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Organisms and Environments Subject Guide:
Within our ever-changing world that we live in, the area of organisms and the environment has become very important to every member of our global society. Both are dependent on each other in order to thrive. The following resources will develop and strengthen the knowledge our students have of biodiversity and ecosystems.
1. Earth Science Basics for Everyone!
This website teaches you the basics of Earth Sciences. Along with all the information you need to know about organisms and the environment, you will also learn the important vocabulary terms and extend your learning with fun games and quizzes. Click on the underlined words for more information or choose from one of the links on the right-hand side of the screen.
Link: http://www.geography4kids.com/files/land_foodchain.html
2. Why is Biodiversity so important? – Kim Preshoff
Our planet's diverse, thriving ecosystems may seem like permanent fixtures, but they’re actually vulnerable to collapse. Jungles can become deserts, and reefs can become lifeless rocks. What makes one ecosystem strong and another week in the face of change? Kim Peshoff details why the answer, to a large extent, is biodiversity in this video presented by TedEd.
3. Environmental Health - Student Portal
Environmental Health is the interrelationship between human health and the environment, either natural or manmade.
Link: https://kidsenvirohealth.nlm.nih.gov/
4. Organism Needs – An interactive Exploration
What do animals need to live? The same things as we do – food, water, and shelter! A habitat is an animal’s natural home. It provides them with everything they need to live. Let’s explore what would be a suitable habitat for some animals.
Link: https://www.dkfindout.com/us/animals-and-nature/habitats-and-ecosystems/
5. Ecology Infographic
This easy to use and visually appealing graphic is great for introducing the interactions between living and non-living things along with an introduction to the vocabulary for this unit of study.
6. Food Webs, the Circle of Life, and the Flow of Energy – FreeSchool
Food chains help us understand the connection between living things. What eats what? Where does the energy that life needs to survive come from? Learn about producers, primary consumers, secondary or tertiary consumers, apex predators, and decomposers and the roles they play in food chains!
7. Butterflies & Moths: What do they have in Common?
The life-cycle of these marvelous winged creatures will be revealed along with the vocabulary for each stage in the life-cycle.
Link: https://youtu.be/zlokUTdmWwc
8. Explore Biodiversity
Everything is connected and interdependent on each other and everything else! Explore the site and learn more from esteemed conservation biologist.
Link: https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/biodiversity
9. Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers - Free School
What is an ecosystem? An ecosystem is everything that interacts in a specific area. That includes plants, animals, sun, air, water, and even rocks! In a healthy ecosystem, every part gets what they need - food, water, shelter, light - and all of the parts work together. Unfortunately, an ecosystem can become unbalanced through natural or manmade disturbances. The good news? Ecosystems can recover if we just help them out a little!
10. Energy Kids
Presented by the U.S. Information Administration, this site gives all the information you need on the history and origin of each type of energy that is easy to follow and understand plus includes visuals. You will also find games and activities to extend and apply your learning.
Link: : https://www.eia.gov/kids/index.cfm