Ecosystem Jars

1. Ecosystem Jars Ecosystem Jars – This sectional will share a systems engineering approach to learning about and designing ecosystems. While I teach this in middle school it is adaptable to upper elementary and high school classes. Materials will be provided that could be readily used in the classroom.  (Upper elementary through high school)

2. Life in a Jar Credit to: • Todd Vince • Scott Short • Joe Wieten Rochester Adams High School Rochester, MI

3. Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

4. STEM • Science • Technology • Engineering • Math These are inter-related topics that are often taught separately, but can mean more to students when experienced as a whole.

5. STEM in the Life Sciences

6. Ecosystem Jar Project • Goal – to build a self-sustaining, closed ecosystem that can support one or more secondary consumers

7. Pond Water from the Rio Grande Nature Center

8. Introductory Material • Use of Microscopes (light and stereo) • Protists, especially types found in pond water • Crustaceans and Arthropods • Other pond life

9. Weekly Check and record • temperature • pH • Water Clarity Draw the Jar List abiotic and biotic factors (producers, consumers, dead items – population?) Analyze status of jar Add items to the jar

10. Adding Items NOTE – Nothing comes out of the jar! • An “Additions” form must be completed • All members must agree to the additions • There must be a justification for any additions • The teacher must approve

11. Week 1 Focus is • microscope observations • identifying abiotic and biotic factors already present • beginning to make plans for the jar blepharisma

12. Week 2 Focus is • continuing to make microscope observations • considering the carbon cycle in the jar • considering the availability of oxygen in the jar planaria

13. Microscope Observations Stentor Rotifer

14. Microscope Observations Plant Detritus & Paramecia Round Worm or Nematode

15. Week 3 Focus is Microscope observations Considering the nitrogen cycle for the jar http://completeaquarium.blogspot.com/2008/07/pond-husbandry.html

16. Week 4 Focus is Identifying jar food chains Drawing a food web for the jar Labeling an energy pyramid for the jar

17. Week 5 Focus is • Estimating population sizes • Identifying limiting factors for various organisms in the jar

18. Week 6 Focus is Predator – prey relationships Competition for resources within the jar

19. Week 7 Final Jar Assessment • Graphing of data gathered (populations would be good) • Analysis of limiting factors and the various elemental cycles for the jar • Each student must explain why or why not they have been able to successfully create a self-sustaining ecosystem that will support a secondary consumer

20. Students and Their JarsWhose secondary consumer will survive???

21. Two of the Group’s Jars

22. Other Ways to Carry Out Ecosystem Jars • Four weeks of Observations • Groups cooperate across classes • Different materials to add • Only one day per week • Smaller jars

23. STEM and Ecosystem Jars • Science – ecosystems, element cycles, identifying organisms, energy transfer, limiting factors • Technology – microscopes and possibly light sensors • Engineering – “building” an ecosystem • Math – graphing and analysis of data gathered

24. Vera AbreschChrist Lutheran - Albuquerque, NMvkabresch @yahoo.com This is my 20th year teaching in Lutheran Schools. I have taught science and math in Texas, Michigan and New Mexico.