Climate Change Lesson 10 : Ecosystem Relationships

The geographic range of a plant or animal species is an indication of its environmental “preferences,” the conditions that it finds ideal, acceptable, or intolerable. If the climate changes, therefore, it is reasonable to expect that plant and animal species might “move” to occupy different places. The big question is: “What species will move, and where will they go?” In this lesson, students approach this question through three activities.

Students will answer these essential questions:

What is the geographic range of a plant or animal species? 

How do species adapt to climate change?

Subject/Target Grade

Science and Social Studies/ Middle School and High School

Duration

One 25 minute period – Classroom setting

One 45-50 minute period – Computer lab

Materials

From MEECS Climate Change Resource DVD

• Ecosystem Relationships Instructional PowerPoint 

• Lesson 10 Color Transparencies 

per class

• Ecological Habitat Diagrams transparency and Predicting the Future Ranges of Important Tree Species (transparencies – or use PowerPoint slides) 

• Ecological Habitat Diagrams and Predicting the Future Ranges of Important Tree Species (answer key) 

• Model Projections (answer key) 

per student

• Matching Tree Species with Ecological Habitat Diagrams (student activity) 

• Background about Tree Species in the Eastern United States (student resource)  

• Predicting the Future Ranges of Important Tree Species (student activity) 

per pair 

• Model Projections (student activity) 

• Computer with Internet access