Reviving the Habitat

Objective

Students will understand how the phases of matter (solid, liquid, gas), temperature, and pressure influence natural processes critical for habitat restoration, such as water cycles, oxygenation, and the role of temperature in ecosystem health.

Grade Level: 6th Grade

Duration: 60 minutes

Standards Alignment

Physical Science (PS): Matter and Motion

6.PS.1:
- Alignment: The lesson introduces the particulate nature of matter by observing gas bubbles (CO2) in the simulation.
- Activity Connection: Students see how particles in different states interact, particularly how gas exchange (bubbles rising through water) affects aquatic habitats.
6.PS.2:
- Alignment: Changes in state (solid, liquid, gas) are demonstrated through the effervescent reaction, temperature variations, and pressure effects.
- Activity Connection: The lesson models how changes in temperature and pressure influence states of matter, impacting gas solubility in aquatic habitats.

Life Science (LS): Cellular to Multicellular

6.LS.4:
- Alignment: Students observe how aquatic plants (living systems) depend on environmental conditions for gas exchange, supporting the complementary nature of structure and function in ecosystems.
- Activity Connection: The role of gas exchange in supporting plant and animal life links directly to cellular processes and ecosystem balance.

Materials

Clear plastic bottles (one per group)
Water and effervescent tablets (e.g., Alka-Seltzer)
Small aquatic plants (e.g., Elodea or similar, available at pet stores or garden centers)
Gravel or sand
Ice cubes
Food coloring (optional)
Measuring cups
Balloons (one per group)
Worksheets with questions and prompts

Hook (5 min)

"Picture this: You're standing beside a sparkling wetland, surrounded by tall grasses gently swaying in the breeze. Frogs hop from lily pad to lily pad, dragonflies dart in the sunlight, and fish swim in clear water below. But it wasn’t always like this. Not too long ago, this wetland was in trouble. The water was polluted, plants were dying, and the animals had vanished. What changed? A group of scientists and environmentalists worked together to restore it. They didn’t just add plants or clean the water—they looked at everything, even the tiny particles in the air and water. They studied how gases, temperature, and pressure affected this environment, and they used that knowledge to bring it back to life."

"Now think about this: What if the very air we breathe or the water in our local streams was out of balance? How would that impact the animals, plants, and even us? Today, we’re going to step into the role of scientists and engineers. We’ll explore how tiny particles—like gases in the air or bubbles in water—affect entire ecosystems. Just like the team that saved the wetland, you’re going to learn how something as small as a bubble can make a big difference in restoring habitats."

The "Why"

(3 minutes)

"So, why should we care about gases, temperature, and pressure? Because these tiny, invisible forces shape the world around us. They impact how plants grow, how fish breathe in a pond, and even how soil supports life. In healthy habitats, these forces work together like a perfect puzzle. But when something gets out of balance—like warming water or low oxygen levels—it can disrupt the whole system, making it harder for life to thrive."

"But here’s the good news: we can help restore balance. Understanding how temperature and pressure affect particles in water and air is key to restoring habitats, whether it’s a wetland, a forest, or even our own schoolyard. Today, you’ll get to see how changes in matter can impact habitats and discover ways we can help make them healthier. The same principles you’ll explore today are used by scientists around the world to clean up rivers, rebuild wetlands, and protect endangered species."

Call to Action:

"By the end of today, you’ll know how changes in matter—like gases and temperature—can help or hurt a habitat. You’ll create and test a simulation that shows the journey of particles in a habitat restoration process, and you’ll use what you learn to brainstorm ideas for restoring habitats, starting right here in our community. Today, you’re not just students—you’re environmental scientists on a mission to make a difference. Are you ready to dive in and see how tiny particles can help save an entire ecosystem?"

Activity Overview/Instructions

Part 1: Build a Habitat Simulation (30-40 minutes)

"The Role of Particles in Habitat Restoration"

Step 1: Create a Mini Aquatic Habitat
- Fill a plastic bottle halfway with water and add gravel or sand to the bottom.
- Add a small aquatic plant to simulate habitat restoration efforts.
- Optionally, add food coloring to represent pollutants in the water (e.g., blue or green for algae overgrowth).
Step 2: Simulate Oxygenation
- Drop an effervescent tablet into the bottle to represent gas exchange (oxygen being introduced into water).
- Observe how gas bubbles rise and spread through the water, "oxygenating" the habitat.
Step 3: Experiment with Temperature and Gas Exchange
- Place the bottle in a container of ice water and observe what happens to the gas bubbles and plant movement.
- Then, place the bottle in warm water and observe changes.
Step 4: Pressure Experiment
- Stretch a balloon over the neck of the bottle before adding the effervescent tablet to capture the gas.
- Discuss how temperature affects the gas pressure and its potential impacts on aquatic ecosystems (e.g., dissolved oxygen levels).

Part 2: Creative Writing Challenge (20-30 minutes)

"The Particle's Journey: Healing a Habitat"

Students craft a story about a water molecule that plays a key role in habitat restoration:

Story Prompts:
- The particle begins in polluted water, travels through a filtration/restoration process, and becomes part of a healthy ecosystem.
- How does it transform between solid (frozen in ice), liquid (in water), and gas (as it evaporates and returns via precipitation)?
- How does temperature or pressure influence its journey and the health of its habitat?
Key Questions to Address:
- How does the particle contribute to the restoration of habitats?
- What challenges does it face in its journey (pollution, temperature changes)?
- How do humans influence the restoration process?
Illustrate the Journey:
- Draw a diagram or comic strip showing the particle's path through the restoration process and its phases of matter.

Explain: Connecting to Habitat Restoration (10 minutes)

Discuss how gas exchange and temperature affect aquatic ecosystems (e.g., low oxygen levels in warmer waters harm fish populations).

Highlight how habitat restoration efforts—such as planting aquatic plants or aerating water—mimic natural processes to improve ecosystem health.

Handouts & Assessments

Reviving the Habitat: A Particle's Role in Restoration_handouts

Reviving the Habitat: A Particle's Role in Restoration_Assessments

Extension ideas

Data Analysis:
- Measure how long the bubbles (representing oxygen) last in cold vs. warm water and graph the results.
Local Ecosystems:
- Research a local habitat restoration project and create a presentation on how temperature and gas exchange are managed in that context.

Developed by: Matthew Broda, Associate Professor and Department Chair of Education, The College of Wooster & Paul Kinney, Co-Director Outdoor Education, The Nuhop Center for Experiential Learning

Related Activities (coming soon)

Google doc version

Reviving the Habitat: A Particle's Role in Restoration

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