Teacher Resources
In this interactive lesson, students will learn how to predict and explain patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems. Students will practice explaining patterns through facts from media and informational text.
This interactive lesson is aligned to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards.
Lesson Information
- Grade Band: 6 - 8
- Focus Standard: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
- Topic: Life Science
- Completion Time: 30 - 40 minutes
- Vocabulary: Visit the Glossary page for definitions of key vocabulary in this module.
Related Standards
Next Generation Science Standards
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MS-LS1-6 Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems
Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and the flow of energy into and out of organisms. - MS-LS2-1 Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems
Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem. - MS-LS2-2 Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems. - MS-PS1-3 Structure and Properties of Matter
Gather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society.
Maryland College and Career Ready (MCCR) Standards for Disciplinary Literacy
Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects:Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
- MCCR Anchor Standard 9: Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
- RST.6-8.9 Compare and contrast science and technical information gained from experiments, simulations, video or multimedia sources with that gained from reading a text on the same topic.
Writing Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects:
Text Types and Purposes
- MCCR Anchor Standard 2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
- WHST.6-8.2 Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/ experiments, or technical processes.
Maryland Environmental Literacy Standard
(4) Consequences of Environmental Change on Human Health and Well-Being.- Environmentally literate students construct and apply understanding of the consequences of human-induced environmental change on individual and collective health and wellbeing.
Teacher Tips
Use a K-W-L chart, and have your students do the following:- Before Lesson: Think about Aquaponics. Write what you already know into the K box. Write questions about what you would like to know in the W box.
- During Lesson: Make notes that will help you answer your questions.
- After Lesson: Write the answers to your questions in the L box.
Additional tips:
- Arrange the students in small groups. Provide the materials or pictures of the materials, and ask each group to design an aquaponic system that meets the needs of fish and plants. Have the groups sketch their design and share their ideas with the class.
- Provide time for conversations among students before they begin orchestrating their step-by-step list for their aquaponics design.
- Allow students time to discuss their ideas for their aquaponic system with their peers.
- Pose questions of what they should consider as “must have” materials for their design.
- Stimulate higher-level thinking by asking the students why they need the items or materials they say are required.
- Encourage students to be creative when designing their system.
References
Resources used to create this lesson:
Aquaculture and Aquaponics- USDA Natural Agriculture Library
Exploring Aquaponics- National Agriculture in the Classroom
Aquaponics: The Future of Sustainable Farming
System design and production practices of aquaponics stakeholders- National Library of Medicine
Aquaponics at Bella Vita Farm
AquaMed Farm
Using This Site
This lesson is built for use on classroom computers and tablets. If you have access to a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or an interactive whiteboard in your classroom, you may complete the lesson in your classroom. Otherwise, you will need to schedule time to use your school's computer lab. For technical specifications, see below.
Some activities on this site may include videos and narration, so you may want to have headphones available for students working at individual stations. For best results in viewing the videos and interactives, you should have a high-speed, stable Internet connection.
This lesson may contain PDFs for students to complete. They can print the PDFs and fill them out by hand, or download the files and fill them out on the computer. Most or all portions can be filled out online. Please check with your Instructional Technology Specialist for instructions on downloading the PDF. (Note that to complete the PDFs on the computer, you will need a viewer, such as Adobe Reader, that supports forms.)
Technology
This site is an Internet-based activity, and it was built to run on the following computer operating systems and browsers:
- Windows 7 or Newer: IE 8, 9, 10, 11; Current version of Chrome; Current version of Firefox
- Mac OS 10.7 or Newer: Current version of Safari
- iPad2/iOS6 or Newer: Current version of Safari
- Android 4.0 or Newer: Current version of Android browser
- Chromebook: Current version of Chrome
Users running Internet Explorer 8 will not be able to use the highlighter tool. Instead, teachers should consider partnering students for a brief discussion.
Visit the Accessibility page for detailed information on the site's accessibility features.