivity.HavethemsupposethatahugemallandanapartmentcomplexareplannedforanareaintheSacramento-SanJoaquinDelta.Themallandapartmentcomplexmustbebuiltinoneofthefollowingecosystems:
• River(AquaticEcosystem)• Freshwatermarsh• Saltmarsh• Riparian(riverforest)• Oakwoodland• Grasslands• Estuary(wheresaltandfreshwatermeet)
HavethesamegroupsofstudentsworktogetherontheecosystemtheyrepresentedintheskitinLesson4.Thetaskofeachgroupistoconvincetherestoftheclassthatthe
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ecosystemthegrouprepresentsshouldnotbeusedfortheconstructionproject.Thiscanbedonebyhavingthegroupsfirstlisttheadvantagesandthenthedisadvantagesofbuildinginsuchanecosystem.Inaddition,eachgroupshouldrecommendwhichecosystemshouldbeusedforthemallandapartmentcomplex.BecausemorepeoplearemovingintotheDeltaandneedaplacetoliveandtoshop,notbuildingthemallandapartmentcomplexisnotanoption.Onceallgroupsadvocatedfortheirecosystemandpromotedaspecificecosystemonwhichtoplacethemallandapartmentcomplex,havetheclassvotewherethisconstructionprojectshouldbebuilt.Allowstudentstorecommendsomewaystolessentheimpactonthechosenecosystem.ConductadiscussionwithstudentsaboutdecisionspeoplemakeconcerningtheSacramento-SanJoaquinDelta.OnlineSimulation:https://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/interactives/ecology/Thisisaninteractiveecologylabthatallowsthestudentstoaddandremovedifferentspeciesandsimulatehowitaffectstheinterrelationshipsintheecosystem.Thesiteincludesadatatablethestudentmightchoosetouse.EVALUATIONSelectanassessmenttoolortoolstoshowtheprogressoftheprojectorthepresentationbygroupsinthesimulationactivity.
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Ecosystems in the Delta Pre-test/Post-test
NAME:________________________________ DATE:_______1. Whatisanorganism?2. Whatisanecosystem?3. Whatisanenvironment?4. NamefivelivingthingsfoundintheDelta.5. Describeinafoodchain.6. Describeinwordsorpicturesafoodweb.7. NamethreeofthesevenecosystemsoftheDelta.8. Nameaproducer,aconsumer,ascavenger,andadecomposer.9. NameonewaythathumanshavechangedtheDelta.10. NameonewaythatnaturehaschangedtheDelta.
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Ecosystems in the Delta
Pre-test/Post-test Answer Key
1. Anorganismisalivingthing.
2. Anecosystemisacommunityoforganismsinteractingwitheachotherandwiththe
physicalenvironment.
3. Ourenvironmentistheareathatsurroundsusandincludeslivingandnonliving
things(naturalandhuman-madeobjects).Thenaturalenvironmentofanorganism
(alivingthing)includesitsphysicalsurroundings,suchasotherplantsandanimals,
soil,rocks,air,andwater.
4. Answersmayvary(birds,fish,mammals,trees,people)
5. Afoodchainrepresentsthetransferofenergyfromoneorganismtoanother,
usuallyasoneeatstheother.
6. Answerswillvary;foodwebsaremadeupoffoodchainsandshowhoworganisms
withinanecosystemareinterrelated.
7. Anythreeofthefollowing:river,freshwatermarsh,saltmarsh,riparian,oak
woodland,grassland,estuary
8. Answersmayinclude:producer:anyplant;consumer:anyanimalthateatsplants;
scavenger:anyanimalthateatsdeadthings;anddecomposer;bacteriaandfungus.
9. Answersmayvary(dams,roads,buildings,farming,mining,logging,introductionof
non-nativespecies)
10. Answersmayvary(floods,earthquakes,erosion,fires)
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California’sEnvironmental Principles & Concepts
Principle I: The continuation and health of individual human lives and of human communities and societies depend on the health of the natural systems that provide essential goods and ecosystem services.
Principle II: The long-term functioning and health of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems are influenced by their relationships with human societies.
Principle III: Natural systems proceed through cycles that humans depend upon, benefit from, and can alter.
Principle IV: The exchange of matter between natural systems and human societies affects the long-term functioning of both.
Principle V: Decisions affecting resources and natural systems are based on a wide range of considerations and decision-making processes.