Mushrooms growing out of the base of a dead tree

Mushrooms/Decomposers

Grade 6-8

This lesson focuses on two main ideas:

Importance of mushrooms (as decomposers) in ecosystems.
How decomposers aid in the transferral and cycling of matter and energy in ecosystems.

Procedure

INTRODUCTION (15 minutes)

Read the introduction to students and review new vocabulary. Students will watch the "Maryland Farm and Harvest - Episode 1004 - Mushrooms/Decomposers" video. After the video, discuss the essential questions and thinking questions aligned to the topic and video. Discuss with students the career connections related to mushrooms and decomposers.

EXTENSION (15-30 minutes)

Complete extension activities with students, as you deem appropriate.

ASSESSMENT (15 minutes)

Have students apply their newfound knowledge by completing a Summative CER on the lesson using evidence from the video and activities as support.

REFLECTION (10 minutes)

Have students complete a reflection.

Standards

NGSS Performance Expectation

MS-LS2-3 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

Science and Engineering Practices
Developing and Using Models
Modeling in 6–8 builds on K–5 experiences and progresses to developing, using, and revising models to describe, test, and predict more abstract phenomena and design systems.
- Develop and use a model to describe phenomena.
Disciplinary Core Ideas
LS2.B: Cycle of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems
- Food webs are models that demonstrate how matter and energy is transferred between producers, consumers, and decomposers as the three groups interact within an ecosystem. Transfers of matter into and out of the physical environment occur at every level. Decomposers recycle nutrients from dead plant or animal matter back to the soil in terrestrial environments or to the water in aquatic environments. The atoms that make up the organisms in an ecosystem are cycled repeatedly between the living and nonliving parts of the ecosystem.

Crosscutting Concepts
Energy and Matter
- The transfer of energy can be tracked as energy flows through a natural system.

Maryland Environmental Literacy Standard

Standard 2
Human Dependence on Earth Systems and Natural Resources:
Environmentally literate students construct and apply understanding of how Earth’s systems and natural resources support human existence.

Summative CER

Option 1:

Construct an argument regarding the importance of decomposers like mushrooms, for the stability of ecosystems. Use evidence and reasoning from the videos and activities to support your response.

Option 2:

Develop a scientific explanation about why ecosystems cannot function without decomposers. Use evidence and reasoning from the videos and activities to support your explanation.

Reflection Questions

Why are mushrooms important in our environment?
How do decomposers aid in the transferral and cycling of matter and energy in ecosystems?

Summative CER Rubric

Scoring Rubric Components	No Response Score Point 0	Not There Yet Score Point 0.5	Beginning To Score Point 0.75	Yes Score Point 1.0
CLAIM	The claim is missing.	The claim is incorrect or irrelevant.	The claim partially takes a position on the topic or issue addressed within the prompt.	The claim takes an appropriate position on the topic or issue addressed within the prompt.
EVIDENCE	There is no type of evidence in the response.	The evidence is irrelevant or does not support the claim.	The evidence partially supports the claim and demonstrates some understanding of the topic or text, using appropriate sources.	The evidence supports the claim and demonstrates a strong understanding of the topic or text, using appropriate sources.
REASONING	There is no use of words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and to clarify the relationship between the claim and evidence.	Use of words, phrases and clauses fail to show or explain any relationship between the claim and evidence.	Scientific words, phrases, and clauses used lack cohesion but partially clarify the relationship between the claim and evidence.	Appropriate scientific words, phrases, and clauses are used to create cohesion and to clarify the relationship between the claim and evidence.