5th Grade Science Unit 10

Big Idea:

Organisms live, thrive, survive, or perish depending on the interactions with non-living components, other living things, humans, and natural events in their ecosystems. Fossils are interpretable evidence of the environments of the distant past.

Student Expectations:

Priority TEKS

5.9A observe the way organisms live and survive in their ecosystem by interacting with the living and nonliving components

5.9B describe the flow of energy within a food web, including the roles of the Sun, producers, consumers, and decomposers

Focus TEKS

5.9C predict the effects of changes in ecosystems caused by living organisms, including humans, such as the overpopulation of grazers or the building of highways

Ongoing TEKS

(Review) 3.9B ….describe...how changes in a food chain and predict how changes in a food chain affect the ecosystem such as the removal of frogs from a pond or bees from a field...

5.4A collect, record, and analyze information using tools, including calculators, microscopes, cameras, computers, hand lenses, metric rulers, Celsius thermometers, prisms, mirrors, balances, spring scales, graduated cylinders, beakers, hot plates, meter sticks, magnets, collecting nets, and notebooks; timing devices; and materials to support observations of habitats or organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.

5.3B draw or develop a model that represents how something that cannot be seen such as the Sun, Earth, and Moon system and formation of sedimentary rock works or looks

5.3C connect grade-level appropriate science concepts with the history of science, science careers, and contributions of scientists

Student Learning Targets:

• I will describe how organisms interact with the living and non-living things in their environments.
• I will describe the flow of energy through a food web.
• I will predict changes in an ecosystem caused by nature and man.
• I will analyze and describe the characteristics of an ancient creature and its environment based on its fossil form.

Essential Questions:

• How do living organisms interact with other things in their environment, both living and nonliving?
• How does the Sun’s energy flow throughout a food web?
• In what ways could changes caused by humans or nature impact and ecosystem?

Extra Information:

Adopted Textbook: Science Fusion, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

District Grading Policy

Texas Gateway Online Resource Center