Ecosystems

Tips from Teachers	The following Tips from Teachers were generated by Toledo Public and Springfield Local teachers during the TAPESTRIES Summer Institutes. If you have any of your own Tips, please send them to us and we will post them on the TAPESTRIES Bulletin Board.

Kit Needs and Concerns

Order live specimens so they arrive on time and in healthy condition Provide an extra set of 'hands' during the set up of terrariums and aquariums, such as a parent volunteer Build a light source for the plants if the money is not there to purchase one Find some more precise pH paper

Kit Modifications

Lessons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Lessons 1-3: Setup of Terrarium and Aquarium Before this lesson, have students share prior knowledge of/experience with aquariums and terrariums Streamline material pass out by having materials ready together in a tub Find a sturdier base for the terrariums, they are top heavy Hole punch sides of the lids and tape the top shut--prevents spills and still gives you access to water the terrarium as needed

Lesson 4: Adding Animals to the Aquarium Lesson 5: Observing the Aquarium Use the games of Kerplunk or Jenga as an analogy to ecosystems

Lesson 6: Adding Animals to the Terrarium Use crickets as a thermometer (manual pg 88)

Lesson 7: Joining the Terrarium and Aquarium

Lesson 8: Upsetting the Stability Add more pollutant(s) to the terrarium to have a more dramatic effect in a shorter period of time

Lesson 9: Reporting on Pollutants Remind students to avoid using their fingers when handling the pH paper

Lesson 10: Planning Pollution Experiments Lesson 11: Setting up Pollution Experiments

Lesson 12: Observing Early Effects of Pollution Lesson 13: Where do the Pollutants Go? Lesson 14: Drawing Conclusions about Our Experiment

Lesson 15: Examining a Real Environmental Problem Lesson 16: Holding the Mini-Conference: A Look at Trade-offs

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