What Makes up the Farm Ecosystem?
Time Duration
30 - 60 minutes
Purpose
Students will learn the different parts of the farm ecosystem and discuss what happens when one or more parts are missing.
Kentucky Academic Standards
NGSS
Connections for 3-LS3-3 and 3-LS3-4.
5-PS3-1 Use models to describe that energy in animals’ food (used for body repair, growth, motion, and to maintain body warmth) was once energy from the sun.
5-LS2-1 Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
MS-LS2-2 Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
Materials
“Parts of a Farm Ecosystem” digital presentation (Google Slides)
Procedures
Icebreaker:
Have students, individually or in groups, quickly sketch out a farm scene.
Have them share what they included in their drawings.
Begin making a chart that categorizes the different “organisms” and “objects” they may find in a farm food system.
See how many plants, animals, decomposers, and abiotic factors (soil, sunlight, air, water) they include and can name on their own.
Read through the “Parts of a Farm Ecosystem” with students using the digital presentation, or have students review the information using the information sheets provided. This information could be used for a gallery walk; divide the topics among nine groups to allow students to create an informative poster about their given topic and teach the class why it is a necessary part of the farm ecosystem.
sunlight
air
water
soil
plants
livestock
insects
decomposers
farmers
Once students understand what makes up the farm ecosystem, discuss how removing one part will affect food production success. Could the farm survive without any of these parts? Students should already understand that plants cannot survive without sunlight and water. Livestock and insects will also not survive without water, and all three are dependent upon elements in the air.
