6th - 8th Grade Module 8 Concept 4

Cycle 1

What happens to an ecosystem when the environment changes?
Cycle Summary

In this first cycle of Concept 4, students use their knowledge of matter, energy, and interactions in ecosystems in order to figure out how populations are affected by ecosystem disruptions. Particularly, students consider the impacts of an invasive species, honeysuckle, on Missouri ecosystems, including those found in Forest Park.
By exploring how ecosystems can be disrupted, this prepares students for the next cycle in this Concept, where they will evaluate competing design solutions that might restore balance to disrupted ecosystems.

Session 1
Elicit

Students use previously made food webs to predict how adding new species affects an ecosystem.

Engage

Students revisit images of ecosystems to identify healthy or unhealthy ecosystems.

Explore

Students watch a video to see an example of how an invasive species has changed the appearance of a forest ecosystem.
Students play a bingo chip simulation game to show how native species populations may change as a result of introduction of an invasive species.

Session 2
Elicit

Students use previously made food webs to predict how adding new species affects an ecosystem.

Engage

Students revisit images of ecosystems to identify healthy or unhealthy ecosystems.

Explore

Students watch a video to see an example of how an invasive species has changed the appearance of a forest ecosystem.
Students play a bingo chip simulation game to show how native species populations may change as a result of introduction of an invasive species.

Session 3
Elicit

Students use previously made food webs to predict how adding new species affects an ecosystem.

Engage

Students revisit images of ecosystems to identify healthy or unhealthy ecosystems.

Explore

Students watch a video to see an example of how an invasive species has changed the appearance of a forest ecosystem.
Students play a bingo chip simulation game to show how native species populations may change as a result of introduction of an invasive species.

Session 4
Explain

Students use a reading and short videos to identify causes of changes in ecosystems and how those changes impact the ecosystem.

Elaborate

Students use claim, evidence, and reasoning to construct an argument about how invasive species affect populations in an ecosystem.

Session 5
Elaborate

Students use claim, evidence, and reasoning to construct an argument about how invasive species affect populations in an ecosystem.

Evaluate

Students complete a short assessment to evaluate their learning.

Extend
Extend

Students use evidence to construct an argument about whether humans could be considered an invasive species.