Unit 10: Matter and Energy in Ecosystems

The Matter and Energy in Ecosystems unit builds on the understanding developed in the Populations and Resources unit where students learned that the transfer of energy storage molecules, such as starches and fats, is determined by the interactions between consumer and resource populations. While the previous focus was on consumers, this unit expands students’ understanding of ecosystems by considering both living and nonliving components—how its producers, consumers, and decomposers meet their energy needs through the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration; how carbon, a key component of those processes, moves between nonliving and living matter; and how sunlight and the atmosphere function within the overall system.

In the role of student ecologists, your students will investigate a fictional failed biodome, which serves as the anchor phenomenon for the unit. The fictional biodome was constructed by a local group of individuals who are not astronauts or scientists, just space fans who hope to live in space someday. The Econauts hired expert ecologists to advise them on the types of plants and animals to include in their biodome. With the advice of these ecologists, the group members hoped their sealed ecosystem would be self-sustaining—plenty of plants for the animals to eat, plenty of sunlight and water for the plants, and plenty of air for both. However, five years into the project, the group noticed that the plants and animals in the biodome were not getting the resources they needed to release energy, and the ecosystem appeared to be failing. The occupants were safely removed from the biodome, but the cause of the ecosystem crash remains a mystery.

Here's what we're working on this week (5/5-5/9):

Matter and Energy in Ecosystems Lesson 3.1 and 3.2
Matter and Energy in Ecosystems Lesson 3.3
Matter and Energy in Ecosystems Lesson 3.4
Matter and Energy in Ecosystems Lesson 4.4 (Unit Assessment)
End of year review

Here are some resources for more science practice:

Students can log in to the Amplify account through Clever at home to access their Simulation and any activities we complete in class.
Earth's Changing Climate Glossary
Earth's Changing Climate Investigation Notebook with Articles
Earth's Changing Climate Study Guide
Earth's Changing Climate Study Guide Answer Key
Rock Transformations Glossary
Rock Transformations Investigation Notebook with Articles
Rock Transformations Study Guide
Rock Transformations Study Guide Answer Key
Populations and Resources Study Guide
Populations and Resources Study Guide Answer Key
Matter and Energy in Ecosystems Study Guide
Matter and Energy in Ecosystems Study Guide Answer Key

Here are some resources on our curriculum and standards:

Maumelle Charter Middle School

Stephanie Markham

General Information

Science

Science Fair