Competition: Its what’s for dinner

The influence of abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem

Welcome!• Please make a name plate with your first name with the

markers at your table.• Begin “Part 1” on the handout in the center of your table using

the pictures below. Each student will need their own handout.

DesertRainforest

Resources in an Ecosystem• What is an ecosystem?

A community of organisms (living things)and their environment• How did you rank your resources?• Why did you rank them that way?

Food Collection1. Assignment of Utensils2. Using your assigned utensil (hands, spoon, fork, or forceps) collect

as much food as possible in the time allowed. Rules:

1. Food must be placed in your cup to count towards the total number of points.

2. You may only collect 1 piece of food at a time.3. You many not take food out of other player’s cups or out of their

hands. Point values for food are as follows:• Macaroni- 2• Red beans- 1 • Black beans- 10• Rice- 3

3. You have 30 seconds go!

Calculating Total Points1. Calculate the total

1. Count total number of macaroni. Record number.2. Multiply by 2 to get the number of points.3. Count total number of red beans.4. Multiply by 1 to get the number of points.5. Count total number of black beans.6. Multiply by 10 to get the number of points.7. Count total number of pieces of rice.8. Multiply by 3 to get the number of points.9. Add all points together.

2. Share your totals with your group, and record their totals in table 2.

3. Answer the questions under the table.

Situation 2: FREEZE!

There is a freeze, all macaroni dies!

Macaroni is now worth ZERO points!

Calculating Total Points1. Calculate the total

1. Count total number of macaroni. Record number.2. Multiply by 0 to get the number of points.3. Count total number of red beans.4. Multiply by 1 to get the number of points.5. Count total number of black beans.6. Multiply by 10 to get the number of points.7. Count total number of pieces of rice.8. Multiply by 3 to get the number of points.9. Add all points together.

2. Share your totals with your group, and record their totals in table 2.

3. Answer the questions under the table.

Situation 3: Winter= Less Sunlight

It is now winter and have to find food at night in the dark. Only problem: hands people cannot see at night!Hand-collectors must keep their eyes closed!

Calculating Total Points1. Calculate the total

1. Count total number of macaroni. Record number.2. Multiply by 2 to get the number of points.3. Count total number of red beans.4. Multiply by 1 to get the number of points.5. Count total number of black beans.6. Multiply by 10 to get the number of points.7. Count total number of pieces of rice.8. Multiply by 3 to get the number of points.9. Add all points together.

2. Share your totals with your group, and record their totals in table 2.

3. Answer the questions under the table.

Situation 4: Drought!

There is a drought, and only rice and black beans survive as a food source.

Red beans and macaroni will count as ZERO points.

Calculating Total Points1. Calculate the total

1. Count total number of macaroni. Record number.2. Multiply by 0 to get the number of points.3. Count total number of red beans.4. Multiply by 0 to get the number of points.5. Count total number of black beans.6. Multiply by 10 to get the number of points.7. Count total number of pieces of rice.8. Multiply by 3 to get the number of points.9. Add all points together.

2. Share your totals with your group, and record their totals in table 2.

3. Answer the questions under the table.

Class Discussion• Defining terms.• Abiotic- describes the physical or non-living parts of an

environment such as food, water, soil, and temperature• Biotic- describes the part of an environment made up of

organisms (living things- plants, animals, bacteria, etc.) and the organic waste the produce

• In the chart on your handout, list the biotic and abiotic factors in our ecosystem today.

• To think about:• What were resources you were competing for? Where

some resources more valuable than others?• What were skills you needed in order to compete for the

food?

Exit Ticket• Clean-up!• On the back of your name plate, answer the following questions

about the picture below:1. What biotic and abiotic would be competed for in this ecosystem? 2. What would the plants be competing for, what would the animals

be competing for?”