PowerPoint Presentation

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 JarCredit to:Todd VinceScott ShortJoe WietenRochester Adams High SchoolRochester, MIGenesis 1:28And 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.STEMScienceTechnologyEngineeringMath

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

Pond Water from the Rio Grande Nature CenterIntroductory MaterialUse of Microscopes (light and stereo)Protists, especially types found in pond waterCrustaceans and ArthropodsOther pond life

WeeklyCheck and recordtemperaturepHWater 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 completedAll members must agree to the additionsThere must be a justification for any additionsThe teacher must approveWeek 1Focus is microscope observationsidentifying abiotic and biotic factors already presentbeginning to make plans for the jar

blepharisma

Week 2Focus iscontinuing to make microscope observationsconsidering the carbon cycle in the jarconsidering the availability of oxygen in the jar

planaria

Microscope Observations Stentor

Rotifer

Microscope ObservationsPlant Detritus & Paramecia

Round Worm or Nematode

Week 3

Focus isMicroscope observationsConsidering the nitrogen cycle for the jarhttp://completeaquarium.blogspot.com/2008/07/pond-husbandry.htmlWeek 4Focus is Identifying jar food chainsDrawing a food web for the jarLabeling an energy pyramid for the jar

Week 5Focus isEstimating population sizesIdentifying limiting factors for various organisms in the jar

Week 6Focus isPredator prey relationshipsCompetition for resources within the jar

Week 7Final Jar AssessmentGraphing of data gathered (populations would be good)Analysis of limiting factors and the various elemental cycles for the jarEach 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 Groups Jars

Other Ways to Carry Out Ecosystem JarsFour weeks of ObservationsGroups cooperate across classesDifferent materials to addOnly one day per weekSmaller jars

STEM and Ecosystem JarsScience ecosystems, element cycles, identifying organisms, energy transfer, limiting factorsTechnology microscopes and possibly light sensorsEngineering building an ecosystemMath graphing and analysis of data gathered

Vera AbreschChrist Lutheran - Albuquerque, NMvkabresch @yahoo.com

This is my 20th year teaching in Lutheran Schools. I have taught science and math in Texas, Michigan and New Mexico.