Module 7: Earth's Ecosystems-Science 5B - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module, students will learn about the Ethiopian Highlands ecosystem. They will learn about the Andes and Rockies ecosystems. Students will learn about the Himalayas ecosystem and review major ecosystems. Students will learn about tundra plants and animals. Students will learn about the different types of forest ecosystems.

Module Materials:

Lesson #	Lesson Title	Material(s)
1	Ethiopian Highlands	pen or pencil *Science 5B Workbook, ISBN 978-1-63916-047-1 (optional)
2	Andes and Rockies Ecosystems	pen or pencil;
3	Himalayan Ecosystems	crayons or colored pencils pen or pencil
4	Tundra Plants	pen or pencil;
5	Tundra Animals	pen or pencil;
6	Tundra Ecosystems and Human Influence	crayons or colored pencils pen or pencil
7	Introduction to Forest Ecosystems	pen or pencil;
8	Taiga Ecosystem	pen or pencil;
9	Temperate Coniferous Forest Ecosystem	crayons or colored pencils pen or pencil

Module Objectives:

Lesson #	Lesson Title	Objective(s)
1	Ethiopian Highlands	Describe how the mountains in Ethiopia were formed. Identify the primary consumers in the Ethiopian Highlands.
2	Andes and Rockies Ecosystems	Describe the characteristics of the Andes and Rocky Mountains. Identify producers and consumers in the ecosystems of the Andes and Rocky Mountains.
3	Himalayan Ecosystems	Describe the characteristics of the ecosystems in the Himalayan Mountains. Compare the wildlife of the Himalayan Mountains.
4	Tundra Plants	Describe characteristics of the tundra, specifically the arctic tundra. Identify the plants that have adapted to live in the tundra.
5	Tundra Animals	Identify and describe the animals that have adapted to live in the tundra.
6	Tundra Ecosystems and Human Influence	Differentiate between the Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems. Describe how humans and climate change have affected the Antarctic ecosystem.
7	Introduction to Forest Ecosystems	Differentiate between the three forest ecosystems.
8	Taiga Ecosystem	Identify characteristics of the taiga forests. Differentiate between the producers and consumers that are found in the taiga. Describe producers and consumers. Differentiate between coniferous and deciduous trees.
9	Temperate Coniferous Forest Ecosystem	Describe temperate coniferous forests and the living organisms found there. Differentiate between temperate coniferous forests and taiga forests. Identify taiga forest characteristics. Differentiate between producers and consumers.

Module Key Words:

Key Words
mountains Ethiopian Highlands producer consumer Andes Mountains Rocky Mountains alpine ecosystem subalpine ecosystem Himalayas producers consumers ecosystem tundra permafrost alpine arctic antarctic lichen circumpolar forest deciduous coniferous taiga temperate decomposer

Module Assignments:

Lesson #	Lesson Title	Page #	Assignment Title
3	Himalayan Ecosystems	5	Assignment
6	Tundra Ecosystems and Human Influence	5	Assignment
9	Temperate Coniferous Forest Ecosystem	5	Assignment

Learning Coach Notes:

None

Module Guiding Questions:

When a student starts a lesson ask them questions to check for prior knowledge and understanding and to review concepts being taught. At the end of the lesson ask the questions again to see if their answer changes.

Lesson Title	Question
Ethiopian Highlands	What is the Ethiopian Highlands Ecosystem like?
Andes and Rockies Ecosystems	How are the mountain ecosystems in the world similar?
Himalayan Ecosystems	What is unique about the Himalayan Mountains?
Tundra Plants	How do plants in the tundra adapt to such harsh conditions?
Tundra Animals	What animals can be found in the arctic tundra?
Tundra Ecosystems and Human Influence	What are the three tundra ecosystems, and where are they located?
Introduction to Forest Ecosystems	What are the three forest ecosystems?
Taiga Ecosystem	What is a taiga forest?
Temperate Coniferous Forest Ecosystem	What are temperate coniferous forests?

Module Video Questions:

When a student watches a video take time to ask them questions about what they watched. Suggested questions for the videos in this module are listed here. Suggestion: Have the student watch the entire video first all the way through. Then have them watch the video a second time, as they watch it pause the video and ask the questions.

Lesson Title	Video	Question
Ethiopian Highlands	Ethiopian Highlands	What are plateaus? How are mountains formed? How was the Ethiopian Highlands formed? What is the Ethiopian Highlands ecosystem like?
Andes and Rockies Ecosystems	Andes and Rockies Ecosystems	Where are the Andes Mountains located? How were the Andes mountains formed? What is the weather like in the Andes Mountains? Who are the primary consumers of the Andes ecosystem? What adaptations do the animals of the Andes have to help them survive? Where are the Rocky Mountains located? What is the ecosystem like in the Rockies?
Himalayan Ecosystems	Himalayas	Where are the Himalayan Mountains located? What is the climate like? Who are the primary consumers? How do animals adapt to this ecosystem?
Tundra Plants	Tundra Plants	What is a biome? Where is the tundra located? What does the word tundra mean? What is the soil like? What is the climate like? What is permafrost? How do plants adapt to the tundra?
Tundra Animals	Tundra Animals	What are some of the animals that have adapted to live in the tundra? What kinds of adaptations do these animals have?
Tundra Ecosystems and Human Influence	Tundra Ecosystems and Human Influence	What is the Antarctic Tundra ecosystem like? How is it different from the other tundra ecosystems? What is the greatest risk to the tundra ecosystems? What is causing global climate change? How are the tundra animals being affected by global climate change?
Introduction to Forest Ecosystems	Forest Ecosystems	What are the three types of forest ecosystems, and how do they differ?
Taiga Ecosystem	Taiga	Describe the Taiga Forest ecosystem and its characteristics.
Temperate Coniferous Forest Ecosystem	Temperate Coniferous Forests	What are temperate coniferous forests?

Module Suggested Read Aloud Books:

Take time to read to your student or have them read aloud to you. Read a different book each day. While reading the book point out concepts being taught. You may purchase these books or find them at your local library. Suggested things to discuss while reading the book:

What is the main idea?
What are three things new you learned?
How does this book relate to what you are learning about?

#	Book	Author	Lexile Level
1	Many Biomes, One Earth	Sneed B. Collard III
2	The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth: Understanding Our World and Its Ecosystems	Rachel Ignotofsky

Module Outing:

Take some time to apply what your student is learning to the real world. Suggested outings are below.

#	Outing