Jars Full of Life

This article provides a lesson plan in which students create a mini ecosystem in a jar and observe it inside the classroom. I think this is such a cool idea and something that I could defini... See More

This article provides a lesson plan in which students create a mini ecosystem in a jar and observe it inside the classroom. I think this is such a cool idea and something that I could definitely see myself using in a classroom. I think kids would be excited about an activity like this.

Miniature Ecosystems

This article opens with a sentiment that caught my heart and brain: “Science is a human endeavor to better understand the world in which we live.” The author goes on to give very detailed a... See More

This article opens with a sentiment that caught my heart and brain: “Science is a human endeavor to better understand the world in which we live.” The author goes on to give very detailed and structured instructions—in 5E steps—for creating various types of ecosystems in jars with students. He describes aquatic and terrestrial jars, complete with guiding questions and extensions. This is a very valuable resource for anybody in an interactive science classroom.

Great ideas! But I'm not so sure about the jar.

This article caught my eye because it offers students a chance to be hands-on in investigating what makes up an ecosystem and because I am a bit of a sucker for opportunities to have student... See More

This article caught my eye because it offers students a chance to be hands-on in investigating what makes up an ecosystem and because I am a bit of a sucker for opportunities to have students interact with animals. If there is an excuse to bring animals into the room, it is at the very least going to pique my interest. I really liked the information on how the first 3 steps of a 5E lesson plan can be integrated into this topic, and I think that this article offered me a lot of insight into how I can have students actively engage in learning about ecosystems and what they are made up of. Being from Texas, this activity goes great along with the 3rd-grade science TEK 3.9(A), and I can see how several process TEKS could be integrated as well. Particularly 3.3(B), as this activity allows for students to construct a model of an ecosystem and see how they work on a much smaller scale where it is far easier to identify it's parts. I also think this is a fantastic opportunity to introduce students to the concept of biotic vs abiotic components of an ecosystem. There are several great ideas in this article, and I believe it would be an excellent source to come back and reference when teaching students about ecosystems. My only real complaint is that the set up for this is, well, in a jar. I realize that guppies are known to be hardy fish and that this activity is only meant to last for two weeks, but to me, a one-gallon jar doesn't seem appropriate to keep fish in for more than a few days at most. Especially without any kind of filtration or establishment of a nitrogen cycle. Plants and snails can only do so much as far as clean up goes, and this set up allows for very little gas exchange. I personally would try to use a larger container or a small tank if possible, and make use of a testing kit to make sure water parameters aren't getting out of hand during this investigation. That being said, I still think the overall ideas in this article are fantastic, and I appreciate that teachers are encouraged to take responsibility for these animals.

Captivated by Living Model

I chose to add this article to my ‘Organisms and Environments’ collection because it proposes an idea that I perceive to be challenging, that is models. From my educational experience, model... See More

I chose to add this article to my ‘Organisms and Environments’ collection because it proposes an idea that I perceive to be challenging, that is models. From my educational experience, models, especially ones that involved living creatures captivated me. After reading this article, I am now equipped to present my students with an ‘ecosystem in a jar’ learning experience. This article relays the lesson plan in a 5E form, including materials. This observational opportunity would allow students to see an example of interdependence among organisms in an ecosystem; noting changes, and abiotic and biotic relationships. This 5E lesson model could be used to effectively implement 3rd-grade science standards. The process TEKS that are put in place are 3.2(A), 3.2(B), 3.2(F), 3.3(A) and 3.3(B). It is particularly beneficial that this lesson covers a wide range of process TEKS. Additionally, the content TEKS addressed in this topic are 3.9(A) and 3.9(B). I would use this information to put this lesson into effect in my future classroom. The article addresses the importance of teacher responsibility; taking care of cleaning and preparing all the materials, and coming up with a plan to deal with the snails and guppies afterward. I agree with that emphasis. I might be more inclined to give them a permanent residence in a small aquarium in my classroom. I wonder if adding more microorganisms would disrupt the effectiveness of the ecosystem…

Make Your Own Ecosystem

Students create their own ecosystems in a jar and observe and record changes in the system over two weeks. Through this activity student are then able to define what an ecosystem is and beg... See More

Students create their own ecosystems in a jar and observe and record changes in the system over two weeks. Through this activity student are then able to define what an ecosystem is and begin to understand that ecosystems are constantly changing. This article provides a hands-on activity that can be used to make observations. Most of the steps of a 5E model are present. The adaptation for lower as well as upper elementary grade learning is also provided.

Meaningful Ways to Teach Ecosystems

This lesson gives instructions on how to create an ecosystem in a jar and then gives tips on how to use them in a meaningful way in the classroom. The article suggests giving time for stude... See More

This lesson gives instructions on how to create an ecosystem in a jar and then gives tips on how to use them in a meaningful way in the classroom. The article suggests giving time for students to explore the ecosystem and let their own observations be the guide for further questions and investigations, which is supportive of doing inquiry in the classroom. I also like how there are instructions to compare and contrast the student's ecosystems to ecosystems outdoors. I think this will help teachers to identify misconceptions that develop from using this model.