Vocabulary

It is important to ensure that students undertand the content area vocabulary.

Click here for a vocabulary prereading activity

Click here for a sample word wall file

Click her for a sample concept clarification file

Click here for a sample Frayer word activity

Click here for a link with interactive vocabluary activities.

PowerPoint on Learning Disabilities and Apps

Click the link to view on PowerPoint on apps that will provide assistive technology for students with learning disabilities.

Needs of Living Things

Cute video

Food Chain Interactive Quiz

Click here to go to quiz

Producers, Consumers, Decomposers Game

An interactive game for students to play. Click here to play.

The Water Cycle

Interactive visuals and definitions of the Water Cycle. Click here to open site

Other Resources for Mi'kmaq Ecological Knowledge

Unama’KIDS looks a natural resources and the environment from the point-of-view of youth in Unama’ki. One of our goals at UINR is to reach the youth in our communities and work with them to determine what information they need, and to develop innovative ways to get that information to them that will have the most impact. Unama’KIDS involves students in the Mi’kmaq schools and other schools that have Mi’kmaq students. The Unama’KIDS have participated in the release of the endangered American Marten, a moose feast in the Highlands, a puppet show on the endangered Piping Plover, nature walks, workshops in biology, traditional knowledge and art projects. UnamaKIDS also uses computer communications technology like video conferencing, Facebook and the world wide web to share and learn. http://www.uinr.ca/2009/01/unamakids/

Food Web Chain Reaction Game

Purpose: to show how abiotic and biotic factors in the forest ecosystem affect the complete food web of the forest.

Materials:

• Large ball of yarn
• "forest identity cards"
• deer
• elk
• small tree x2
• large tree x2
• fern
• water x2
• sun
• fox
• bear
• coyote
• raccoon
• worm
• bird
• fly
• Add native species of animals to your cards and make as many sets as you need to hand out to your class based on size.

Activity:

1. Hand out an forest identity card to each student.
2. Have the students stand in a circle with their identity card facing out.  Tape them to their shirts or use a paper clip/safety pin.
3. Give someone in the group the ball of string.  Explaining that while they are holding onto one end of the string, you will pass the ball to another person giving them your energy because they need you.
4. Keep passing the string until all students are connected to at least one other person or forest factor.
5. Once everyone is connected find the person who is the WATER.  Now lets pretend that there is a drought this year, so there's very little water for the forest.  The water person would then gently tug on the string.  Do you feel the tug?  Does anyone in the circle feel the tug?  This is a great way to show how we are all connected.  Other scenarios would include: Disease has killed the foxes, too many trees have been cut down, the air has become heavily polluted.
6. If you wish, make up some of your own situations to test when you've finished.

Part 2:  Inspiration

As a closing activity students will visit Inspiration and use the software to make a food web to show what they have learned during the activity.  Their web must have a balance of producers, consumers and decomposers.

Mi'kmaq Ecological Knowledge

Since time immemorial, the Mi’kmaq have used and occupied their traditional territory known as Mi’kma’ki which includes Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and parts of Quebec, Newfoundland and the northeastern part of Maine. Mi’kmaq Paleo-Indian sites in Nova Scotia provide archaeological evidence of Mi’kmaq occupation for over 10,500 years. Today, the Mi’kmaq continue to use and occupy Mi’kma’ki and share a deep and profound relationship with their traditional lands. In Mi’kmaq cultural tradition, the Mi’kmaq utilize Netukulimk – a Mi’kmawey concept which includes the use of the natural bounty provided by the Creator for the self-support and well-being of the individual and the community at large. Netukulimk also encompasses ecological beliefs through the interplay of collective and individual responsibilities of the Mi’kmaq to the natural world. Such relationships with the land are holistic in nature and consider many aspects of the natural and spiritual world. These include, but are not limited to, land/marine resource use, management, conservation and Mi’kmaq spiritual beliefs. Throughout history and today, Mi’kmaq subsistence and spiritual practices encompass the natural world in a manner that is, at times, distinct from understandings inherent in western society. The Mi’kmaq do not perceive the natural and spiritual world as separate and distinct spheres.

View this video:

http://www.science.gc.ca/default.asp?Lang=En&n=BC0EBF5B-1

Ecosystems

A challenging text on the transference of energy through an ecosystem. Ecosystems Part 2 - Nutrient Cycling

What is an ecosystem?

Food Chains and Food Webs

Very good defintions of vocabulary in this video. This information is presented at a higher reading level.

Explanation of the Food Chain and the Producers, Consumers and Decomposers

A very information video that explains the interactions and connections of all living things within an eco-system.

Song About the Food Chain

This music video teaches about food chains and the pyramid of energy.

National Geographic Video

This is a fun and informative video that explains the food chain and how energy is transferred along. It explains producers and consumers.

Unit 1 - Interactions and Ecosystem Organizer

An excellent graphic that conveys all major ideas in this unit. Click here to see the graphic

First Scientists: Bras d'Or Lakes Project

http://www.science.gc.ca/default.asp?Lang=En&n=BC0EBF5B-1

Chain Reaction

This is an interactive game that allows students to organize pictures into a food chain. It provides immediate feedback by letting the students know if their chains are organized correct!  


Visit EcoKids today!