FoodPrints Curriculum

The Garden Ecosystem

Theme:

Habitats & Life Cycles

Standards Alignment:

Next Generation Science Standards

Common Core ELA

Grade Level:

3rd Grade

Season:

Fall / September

Overview

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to ecosystems through an investigation of their school garden. Students will search for abiotic and biotic elements of the school garden ecosystem and discuss how these nonliving and living elements depend on each other. This lesson supports the DCPS 3rd grade ELA Unit The Living World and the Science Unit Environments and the Traits of Organisms.

Big Idea

Living and non-living things depend on each other in an ecosystem.

Guiding Questions

  • What is an ecosystem? How do they differ?
  • Why are both living and nonliving things important to ecosystems

Instructional Video to Support Teaching This Lesson