Details
| Type of Product: |
Science Object |
| Publication Title: |
Coral Reef Ecosystems |
| Publication Date: |
11/1/2006 |
| Grade Level: |
Elementary School, Middle School, High School |
|
Description
Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the third of four Science Objects in the Coral Reef Ecosystems SciPack. It explores the interdependent relationships between species in the coral reef ecosystem. All populations in the reef ecosystem are a part of and depend on a global food web (a connected set of food chains) through which energy flows in one direction, from the sun into organism and eventually dissipating into the environment as heat. This food web includes ocean plants, the animals that feed on them, and the animals that feed on those animals. Energy is transferred between organisms and their environment along the way. Energy concentration diminishes at each step. The cycles of life continue indefinitely because organisms decompose after death and return food materials to the environment.
Ideas For Use
Science Objects are two hour learning experiences teachers can use to enhance their understanding of a particular scientific concept. Teachers can access any topic “on demand” from the Internet. Topics are based on the science literacy goals in the national standards (NSES, Science for All Americans, Benchmarks, and the Atlas of Scientific Literacy) and tied to state standards.
Each Science Object provides an understanding of the science content by providing a structured set of learning experiences through simulations and practice assessments. Science Objects challenge teachers to explore and explain real world phenomena and are founded on the principle that learners must be challenged with a problem, observation, data, etc., in order to develop scientific understanding. Science Objects utilize the five phases of inquiry-based learning: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate.
Learning Outcomes:
Coral Reef Ecosystems: Interdependence
- Identify and label key components of food chains and food webs in a coral reef ecosystem.
- Describe key relationships among plants and animals in the coral reef ecosystem: predator and prey relationships, producer and consumer relationships, and symbiotic relationships (mutualism, commensalisms, parasitism).
- Recognize the direction that energy travels through food chains and food webs.
- Explain that materials (chemical elements) and natural resources are recycled in coral reef ecosystems and reappear in different forms.
- Describe the primary ecological succession events within a typical coral reef ecosystem.
Additional Info
|
Science Discipline:
(mouse over for full classification)
|
Cycles
Food web
Predation
Symbiosis
Trophic levels
|
| Intended User Role: | Elementary-Level Educator, High-School Educator, Middle-Level Educator, Teacher |
| Educational Issues: | Achievement, Learning theory, Professional development, Teacher content knowledge |
Technical
| Resource Format: | application/msword, application/pdf, application/x-shockwave-flash, audio/mp3, image/gif, image/jpeg, text/html, video/quicktime |
| Installation Remarks: | Run the Science Objects System Check to ensure that your system is capable of viewing the simulations: http://ecommerce2.nsta.org/system_check/ |
| Requirements: | Requires Macromedia Flash Player and Apple Quicktime Player |
National Standards Correlation
This resource has 8 correlations with the National Standards.
[HIDE CORRELATIONS]
- Life Science
- Populations and ecosystems
- Plants and some micro-organisms are producers--they make their own food.
- All animals, including humans, are consumers, which obtain food by eating other organisms.
- Food webs identify the relationships among producers, consumers, and decomposers in an ecosystem.
- Given adequate biotic and abiotic resources and no disease or predators, populations (including humans) increase at rapid rates.
- Healthy ecosystems ensure a healthy biosphere by regulating the flow of energy and the cycling of nutrients.
- Process Standards for Professional Development
- Research-Based
- Address teachers' needs as learners and build on their current knowledge of science content, teaching, and learning. (NSES)
- Design
- Introduce teachers to scientific literature, media, and technological resources that expand their science knowledge and their ability to access further knowledge. (NSES)
- Learning
- Applies knowledge about human learning and change. (NSDC)
State Standards Correlation
Use the form below to view which of your state standards this resource addresses.
Customer Reviews
This resource has not yet been reviewed.
If you wish to review this resource, click here.