Welcome - all of my 2025/2026 curriculum and resources for 7th grade science will be posted here! (Work in Progress)
Essential Questions:
How does the sun's energy support the transfer of matter and energy in an ecosystem and what happens to matter as it is transferred?
This essential question is important to the lives of 7th grade students because it helps them understand the fundamental processes that support life on Earth, including the role of the sun's energy in sustaining ecosystems. By exploring this question, students can develop a deeper understanding of how organisms obtain the energy they need to survive, and how this energy is transferred from one organism to another through the food chain.
Furthermore, understanding the conservation of matter in ecosystems helps students appreciate the importance of sustainability and the impact of human activities on the environment. This knowledge can help students make informed decisions in their daily lives, such as adopting sustainable practices and reducing their ecological footprint. Additionally, developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills through the exploration of this question can help students better understand and address environmental challenges that our world faces today.
Unit Summary: Sun's Energy - From Chat GPT
In an ecosystem, matter and energy are transferred among living and nonliving things. One important source of energy for life on Earth is the sun. The sun's energy is captured by plants through a process called photosynthesis, which allows them to produce food. This food is then consumed by other organisms in the ecosystem, such as herbivores and carnivores.
As energy is passed from one organism to another, some energy is lost as heat. This means that there is a limit to how much energy can be transferred from one level of the food chain to another.
However, the matter in the ecosystem is conserved, meaning that it is neither created nor destroyed. The same atoms and molecules that make up living things are constantly recycled through processes like decomposition and nutrient cycling.
Overall, the sun's energy plays a crucial role in the transfer of matter and energy in an ecosystem, allowing life to thrive on Earth.
7.MS-LS2-3. Develop a model to describe that matter and energy are transferred among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem and that both matter and energy are conserved through these processes
UNLOCK THE BIG QUESTIONS! (SWBAT answer)
How are matter and energy transferred among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem
How are both matter and energy are conserved through these processes. How does energy from the the sun drive the water cycle?