LS2.4 Day 2

​EQ:

How can patterns in biotic and abiotic factors help us determine the health of different ecosystems on earth?

​Explain:

Yesterday, we learned what makes each terrestrial ecosystem special.

Today, we're going to think of ourselves as ecosystem doctors!

How can we tell if an ecosystem is 'sick' or 'healthy'?

​Important vocabulary:

-biodiversity
-balance
-fertile
-resilience
-disturbances

Healthy forest: Has many types of trees, bushes, flowers, and animals. You might see deer eating leaves, squirrels gathering acorns, and birds nesting in the trees. Decomposers, like fungi, break down old leaves and logs, adding nutrients back to the soil.

​Elaborate: Choice Activity

1. You pick one of the six terrestrial biomes.

2. Your task is use the LS2.4 graphic organizer to research the chosen biome. Your job is to create 2 pictures for your biome.

   One that is a healthy biome and one that is unhealthy.

Tomorrow:

3. We will look at each picture to figure out which biome was drawn and what it looks like as healthy and unhealthy. TSW write sentences that describe what they see in the pictures that contribute to what a healthy or unhealthy biome should look like.

Instructions: Read each scenario. Act as an "ecosystem doctor" to decide if the described terrestrial ecosystem is Healthy or Unhealthy. In the explanation, identify the specific abiotic and/or biotic factors that show the ecosystem's health, using the patterns we discussed.

​Evaluate:

Ecosystem Health Check-up: Terrestrial Edition