FOREST ECOSYSTEM

Taught by: Dakiri Burkhardt

Our Class Journey through a Forest Ecosystem

Day 1: See the overall structure of a forest ecosystem for background information. Focus on Soil notes and a soil experiment Day 2: Check on our soil experiment, review Soil Focus on the understory of a forest and the wildlife that lives there notes and activity on reading carpet Day 3: Check on our soil experiment, review soil and the understory Focus on the lower-canopy of a forest and the wildlife that lives there notes and exploration activity outside

Our Class Journey through a Forest Ecosystem

Day 4:
Check on soil experiment, review parts of forest ecosystem in science groups

Focus on the mid-canopy and the wildlife that lives there notes and
Check on soil experiment, review parts of an ecosystem with a worksheet Focus on upper-canopy and all the wildlife that lives there notes and Check on soil experiment, review parts of a forest ecosystem with a jeopardy game, teams are science groups Complete a fill in the blank diagram of a forest ecosystem 10 minute study session independently or quietly with a partner Forest Ecosystem Quiz Check on Soil Experiment

Day 5:

Day 6:

Day 7:

First, What is an Ecosystem?

It is a community of living and non-living things that function together. Inside of an ecosystem, organisms (living things) are interdependent adapted to the environment. Ecosystems can be as large as a desert or as small as a tree. Examples of Ecosystems:
Rainforests The Ocean Desert

Overall Structure of a Forest Ecosystem

What we will be studying: Soil:
Topsoil, sub-soil, deep-soil

Understory
Plant and animals their relationship

Lower-canopy
Plants and animals their relationship

Mid-canopy
Plants and animals their relationship

Upper-canopy
Plants and animals their relationship

Today, we will be learning about soil!

What is soil? What is soil made of? Why is soil used for? Why is soil important?

Are there different types of soil?

SOIL EXPERIMENT!

Its time for our Soil Experiment!

Get into groups (count off to 4) Examine and study your soil samples with a magnifying glass Write your observations of the soil samples
Color, texture, loose/thick, dampness, etc.

Class discussion lets talk about each soil sample together! Write a hypothesis about which soil type will grow the best plant. Remember, a plant needs nutrients from the soil, sunlight, and water to grow successfully. In this experiment, we are solely testing which soil will grow the best plant, all other necessities will be the same. After you form your hypothesis, plant your seed, water it, and place it outside. Share your hypotheses with each other! What do we think will happen?