Ecosystem JarsEcosystem Jars – This sectional will share a systems engineering approach to learning about and designing ecosystems. While I

teach this in middle school it is adaptable to upper elementary and high school classes. Materials will be provided that could be readily

used in the classroom. (Upper elementary through high school)

Life in a Jar

Credit to:• Todd Vince• Scott Short• Joe Wieten

Rochester Adams High SchoolRochester, MI

Genesis 1:28

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

STEM• Science• Technology• Engineering• Math

These are inter-related topics that are often taught separately, but can mean more to students when experienced as a whole.

STEM in the Life Sciences

Ecosystem Jar Project

• Goal – to build a self-sustaining, closed ecosystem that can support one or more secondary consumers

Pond Water from the Rio Grande Nature Center

Introductory Material

• Use of Microscopes (light and stereo)

• Protists, especially types found in pond water

• Crustaceans and Arthropods

• Other pond life

Weekly

Check and record• temperature• pH• Water ClarityDraw the Jar List abiotic and biotic factors (producers, consumers, dead items – population?)Analyze status of jarAdd items to the jar

Adding Items NOTE – Nothing comes out of the jar!

• An “Additions” form must be completed

• All members must agree to the additions

• There must be a justification for any additions

• The teacher must approve

Week 1

Focus is • microscope observations• identifying abiotic and biotic

factors already present• beginning to make plans for

the jar

blepharisma

Week 2

Focus is• continuing to make

microscope observations• considering the carbon

cycle in the jar• considering the availability

of oxygen in the jar

planaria

Microscope Observations

Stentor Rotifer

Microscope Observations

Plant Detritus & Paramecia Round Worm or Nematode

Week 3

Focus is• Microscope observations• Considering the nitrogen

cycle for the jar

http://completeaquarium.blogspot.com/2008/07/pond-husbandry.html

Week 4

Focus is • Identifying jar food

chains• Drawing a food web for

the jar• Labeling an energy

pyramid for the jar

Week 5

Focus is• Estimating population sizes• Identifying limiting factors

for various organisms in the jar

Week 6

Focus is• Predator – prey

relationships• Competition for

resources within the jar

Week 7

Final Jar Assessment• Graphing of data gathered

(populations would be good)• Analysis of limiting factors and

the various elemental cycles for the jar

• Each student must explain why or why not they have been able to successfully create a self-sustaining ecosystem that will support a secondary consumer

Students and Their JarsWhose secondary consumer will survive???

Two of the Group’s Jars

Other Ways to Carry Out Ecosystem Jars

• Four weeks of Observations

• Groups cooperate across classes

• Different materials to add

• Only one day per week• Smaller jars

STEM and Ecosystem Jars

• Science – ecosystems, element cycles, identifying organisms, energy transfer, limiting factors

• Technology – microscopes and possibly light sensors

• Engineering – “building” an ecosystem• Math – graphing and analysis of data gathered

Vera AbreschChrist Lutheran - Albuquerque, NM

vkabresch @yahoo.com

This is my 20th year teaching in Lutheran Schools. I have taught science and math in

Texas, Michigan and New Mexico.