Matter and Energy in an Ecosystem

5th Grade - Life Science - NGSS

Students explore how plants and animals get their food for survival. Using models, students can describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment. They determine that the energy in an animal’s food was once energy from the sun.

Anchor Phenomenon: Oxpecker and Hippo Video

Driving Question: What is the relationship between the oxpecker and the hippo? or What is the relationship between different living and nonliving things in the African lakes and river ecosystem?

Engineering Design Challenge: Develop a plan to reduce the impact of humans on the energy flow in an ecosystem.