Ecosystem Connections Script

Teacher: Good morning, amazing learners! Today, we're going on an adventure to discover how everything in nature is connected. It's super important to understand this because it helps us take care of our planet. Ready?

Warm-Up: What's Alive? (5 minutes)

Teacher: (Display Warm Up Activity slide) Look at these pictures. Can you tell me which ones are living and which ones are non-living? Talk to your partner for a minute.

Teacher: Great job! Who can share one living thing they saw? Why is it living?


And what about a non-living thing? What makes it non-living?

Introducing Ecosystems (10 minutes)

Teacher: (Move to Slide Deck: Ecosystem Connections - Slide 2: "What is an Ecosystem?") Wonderful! Today, we're going to learn about something called an ecosystem. Can you say that with me? Echo: Eco-system!

An ecosystem is like a big neighborhood where all the living and non-living things live and work together. Think about your neighborhood – you have people, animals, houses, roads, and even the air you breathe. It's all connected!

Teacher: (Move to Slide 3: "Living (Biotic) Parts") In an ecosystem, we have living parts. We call these biotic factors. Can you guess what kinds of things are living in nature?


(Listen to responses, then reveal bullet points) Yes! Animals, plants, even tiny little bugs and germs are all living things. They grow, they need food, they can move, and they make more of themselves!

Teacher: (Move to Slide 4: "Non-Living (Abiotic) Parts") Now, what about the non-living parts? We call these abiotic factors. What are some things in nature that are NOT alive, but are still super important?


(Listen to responses, then reveal bullet points) Exactly! Water, sunlight, the soil, the air, and even big rocks or logs that give animals a home – these are all non-living. They don't grow or eat, but living things can't live without them!

Teacher: (Move to Slide 5: "How Do They Connect?") Now for the really cool part: How do these living and non-living things connect and help each other? Let's look at some examples!
(Point to examples on slide)
Why does a plant need sunlight?


How does a bird use a tree (which is a living thing) but also needs the air and water around it (non-living things)?


It's like a team, right? Everyone has a job, and they all depend on each other!

Teacher: Let's read a little more about this in our Ecosystems Reading. (Read the passage aloud, pausing for questions and discussion as needed).

Interactive Exploration: Ecosystem Match & Game (10 minutes)

Teacher: Alright, now it's your turn to be ecosystem detectives! We're going to do an Ecosystem Match Activity. I'm going to give you some cards with pictures or words. Some will be living, and some will be non-living. Your job is to find a partner with a card that connects to yours. For example, if you have a fish, you might look for someone with 'water'!
(Distribute cards and facilitate the activity as described in the material).

Teacher: Fantastic connections everyone! Now, let's play a fun Ecosystem Bingo Game to see if we can spot these connections even faster!

Wrap-Up and Assessment (5 minutes)

Teacher: You all did an amazing job today connecting living and non-living parts of an ecosystem! To show me what you've learned, I have a quick Ecosystem Interactions Worksheet for you to complete. You can work on it independently or with a partner.

Teacher: Before you leave, please fill out this quick Cool Down Exit Ticket. It helps me know what stuck with you today!

And for those who want to keep exploring, I have a fun Ecosystem Explorer Project Guide that you can work on at home or during free time.

We'll also have a Ecosystems Quiz coming up soon, and then a bigger Ecosystem Test to show off all your knowledge! Great work today, everyone!

Warm Up: Living or Non-Living?

Instructions: Look at the pictures below. Write

What is an Ecosystem?

An ecosystem is a special place where all the living things and non-living things live together and help each other. Think of it like a giant team! Every part of the team, big or small, has a job and depends on the other parts.

Living Parts (Biotic Factors)

The living parts of an ecosystem are called biotic factors. Bio means life! These are all the things that are alive. This includes:

• Animals: Like deer, bears, birds, fish, and even tiny insects!
• Plants: Like big trees, colorful flowers, green grass, and small bushes.
• Fungi: Like mushrooms.
• Bacteria: Tiny living things we can't see without a microscope!

All living things need food, water, and a place to live to grow and survive.

Non-Living Parts (Abiotic Factors)

The non-living parts of an ecosystem are called abiotic factors. A means not, so abiotic means not alive! These are things that don't grow, eat, or move on their own, but they are super important for all the living things. This includes:

• Water: Rivers, lakes, ponds, and rain. Animals drink it, and plants need it to grow.
• Sunlight: The light and warmth from the sun. Plants use it to make their food.
• Soil: The dirt where plants grow. Many animals live in the soil too!
• Air: The gases around us, like oxygen that animals breathe.
• Rocks and Shelter: Big rocks, caves, or even fallen logs. These can be homes or hiding spots for animals.

How Living and Non-Living Parts Interact

The most amazing part is how these living and non-living parts interact, or work together! Here are some examples:

• A bird (living) builds its nest (shelter, often from living parts like branches) in a tree (living). It needs water (non-living) to drink and air (non-living) to breathe.
• A fish (living) swims in the water (non-living) of a river. The water gives it a home and helps it breathe.
• A plant (living) grows in the soil (non-living) and uses sunlight (non-living) and water (non-living) to make its own food.
• A bear (living) might use a cave (non-living rock formation) as its shelter to sleep during winter.

Everything is connected! When one part of the ecosystem changes, it can affect all the other parts. That's why it's so important to understand and protect our ecosystems.

Ecosystem Match Activity

Objective: To identify and explain interactions between living and non-living parts of an ecosystem.

Materials:

• Index cards or small pieces of paper with one living or non-living item written/drawn on each (prepare enough for one card per student).
  • Living Examples: Deer, bird, tree, flower, fish, frog, rabbit, squirrel, human, ant, grass
  • Non-Living Examples: Water, sun, soil, rock, air, shelter (a drawing of a cave or log), river, cloud

Instructions:

1. Distribute Cards (2 minutes): Give each student one card. Tell them not to show their card to anyone yet.
2. Explain the Goal (1 minute): "Your goal is to find a partner whose card interacts with yours. For example, if you have 'bird,' you might look for 'nest' or 'tree' or 'water'. Once you find a partner, sit down together."
3. Find a Partner (5 minutes): Have students walk around the room to find a partner. Encourage them to talk to different classmates and explain why they think their cards connect.
4. Share Interactions (2 minutes): Once most students have found a partner, ask a few pairs to share their cards and explain their connection to the class.
   • Example: "I have 'fish' and my partner has 'water'. Fish need water to live and swim!"
   • Example: "I have 'tree' and my partner has 'sun'. Trees need the sun to grow big and strong!"

Teacher Notes:

• Circulate during the activity to offer guidance and facilitate connections. Some students might need help understanding abstract connections (e.g., air and animals).
• If there's an odd number of students, create one group of three or play with one less card yourself.
• Encourage students to think about how the living and non-living parts use each other. For example, 'rock' could connect to an animal using it for shelter, or a plant growing on it (moss).
• This activity can be repeated with different cards or by asking students to find two partners for a more complex interaction.

Ecosystem Bingo Game

Objective: To reinforce understanding of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of an ecosystem and their interactions.

Materials:

• Printable Bingo cards (one per student) with a mix of living and non-living ecosystem components.
• Markers (beans, small squares of paper, etc.) for students.
• Calling cards with descriptions or pictures of living/non-living items or interactions.

How to Play:

1. Distribute Materials (2 minutes): Give each student an Ecosystem Bingo Card and a handful of markers.

2. Explain the Rules (1 minute): "I will call out an item or describe an interaction. If you have that item or interaction on your Bingo card, cover it with a marker. The first person to get three in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) shouts 'BINGO!'"

3. Start the Game (7 minutes): Begin calling out items from the calling cards. Encourage students to think about whether the item is living or non-living and how it fits into an ecosystem.

   • Calling Card Examples:
     • "Something that makes its own food using sunlight." (Answer: Plant/Tree)
     • "A place for animals to hide or sleep." (Answer: Shelter/Cave/Log)
     • "What fish swim in." (Answer: Water)
     • "Something that eats plants or other animals." (Answer: Animal/Bear/Deer)
     • "What we breathe." (Answer: Air)
     • "Where plants grow their roots." (Answer: Soil/Dirt)
     • "A small living thing that flies and makes honey." (Answer: Bee)
     • "A big, hard, non-living thing that can be a home for small creatures." (Answer: Rock)
     • "Provides light and warmth to the Earth." (Answer: Sun/Sunlight)
     • "A living thing that has leaves and branches." (Answer: Tree)
     • "What falls from the sky and helps plants grow." (Answer: Rain/Water)
     • "A living thing that builds a nest." (Answer: Bird)

4. Check for Bingo: When a student calls "BINGO!", have them read out the items they've covered to verify their win. Continue playing if time allows.

Ecosystem Bingo Card Template

Print and distribute to students. You can create different versions by rearranging the squares.

Ecosystem Interactions Worksheet

Name: ________________________

Date: ________________________

Instructions: Read each question carefully and write your answer in the space provided. Remember how living and non-living things work together!

1. What is an ecosystem?
   
   
   

2. Name two living things you might find in a forest ecosystem.
   
   
   

3. Name two non-living things you might find in a forest ecosystem.
   
   
   

4. How does an animal use water? Give one example.
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. How does a plant use sunlight? Explain in your own words.
   
   
   
   
   
   

6. Imagine a rabbit (living) and a big rock (non-living). How might the rabbit use the rock?
   
   
   
   
   
   

7. Draw a picture of a simple ecosystem. Label at least one living part and one non-living part. Show how they interact!