Lesson Plan: Exploring Life Processes and Environmental Factors in Ecosystems

Teacher's Guide

Year Group:

- Year 6 students

Subject:

- Science

Duration:

- 30 minutes

Class Size:

- 3 students

Curriculum Area:

- Science, Level 3 and 4, Living World Strand

Lesson Objectives:

Students will be able to:
1. Identify and explain the key structural features and functions of plants, animals, and micro-organisms.
2. Investigate how environmental factors affect the life processes of these organisms.
3. Understand and articulate the interdependence between organisms and their environment.

Links to New Zealand Curriculum:

- New Zealand Curriculum Online: Science

Resources Needed:

- Microscopes or magnifying glasses
- Slides of plant cells, animal cells, and micro-organisms
- Worksheets detailing the parts of cells and organisms
- Chart or flashcards depicting various environmental factors (e.g., temperature, water availability, sunlight)
- Interactive whiteboard or projector for presentations
- Access to an outdoor area or prepared samples from different environments

Lesson Plan:

Introduction (5 minutes)

- Engage students with a question: "What do you think will happen to a plant if it doesn't have enough sunlight?"
- Briefly outline the lesson objectives: Review the major structural components of plants, animals, and micro-organisms and explore how environmental factors influence their life processes.

Exploration (10 minutes)

- Activity 1: Microscopic Exploration
- Split students into pairs and provide each pair with a microscope or magnifying glass.
- Students examine slides of plant cells, animal cells, and micro-organisms, identifying and noting features such as cell walls, chloroplasts, and nuclei on their worksheets.
- Teacher circulates to guide observations and answer questions.

Discussion (5 minutes)

- Recap key findings:
- Discuss as a class what was observed in the microscopic exploration.
- Link observed structures to their functions (e.g., chloroplasts and photosynthesis in plants).

Investigation (10 minutes)

- Activity 2: Environmental Impact Role-play
- Use chart or flashcards to introduce different environmental factors.
- Students role-play various scenarios where they imagine how different factors like drought or excessive heat might affect an organism’s health and functioning.
- Encourage students to think about adaptive strategies or responses organisms might have to these stresses.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

- Recap the class learnings:
- Recap how environmental factors impact life processes.
- Discuss the importance of maintaining a balanced environment for the health of ecosystems.
- Assess understanding through targeted questions:
- "Can someone give an example of how a micro-organism might react to a sudden change in its environment?"

Follow-Up Activities:

- Encourage students to observe plants, animals, or any visible micro-organisms in their home environment and report back on any interesting behaviors or conditions they notice.

Additional Resources:

- Science Learning Hub: New Zealand Ecosystems

Assessment:

- Observation of student engagement and contributions during activities.
- Review worksheets for accuracy and completeness in identifying structural features and describing their functions.