Ecosystems Webquest 5th Grade

1. Ecosystems Webquest5th Grade Laura Henson Dr. Harrison Yang Winter 2010

2. Introduction • The natural environment in which living organisms flourish in called an Ecosystem. All living things in our environment play a role in how the ecosystems around us function. • All living things in an ecosystem fall into one of two categories- Producers and Consumers • Producers and Consumers are connected by food chains. A series of food chains are connected, making up food webs, which show how each living thing in our environment plays a key role in supporting life in an ecosystem

3. Your Tasks • Task 1- Using the links provided, please determine what types of producers and consumers are native in our area. Use this information to make a list of producers, and a list of consumers. • Task 2- Using the information colleted, please create one food chain with at least four living things on the paper provided. Pictures/Drawings not required. • Task 3- Using your food chain, and your previous knowledge of ecosystems, please construct a food web that can be found in our local environment. Create a poster of your food web to be displayed in the classroom. Pictures/Drawings are required. Be Creative!!

4. Resources • Task 1 Resource: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation • Task 2 Resources: Food Chains and Food Webs Interesting Facts about Food Chains and Food Webs Fun With Food Webs!

5. Evaluation 1 Consumer/Producer Lists Each worth maximum 5 points ____ Does List contain at least 5 producers found in NY State? ____ Does list contain at least 5 consumers found in NY State? ____ Spelling Total ____/15 points

6. Evaluation 2 Food Chain Each worth maximum 5 points ____ Are living things in food chain connected in correct order? ____ Are there at least four living things listed as members of food chain? ____ Are both producers and consumers included? ____ Spelling Total ____/20 points

7. Evaluation 3 Food Web Each worth maximum 5 points ____ Is your chain included in construction of food web with at least one other producer and 5 other consumers? ____ Is food web constructed correctly? ____ Are all arrows pointing in the right direction to show correct predator/prey connection? ___ Spelling ___ Creativity, color, poster design Total____/25 points

8. Evaluation continued… Total points from all 3 evaluations will be added together for a final grade. The maximum total score you can receive is a 60/60.

9. Conclusion There are millions of different food chains and food webs found across the world. These connections are the means to which our environment flourishes and how life is sustainable in the environment. As mentioned in this Webquest, all living things are categorized by either being producers and consumers. As a bonus (10 points), please use an internet search to find a unique living thing that falls into both categories. Please record the name of the organism, why it is considered both a producer and consumer, and 2 facts about the organism. Please site the websites you use to collect the information!!

10. Thanks for your hard work!!! I am looking forward to seeing your final work GREAT posters Miss Henson 