📖

Build an Ecosystem Model

Living and Non-Living Parts of Ecosystems

Day 10of 180
Week 2of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Identify living and non-living components of an ecosystem

2

Create a simple ecosystem model demonstrating interaction between components

3

Recognize God's intricate design in nature's interconnectedness

📖 Scripture Connection

Genesis 1:31

“God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.”

— Genesis 1:31 (WEB)

Highlights God's intentional design in creating interconnected ecosystems

📦 Materials Needed

  • Clear glass jar or plastic container
  • Soil
  • Small rocks
  • Small plants (like moss or small succulents)
  • Small twigs
  • Magnifying glass
  • Water spray bottle
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

Recap yesterday's lesson about living and non-living ecosystem parts

💭 Review Question: What living things did we learn about yesterday?
2Teaching (10 min)

Explain how ecosystems have both living and non-living components that work together

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Non-living things: soil, rocks, water, sunlight
  • Living things: plants, tiny insects, microorganisms
  • How these parts depend on each other
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How do rocks help plants grow?
  • Why do plants need sunlight?
3Activity: BibleMouse Ecosystem in a Jar (12 min)
project

Create a miniature ecosystem model showing interaction between components

📝 Instructions:
  1. Layer small rocks at bottom of jar for drainage
  2. Add thin layer of soil
  3. Plant small moss or succulent
  4. Add a few tiny twigs
  5. Lightly spray with water
  6. Observe how components work together
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Parent helps with layering and planting

Challenge: Child researches and selects specific ecosystem components

4Closing (3 min)

Discuss how the jar represents God's complex and beautiful design

📝 Review Questions:
  • What living things did we put in our ecosystem?
  • What non-living things help our plants grow?

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn about how habitats meet basic needs of living things

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Ecosystems are complex systems where living and non-living components interact

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage careful observation
  • Let child lead exploration
  • Discuss how each component supports others
🤔 Common Struggles:

Understanding abstract concept of ecosystem interdependence

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Child's ability to identify and describe ecosystem components

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create ecosystem comparison chart
  • Outdoor ecosystem scavenger hunt
  • BibleMouse Printables Library ecosystem worksheet

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 11 →Back to Science