Biotic Relationship In An Ecosystem
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Introduction
Students will investigate types of biotic relationships in an ecosystem such as parasitism, commensalisms and mutualism. They will define terms such as biomes, abiotic, biotic, symbiosis, compare and contrast the relationship pattern, its advantages and disadvantages to each organism in such biotic relations. Student will conduct an online research to produce a PowerPoint presentation to show examples organisms that exhibit symbiosis relationship in different biomes of the world.
Prerequisite Experience
Student are required t have basic computer skills such as the use of the Internet, word processor, PowerPoint and Photoshop.
Teacher Prep Time
Preparation time depends on the teachers’ knowledge of the use of appropriate technology tools involve in this lesson. Training on PowerPoint presentation is available for teachers at www.NortelLearniT.org.
Project
Student will create a PowerPoint presentation to show their mastery of the concept discussed in class using a grading rubric.
Assessment/Grading
Teacher will utilize grading rubric adapted from http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php to guide student in their research/evaluation.Time Management Tips
To make use of class time, students may be grouped to work in teams or collaborate each assigned different task to do in their project. During evaluation/presentation of the project, each student will have to present the area where he or she contributed in completing the PowerPoint project.
Lesson Plan Details
Engage
Symbiosis
Engage the student by telling them what they are going to learn “Symbiosis”.
Show them pictures of:
1. Pack of hyenas
2. Community of different animals: Lions, elephants, horse, monkeys etc
Let them observe the two pictures for 2-3 minutes and discuss the differences in their groups while teacher walk around to listen to each group observation/inferences
Define symbiosis and how it relates to pack of hyenas living in the same environment and community of animals in different environment.
Discuss the environment or biomes where symbiosis takes place.
Now, discuss types of symbiotic relationship with examples
1. Predation --- Lion and deer
2. Mutualism --- Shark and remora fish
3. Commensalisms --- Cow and cattle egret
4. Parasitism --- Dog and Tick
Explore
Now, let student go to the following website and look for other examples of symbiotic relationship.
Instruct them to copy pictures of animals that show the types of symbiotic relationship with each other in a folder and use their name to save it.
http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/S/symbiosis.html
http://www.ms-starship.com/sciencenew/symbiosis.htm
http://www.wisedude.com/animals/examples_of_symbiosis.htm
http://necsi.org/projects/evolution/co-evolution/symbiosis/co-evolution_symbiosis.html
Explain
Teacher can now use PowerPoint presentation to explain the concept using pictures and video streaming from United Streaming with examples of different animals with symbiosis relationships in their environment.
Elaborate
Discuss the impacts (advantages and disadvantages) on organisms for each of the different types of symbiosis.
Evaluate
Tell students divide a sheet of paper into four columns and head each column with a type of symbiosis (Predation, mutualism, commensalisms, parasitism).
Have them print the pictures of animals saved in their folder and pair them into the four types of symbiosis relationship discussed in class.
Have students show the impacts (benefits) on both organisms can be denoted with +/+, +/0, and +/- for each symbiosis type.
Categories | 20 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
Attractiveness | Makes excellent use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance the presentation. | Makes good use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance to presentation. | Makes use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. but occasionally these detract from the presentation content. | Use of font, color, graphics, effects etc. but these often distract from the presentation content. |
Content | Covers topic in-depth with details and examples. Subject knowledge is excellent. | Includes essential knowledge about the topic. Subject knowledge appears to be good. | Includes essential information about the topic but there are 1-2 factual errors. | Content is minimal OR there are several factual errors. |
Organization | Content is well organized using headings or bulleted lists to group related material. | Uses headings or bulleted lists to organize, but the overall organization of topics appears flawed. | Content is logically organized for the most part. | There was no clear or logical organizational structure, just lots of facts. |
Sources | Source information collected for all graphics, facts and quotes. All documented in desired format. | Source information collected for all graphics, facts and quotes. Most documented in desired format. | Source information collected for graphics, facts and quotes, but not documented in desired format. | Very little or no source information was collected. |
Extend
Have student use the knowledge gained to produce a PowerPoint presentation on the benefit of symbiosis relationship in:
- Nitrogen cycle
- Food chain
- Tropical rain forest
Internet resources
Discovery Learning: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/
VisionLearning: http://www.visionlearning.com/library/module_viewer.php?mid=98
Food chain and food web: http://www.vtaide.com/png/foodchains.htm
Enchanted learning: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/rainforest/animals/Rfbiomeanimals.shtml