Ecosystems and Biodiversity Lesson 3 : Ecosystems

1. Water Wonders (on the MEECS Ecosystems & Biodiversity CD). In this lesson, students roleplay the paths that water molecules take in the water cycle. (Reprinted with permission from Project Learning Tree.)

2. Stomata Prints. Swab the underside of a small piece of freshly plucked leaf with clear fingernail polish. It “freezes” the stomata in whatever position they were in (open, if you had live, thriving plants on a sunny day). After the nail polish is dry, place a piece of clear tape over it and lift off the nail polish, which will stick to the tape. Then put the tape on a microscope slide. Using a microscope with at least 40X, view the stomata prints. Safety Precaution: Make sure nail polish is used in an area with adequate ventilation.

3. Mini-Ecosystem Terrarium/Aquarium Project (refer to Extension 4 of Lesson 1).

Students observe their mini-ecosystem projects and create concept maps showing how water is cycled within them.

4. Classroom Ecosystem Mural Project (refer to Extension 5 of Lesson 1). Students add the water cycle to their Ecosystem Mural created earlier in the unit.

5. Gauging Precipitation. Students use a rain gauge to keep track of precipitation in their schoolyard. Compare and contrast your area to another part of the state, and/or country, or to historical data. (Current precipitation data can be found using the Weather Underground web site at: http://www.wunderground.com; just enter the zip code of the location. Historical weather data for the previous 5 years can then be found by using the “History & Almanac” section, found on same web page.)

6. Water in the News. Have students bring in water-related newspaper articles. Students could then debate the pros and cons of the issue and /or write a persuasive essay supporting their opinion about the issue that is being reported.

7. Predicting Precipitation. Students look at a map of Michigan and make predictions about where they think the highest amounts of precipitation occur in the state. Then use the Internet to investigate actual precipitation patterns in the state. Discuss why precipitation varies around the state.

8. Visit from a Meteorologist. Consider inviting a meteorologist to visit your class and discuss Michigan’s weather patterns.

9. The Writing of Aldo Leopold. Introduce students to the writing of Aldo Leopold. The four-page section called “The Odyssey” tells the story of two atoms named X and Y as they journey through Earth’s natural cycles. This section is found in the essay Sketches Here and There, published together with Sand County Almanac by Oxford University Press: New York (1948).