Systems ModuleSystems ModuleGeography Geography

LessonsLessons

Lesson 1 EcosystemsLesson 1 Ecosystems

Aim- What are Aim- What are ecosystems and how do ecosystems and how do

they work?they work?

What are What are ecosystems ecosystems and how do and how do they work?they work?

Task 1Task 1The picture on the left The picture on the left

is an ecosystem, is an ecosystem, complete the table in complete the table in

wordword, showing all , showing all living things and non-living things and non-

living thingsliving things

What is an ecosystem?What is an ecosystem?

An ecosystem is made up of two An ecosystem is made up of two componentscomponents

- Living things andLiving things and- Their non-living environmentTheir non-living environment

• You should have now come up with a list You should have now come up with a list from the picture of what makes up the from the picture of what makes up the ecosystem in the pictureecosystem in the picture

Did you know?

•Bacteria are not plants or animals. They form a kingdom of their own

Did you know?

•insects, birds and fish are all animals

•grass and trees are plants

•mushrooms are fungi – a special type of plant

What are ecosystems and What are ecosystems and how do they work?how do they work?

Task 2

On your word sheet, explain if the following are ecosystems, explain your answer in detail

a) b) c)

How do ecosystems work?How do ecosystems work?

The living things interact with their environment The living things interact with their environment and each otherand each other

How big are ecosystems?How big are ecosystems?

An ecosystem is any size you choose to study, for An ecosystem is any size you choose to study, for example, example,

- a ponda pond - a meadow- a meadow - a forest- a forest- a deserta desert - an ocean- an ocean - the earth- the earth

Feeding in an ecosystem….Feeding in an ecosystem….

It all starts with plants…It all starts with plants…

1.1. Plants trap sun’s energy in Plants trap sun’s energy in chlorophyllchlorophyll

2.2. Carbon dioxide is taken in as is Carbon dioxide is taken in as is water through rootswater through roots

3.3. It uses the sun’s energy to turn It uses the sun’s energy to turn these into glucose (sugar) this these into glucose (sugar) this process is called photosynthesisprocess is called photosynthesis

4.4. It combines this glucose with It combines this glucose with minerals from the soil to make the minerals from the soil to make the things it needs to growthings it needs to grow

Did you know?

• a few plants can feed on

Insects

• they trap the insect in a bowl of liquid that just dissolves them

away

the leaf

is eaten by……

a caterpillar

which is eaten by….

a wood mouse

which is eaten by….

a fox

dead remains, droppings and other waste material …. are eaten by ….

earthworms, insects, fungi and bacteria

PRODUCERS

DECOMPOSERS

CONSUMERSWhat happens What happens next?next?

A Food Chain shows whichcreatures eat each other

In this example, grass is eaten by cows, which are eaten by people

Grass is the PRODUCER

Cows are Primary Consumers as they eat the grass, they are called HERBIVORES

Humans are secondary consumers eating the cow, when humans eat both animals and plants they are called OMINIVORES

Animals which eat other animals only are called CARNIVORES

Task 3Task 3

Click into Click into wordword and complete the missing and complete the missing word exerciseword exercise

An Ecosystem is the relationshipbetween Soil, Climate, Vegetation

and Animals in an environment

SUMMARYSUMMARY

Ecosystems recycle nutrients, such as Carbon & Nitrogen

INPUTSINPUTSSunlightSunlight

AirAirRainRainSoilSoil

PROCESSESPROCESSESFeedingFeeding

ReproductionReproductionDecompositionDecomposition

OUTPUTSOUTPUTSOxygenOxygenWaterWater

MineralsMinerals

SUMMARYSUMMARY

Extension taskExtension task

““All ecosystems depend on the sun’ Do All ecosystems depend on the sun’ Do you agree?you agree?

Draw a diagram to help you explain your Draw a diagram to help you explain your answer.answer.

HomeworkHomeworkThe earth is the largest ecosystem of all. The earth is the largest ecosystem of all.

Illustrate how you choose (drawing or writing) Illustrate how you choose (drawing or writing) how humans fit in to this ecosystem?how humans fit in to this ecosystem?

Tips to helpTips to help

What do humans do to the world’s ecosystem?What do humans do to the world’s ecosystem?How do humans manage the world’s ecosystem?How do humans manage the world’s ecosystem?How do humans control the world’s ecosystem?How do humans control the world’s ecosystem?