Food+Chain

=Food Chain Exploration: A Model Lesson=

Student Wiki

Outline of the Lesson Format
I. Introduction to the model lesson format II. Perform the model lesson A. Set objectives. B. Introduce students to the wiki, where they will find research links as well as the Google form where they will be putting their notes, and assign group roles. C. Working in small groups, give students time to explore the links and take notes in the Google form. D. Introduce reporting back options, allow groups time to create their own projects. E. Put all groups together for sharing projects. III. Questions, answers, discussions on the model lesson, possible modifications for different grade levels, ability levels, etc.

Background:
This is one lesson in an entire life science unit. Students already know how to maneuver the class wiki. The Google Form component is new to them. They have used Voicethread in reading groups as a form of book report.

PA Academic Standards:
4.1.5A Describe the role of producers, consumers, and decomposers within a local ecosystem. (Assessment Anchor BIO.B.4.2)

Essential question:
What role do producers, consumers, and decomposers play within an ecosystem?

Students will be able to describe the roles of produces, consumers, and decomposers, as well as give examples of each one. Students will describe how these players interact or work together to create a food chain. (transfer of energy) Students will identify a food chain.

Activating strategy: K-W-L chart (Using Inspiration)
K: What do you think you know about food chains? L: What would you like to learn? What questions do you have?

Teaching Strategies:
Each student will participate in 2 groups:
 * an expert group (to study one specific role)
 * a home group (to share about the roles and create the project)

1. Place students in expert groups. Have one group explore one role:
 * Group 1: explore "producers"
 * Group 2: explore "consumers"
 * Group 3: explore "decomposers"

Give the students 10 minutes individually to explore the sites on the wiki. Come back as a group and answer the questions:
 * What is the role of a _? (producer, consumer, decomposer - depending on the group)
 * What are some examples of ___?

2. Have students return to their home groups. Give each student about 2 minutes to explain what he/she learned and record the information into the Google Form.*

3. Have students work in home groups for this part. Having already learned about ecosystems, choose an ecosystem and identify a food chain. Locate a picture of each member of the food chain.

Reporting back requirements:

 * Each group must have an image of each member of the food chain.
 * Each image must be labeled.
 * The role of each must be included in the project.
 * The food chain must make sense. (keeping within the same ecosystem)
 * The work is to be evenly shared.

Reporting back options:
(This depends on the teacher's comfort level with technology as well as availability of technology as well as time constraints.)
 * traditional poster
 * Voicethread
 * Powerpoint or Keynote with 4 slides (intro, producer, consumer, decomposer)
 * Comic Life poster
 * wikipage

Wrapping it up:
Each group presents their food chain to the group. Go back to the K-W inspiration document and add the L - what they learned

Assessment:
Google form*, presentation, traditional test if desired

Purpose of the Google Form:
When students complete the form, the information populates a spreadsheet for the teacher. This can be printed out or added to the wiki for review or simply used for assessment.

Supplemental Resources:
Google Forms Keynote Comic Life Wikispaces

Sample Final Products:
Comic Life



Voicethread
media type="custom" key="8369138"

Student Wiki