LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Goal 7

The learner will conduct investigations and use technologies and information systems to build an understanding of population dynamics.

Objective 7.01

Describe ways in which organisms interact with each other and with non-living parts of the environment:

  • Coexistence/Cooperation/Competition.
  • Symbiosis.
  • Mutual dependence.

Resources aligned to this objective

Classroom food web
This lesson is to demonstrate which organisms feed on one another and how food webs are created.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)
By Kurt Oswald.
Eco-tourism in the Outer Banks
In this lesson for grade 6, students will learn about the effects of tourists on the delicate ecosystems of North Carolina's Outer Banks. Students will explore careers related to tourism and will attempt to solve tourism/erosion problems in the Outer Banks from a career-based perspective.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)
By April Galloway and Christine Scott.
A population and a biome
This activity will introduce students to the use of laptop computers. Students will participate in a unit on ecosystems using the Microsoft programs Excel and PowerPoint.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts, Computer Technology Skills, Mathematics, and Science)
By Ronald Cross.
Web of life
Students will apply their knowledge of the different categories of species that live on Earth. Students will then use a variety of thinking maps to display their information.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)
By Danielle Pickard.

Lesson plans on the web

The Antarctic ecosystem: Where would it be without krill?
This Xpeditions lesson asks students to investigate the importance of krill, a thumb-sized, shrimplike animal, to the Antarctic ecosystem by researching the animals that depend on it and drawing a food web. They will conclude by writing paragraphs explaining the potential consequences of a decline in krill populations. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 and 8 Science)
Provider: National Geographic
Aquatic invaders
Students explore the ways that native species interact in a healthy Chesapeake Bay. They will then learn about some of the ways that exotic or invasive species can threaten the balance of the ecosystem. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)
Provider: National Geographic
Are hammerheads a keystone species?
In this lesson, from Xpeditions, students learn what a keystone species is and then draw a simple food chain that helps illustrate why tiger sharks are considered a keystone species in Shark Bay. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 and 8 Science)
Provider: National Geographic
The Beagle Brigade
In this lesson from Science NetLinks, students develop their understanding of animal behaviors and the interaction of innate abilities and learned behaviors. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)
Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science
The Big, Bad Wolf . . . is this a fact?
This lesson combines the nonfiction works of Seymour Simon with teacher modeling, discussion groups, and student-created multimedia presentations to increase comprehension, vocabulary, and research skills, and boost students' willingness to read. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Computer Technology Skills, Science, and English Language Arts)
Provider: IRA/NCTE
Birds of prey
Student independently research several birds of prey and compare the predator/prey relationship. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)
Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Disappearing fish
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about why the world's biggest fish are in serious jeopardy. Commercial fishing has decimated the numbers and sizes of big fish like marlin, tuna, cod, and grouper, which in turn has changed the nature of ocean ecosystems. (Learn more)
Format: activity (grade 6 Science)
Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Fish and flowers
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about a study that compared the flora around ponds with fish to the flora around ponds without fish. (Learn more)
Format: activity (grade 6 Science)
Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Fuel-saving speed
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about the ideal vehicle speed for the best fuel efficiency. (Learn more)
Format: activity (grade 6 Science)
Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Introduction to coral reefs
The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to coral reefs by identifying their locations, both in the water and around the globe. Lesson four in a series of seven. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)
Provider: NOAA Coral Reef Watch
Invasive species
In this Xpeditions lesson, students investigate species relocation and the effect it has on the environment. They then outline arguments for and against human manipulation of other species. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)
Provider: National Geographic
Night lights
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear why bright nighttime lights could be bad for women's health. (Learn more)
Format: activity (grade 6–8 Science)
Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Passenger pigeons: Nomads lost
This Science NetLinks lesson is aimed at helping students understand the concept and implications of extinction using the example of the passenger pigeon, once an extremely abundant species that was completely eliminated by humans. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)
Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Periodical cicada survival
In this lesson, from Science NetLinks, students explore defense mechanisms involved in predatory/prey relationships. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)
Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Spaceship Earth
In this lesson, students will develop an understanding of our planet as a system by designing a very-long-duration space mission in which the life-support system is patterned after that of Earth. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 and 9–12 Science)
Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Symbiosis and coral anatomy
This lesson’s aim is to build students’ background knowledge before teaching coral bleaching in a later lesson. Students will learn the basic structure of corals and build upon the understanding that corals are animals and zooxanthellae are plants. They will be introduced to the concept of symbiosis through other examples in nature and learn the mutualistic symbiosis of corals and zooxanthellae. Lesson five in a series of seven. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)
Provider: NOAA Coral Reef Watch