ED 312 Bothwell Lesson Plan

Teachers: Whitney Pascoe

Primary Subject Area: Science
Grade Level: 7th
Time: 60-70 min
Main Concept:
Interspecific interactions. How plants and animals use other species to aid in their
survival and reproduction.
Learning Objectives:
Working in small research groups, students will classify the relationship between two
organisms into symbiotic relationship groups (i.e., commensalistic, mutualistic, or
parasitic.)
Given a specific symbiotic relationship, students will be able to defend their reasoning
as to if the organisms benefit or suffer from the relationship

Next Generation Science Standards:

MS-LS1-4. Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to
support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant
structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and
plants respectively.
CCSS ELA Standards:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.7 Conduct short research projects to answer a

question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused

questions for further research and investigation.

Materials:
Worksheet to fill out for research
Paper
Pencils
Relationship slips
Chromebooks
Blank Slip of paper (approx. 1inx1in)

Vocabulary:
Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism
Symbiosis
Anticipatory set:
Give students three minutes to write down relationships that they are a part of in their
lives. Give an example so they understand what you mean, for example, I have a
relationship with my mom. My mom helps me understand and I learn new things. Be
sure to mention that all relationships may not include humans and may not all be
positive.
Students should put a [+] sign next to the individuals that are benefiting from the
relationship, a [-] sign for an individual that is being harmed by the relationship, and a [0]
next to the individuals that are unaffected by the relationship.
Explain to the class that we will be looking at the relationships between species within
ecosystems. Those relationships are called symbiotic relationships. They include:
Mutualism - a mutually beneficial relationship in which both organisms benefit. Each
individual provides an advantage to the other, enabling them to exploit each other and
thereby enhance their chances of survival. An example is flowers and butterflies.
Commensalism - a relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is
unaffected. Commensalistic relationships occur very often on the coral reef, many times
for camouflage and for protection against predators. This relationship is important for
the organism that is being camouflaged, but does not aid in the life of the organism
providing the camouflage and does not harm it either. An example is barnacles on a
whale.
Parasitism - a relationship that is beneficial for one organism and harmful for the other.
Parasitic relationships are also common on the coral reef. The parasite will use the
hosts nutrients or energy in order to aid its own life, and slowly kill the host, or allow the
host to maintain its life in order to maintain the parasites life. An example is a human
and a tick.
Formative Assessment: Now that students have been given the definitions of the 3
symbiotic relationships, they should return to their list of real life relationships and
determine which relationships are represented by physically placing them into the three
categories on the desk in front of them.

Procedure:
VISUAL ANALYSIS: Show students an image of a whale that has barnacles on it.
Ask them what is going on in the image. Give them time to look and then have them
discuss with their classmates and come to one or more conclusion about the image.

http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/media/124539/calf%20head[1]_498x330.jpg
Break students into pairs and pass out Lean on Me sheet
Tell students that they will research the relationship they choose on their Chromebooks
(using www.kiddle.co) and answer the questions on the sheet:
Which organism(s) benefit from the relationship? How?
Is either organism harmed by the relationship? How?
Could both organisms survive without this relationship? Explain.
Assign students an animal/plant or plant/plant or animal/animal relationship
Have relationships on a slip of paper and students can pick out of a hat
Relationships:
Shrimp and sea anemone
Green alga and fungus (lichen)
Rhizobium bacteria and soybean plant
Hermit crab and sea anemone
Oxpecker bird and hippopotamus
Tapeworm and dog
Crocodile and Egyptian plover
Ant and acacia tree
Cleaner fish and shark
Tick and cow
Have students come back together as a group and share their relationships with the
class
On the board, list mutualism, parasitism and commensalism and write each relationship
into the category they decided on

 Review each type of symbiotic relationship

Summative assessment:
Exit ticket:
Why would an organism want to be in a mutualistic relationship?
A mutualistic relationship makes life easier for both participants. By cooperating, two
organisms get something out of their relationship. For example, a flower gets its pollen
dispersed by a bee and the bee gets nectar to make honey from the flower. Everyone
benefits.
How does it benefit an organism to be parasitic?
The parasite gets a free ride from another organism with minimal work from itself. Sort
of like getting your older brother or sister to do your homework!

Organisms _____________________

&

_______________________

Group Members _____________________

_____________________

_____________________

_____________________

_____________________

_____________________

1. Which organism(s) benefits from the relationship? How?

2. Is either organism harmed by the relationship? How?

3. Could both organisms survive without this relationship? Explain.

4. What type of relationship is this?

Hermit crab and sea anemone

Crocodile and Egyptian plover
Ant and acacia tree
Remora and shark
Epiphytic orchids and trees
Cattle Tick and cow
Flea and dog

Name: _______________________________
Answer questions 1-3 in complete sentences.
1. Why would an organism want to be in a mutualistic relationship?

2. How does it benefit an organism to be parasitic?

3. Why is the relationship between a barnacle and a whale classified as

commensalism?

Use the following key to fill in the blanks describing symbiotic relationships.
+
0

Positive Impact
Negative Impact
No Impact
4. Commensalism

_____ , _____

5. Mutualism

_____ , _____

6. Parasitism

_____ , _____