In this group of activities students will investigate their schoolyard or other nearby space in orderto identify what is around them and arrive at the definition of an ecosystem. Students will take a walk or go to a specific location to observe the types of constructed and natural features that are there. Students will record their observations and then begin to categorize their findings into living and non- living things. Once students have identified the living things, they will discuss what living things need to survive. Students will learn new terms, biotic and abiotic, and review what a habitat is as they discuss the components of an ecosystem. Students will also be introduced to the term biodiversity.