1. T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net/
Ecology Basics
Challenge #1 Habitats
T. Trimpe

2. What do we call the place where an organism lives?
Answer each question.
What do we call the place where an organism lives?
2. What four things does a good habitat provide?
3. What are two biotic factors in the habitat of a field mouse?
4. Why do you find different kinds of organisms in different habitats?

3. The answers are …
1. What do we call the place where an organism lives?
2. What four things does a good habitat provide?
3. What are two biotic factors in the habitat of a field mouse?
4. Why do you find different kinds of organisms in different habitats?
Habitat
Food, water, shelter, and space
Grass or other plants, insects, snakes, gophers, hawks, owls
Different organisms need different things to survive. Some organisms can survive in a desert, but others cannot.

4. Can you unscramble the letters to figure out the ecology terms?
Eco Scramble
Challenge #1
Can you unscramble the letters to figure out the ecology terms?
T. Trimpe

5. Unscramble the letters to figure out each ecology term.
I C H E N
T B A T I H A
P C E S E S I
O T B I C A I
M O T N U I M C Y

6. NICHE HABITAT SPECIES ABIOTIC COMMUNITY
The answers are …
I C H E N
NICHE
T B A T I H A
HABITAT
P C E S E S I
SPECIES
O T B I C A I
ABIOTIC
M O T N U I M C Y
COMMUNITY

7. T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net/#1
Food Web Challenge
T. Trimpe

8. Use the food web to answer these questions.
Image:
1. What are the producers?
2. Name two organisms that are herbivores.
3. Name one organism that is a carnivore.
4. What would happen to the snake population if the hawk were removed?

9. Salamander, Kinglet, Snake, or Hawk
The answers are …
Image:
1. What are the producers?
2. Name two organisms that are herbivores.
3. Name one organism that is a carnivore.
4. What would happen to the snake population if the hawk were removed?
Oak Tree & Pine Tree
Pine Borer & Mouse
Salamander, Kinglet, Snake, or Hawk
Since there would be more mice and birds, we would expect the snake population to increase.

10. Can you identify these invasive species? Challenge #1
Alien Invaders
Can you identify these invasive species?
Challenge #1
T. Trimpe

11. 5 1 3 2 6 4 How many of these invaders can you identify? Cane Toad
Emerald Ash Borer
I am found in Florida and Hawaii. I was introduced to deal with sugar cane pests.
I am a borer that infests and kills ash trees in the central US. I am known for my emerald green color.
Gypsy Moth
I was imported for silk production, but damage trees through the eastern US. I like to “hitchhike” on vehicles. 2 6 4
Bighead Carp
Giant African Snail
I am a “bigheaded” fish that eats a lot of plankton and competes with native species.
I am found in Hawaii, but am also imported for pets. I am native to Africa.
Starling
I am not a “darling” as I compete with native birds and destroy crops.

12. Trash Tales PBS Wired Science Podcast Flotsam Found
T. Trimpe

13. Watch the movie and then answer the questions. Video Link: http://www
1. How many pieces of plastic are floating in the ocean for every square mile of ocean? A. 36, B. 46, C. 54,000 D. 64,000
2. Which of these is not a cause of ocean currents? A. Wind B. Earth’s rotation C. Gravitation of the moon D. Boat traffic
3. What did the oceanographer first use to study ocean currents? A. Buoys B. Ocean Carriers C. Plastic Toys D. Sea Turtles
4. Where is the giant garbage patch? A. Gulf of Mexico B. Atlantic Ocean C. Pacific Ocean D. Artic Ocean

14. The answers are …
1. How many pieces of plastic are floating in the ocean for every square mile of ocean? A. 36, B. 46, C. 54,000 D. 64,000
2. Which of these is not a cause of ocean currents? A. Wind B. Earth’s rotation C. Gravitation of the moon D. Boat traffic
3. What did the oceanographer first use to study ocean currents? A. Buoys B. Ocean Carriers C. Plastic Toys D. Sea Turtles
4. Where is the giant garbage patch? A. Gulf of Mexico B. Atlantic Ocean C. Pacific Ocean D. Artic Ocean

15. 3/21/11
Word Bank:
Convection
Heat
Endothermic
Catalyst
Energy
Conductor
Cooking food is usually an ________ reaction. The food absorbs ____ energy from the stove. This ______ acts as a ________, speeding up the chemical reactions that cook our food. The wire from the wall to the stove is a _____ of electricity. As the heat passes from the pot to the food, ______ helps the food cook evenly all the way through.

16. T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net/
Lab Time
Science Experiments #2
T. Trimpe

17. Read the information below and then answer the questions.
SpongeBob loves to grow flowers for his pal Sandy, who loves big, colorful flowers. He found a new brand of seeds coated with a special “booster” fertilizer that said it would produce huge flowers. He planted 5 of the new seeds in one container and 5 of the old brand of seeds in another container. He placed both containers on a sunny windowsill and watered them every day. He measured the diameter of each flower, which is shown in the chart.
Old Seeds
10 cm
12 cm
14 cm
6 cm
8 cm
New Seeds
16 cm
Which group was the control?
2. What is the independent variable?
3. What is the dependent variable?
4. What is the average diameter for each group?
5. Which seeds are the best for big flowers?

18. Read the information below and then answer the questions.
SpongeBob loves to grow flowers for his pal Sandy, who loves big, colorful flowers. He found a new brand of seeds coated with a special “booster” fertilizer that said it would produce huge flowers. He planted 5 of the new seeds in one container and 5 of the old brand of seeds in another container. He placed both containers on a sunny windowsill and watered them every day. He measured the diameter of each flower, which is shown in the chart.
Old Seeds
10 cm
12 cm
14 cm
6 cm
8 cm
New Seeds
16 cm
Which group was the control?
The seeds without the booster fertilizer
2. What is the independent variable?
Booster fertilizer on the new seeds
3. What is the dependent variable?
Size or diameter of the flower
4. What is the average diameter for each group?
Old = 10 cm, New = 12 cm
5. Which seeds are the best for big flowers?
New seeds w/ the booster

19. 3/23/11
Which of the following would be affected first if the solar radiation were stopped?
The flight of the birds
The ability of the wood to burn
The chemical reaction that makes ash
The growth of trees

20. 3/24/11 What have you heard about energy in the media lately?
How do you think our use of energy affects the world?

21. 3/25/11
Amelia designed a special cup to keep drinks cold even on hot days. The cup has a layer of gel between layers of plastic. Why is Amelia’s cup better able to keep drinks colder than a regular glass cup?
When does the ball have the most potential energy?