Unit 1: Life Systems - Interactions in the Environment

By Grade 7, students realize that humans have many impacts on the environment. In the study of this topic, they will analyse some of these impacts and their consequences, while reflecting upon their personal responsibility to protect the environment. During investigations, the students will observe existing ecosystems and investigate factors that may affect balances within the system. Students will learn that ecosystems consist of communities of plants and animals that are dependent on each other as well as on the non-living parts of the environment. Care must be taken to ensure that all students, including students with special education needs, have comparable opportunities to explore the natural world. In preparation for working outside the school, it is important that students be able to identify and explain the importance of practices that ensure their personal safety and the safety of others. This includes understanding why it is important to make the teacher aware of any potential allergic reactions (e.g., to bee stings), to wear the clothing and footwear appropriate for the conditions, and to stay within the area of study.

Summative Assignment #1 - Model Ecosystem Project (Student Examples)
Summative Assignment #2 - Balance in an Ecosystem - In class - Using the model ecosystem you have already created, you will investigate some of the factors that affect the balance between different components in your ecosystem. You will Choose a secondary succession (i.e. fire, harvesting, hurricane, lack of rainfall, flood, bioinvasion) and consider the ways it would impact your ecosystem. (Writing Frame 2 - Report Genre)
Summative Assignment #3 - Reducing My Ecological Footprint & Writing Frame 3 - Expository Genre or OWN CHOICE Project (with approval from Mrs. Bader)

Notes/Handouts:

  1. Course Outline: Syllabus - Learning Objectives
  2. IITE Rubrics
  3. Note 4 - Ecosystems
  4. Note 5 - Experiment 2 - School-Yard Ecosystem
  5. Note 6 - Interactions in an Ecosystem
  6. Note 7 - Producers, Consumers, Decomposers
  7. Note 8 - Food Chains and Food Webs and Cycling of Matter
  8. Note 9 - Energy Transfer and Experiment #3: Pass It On
  9. Note 10 - Why Ecosystems Change
  10. Note 11 - Succession
  11. Note 12 - Human Impact
  12. Note 13 - Reducing My Carbon Footprint

Online Unit: Ecosystems
  
Analyzing an Ecosystem - Test your knowledge of biotic and abiotic elements in an ecosystem. Look for producers and consumers.
Antarctic Ecosystem - Delve into the Antarctic ecosystem in winter/summer and investigate biotic and  abiotic elements. 
Antarctic Food Web Game - Explore the Antarctic ecosystem and its food webs/chains.
Arctic Ecosystem - Delve into the Arctic ecosystem and investigate biotic and  abiotic elements. 
Decomposers - Watch this exciting and gross movie about decompsers
Chain Reaction - Take a closer look at producers and consumers. Create and test food chains.
Energy Flow - Take a closer look at the flow of energy starting with the all powerful sun!
Energy Flow in the Coral Reef Ecosystem - Take a closer look at the Coral Reef Ecosystem. Examine the flow of energy here.
Illuminating Photosynthesis - Investigate the secret of life—how a plant uses light from the sun and how we all benefit.
Photosynthesis - An interesting movie to illustrate the cycle of photosynthesis.
How the Arctic Ecosystem Might Change -
Warmer Oceans Affect Food Web
Ecological Footprint - What is an Ecological Footprint? Do we all have the same size footprint? What can I do about this problem?