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Aquatic Food Webs
Class Title: Aquatic Food Webs
Audience: 4th Grade
Offered: 1st Quarter
Length: 1 hr. 50minutes
Preparing for this Class:
- Students should dress for the weather.
- Students should know these words: omnivore, carnivore, herbivore, producer, consumer, decomposer.
- Students should practice dropping water drops. (They could count how many drops they can fit on a penny.) If you need plastic pipettes (medicine droppers), contact the Nature Center.
- We will go outside in light rain and drizzle. Students and adults should be prepared.
- In case of inclement weather (heavy rain, thunder, lightning), we will do alternate activities indoors.
I. Class Description
Students will use physical and chemical tests, as well as biological indicators, to determine if the Quarry Hill pond is a “healthy” environment for living things. They will also observe invertebrate animals from the pond and learn about their behaviors and interactions. Students will learn about the connections of life (food chains and food webs) within the pond environment and will also participate in a science game that illustrates the concepts of producer, consumer, omnivore, carnivore, & herbivore.
II. Correlation to MN Science Standards
- Explain what would happen to a system such as a wetland, prairie, or garden if one of its parts were changed. For example: Investigate how an invasive species changes an ecosystem. (5.4.2.1.2)
- Describe a natural system in Minnesota, such as a wetland, prairie or garden, in terms of the relationships among its living and nonliving parts, as well as inputs and outputs. (5.4.2.1.1)
- Recognize that when scientific investigations replicated they generally produce the same results, and when results differ significantly, it is important to investigate what may have caused such differences. For example, Measurement errors, equipment failures, or uncontrolled variables. (5.1.1.1.2)
- Describe how the methods people utilize to obtain and use water in their homes and communities can affect water supply and quality. (4.3.4.1.1)
- Measure temperature, volume, weight and length using appropriate tools and units. (4.2.1.1.1)
- Identify common groups of plants and animals using observable physical characteristics, structures and behaviors. (3.4.1.1.2)
III. Science Vocabulary (*denotes a Quarry Hill vocabulary word)
Nutrients
Organisms
Ecology
Ecosystems
Photosynthesis
Producers |
Species
Community
Population
Primary Consumer
Secondary Consumer |
Decompose
Decomposer
Predator
Prey
Carnivore
Herbivore |
Omnivore
Food Chain
Food Web
pH *
H2O *
CO2 *
|
After completion of one of these programs please fill out and submit our evaluation form. You may fill it out and submit it online, or print it out and mail it to Quarry Hill Nature Center. Thank you for your time!