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, using this information to explain patterns or predict interactions.

This interactive lesson is aligned to:

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

  • MS-LS1-5 Growth, Development, and Reproduction of Organisms
    Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.
  • MS-LS2-2 Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
    Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
  • MS-LS2-5 Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
    Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
  • MS-LS4-5 Growth, Development, and Reproduction of Organisms
    Gather and synthesize information about technologies that have changed the way humans influence the inheritance of desired traits in organisms.

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 7: Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
    • RST.6-8.7. Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).

Writing Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects:
Research to Build and Present Knowledge

  • MCCR Anchor Standard 9: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection and research.
    • WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Maryland Environmental Literacy 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.

Teacher Tips

References

Resources used to create this lesson:
Maryland at a Glance - Agriculture
National Center for Agricultural Literacy
Maryland | Make Your Move
United States Department of Agriculture
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service - Organic Seal
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service - National Organic Program

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.