HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS & ENERGY

WHAT IS AN ECOSYSTEM? An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with each other and their non-living environment. What makes up an ecosystem? All living things (plants, animals, and bacteria) Non living things (the sun, rocks, and soil)

DIFFERENT ECOSYSTEMS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQjbqgPxKc0

WHY ARE PLANTS IMPORTANT? Plants are important because they take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and make oxygen. Plants provide food for animals and people. Plants also provide humans with useful products such as cotton for clothing, and wood for building.

WHY IS THE SUN IMPORTANT? Delivers energy to the ecosystem through heat and light. The sun warms our oceans and air and creates the weather patterns. The sun impacts soils and water: Water- evaporation as part of the water cycle Soils- too much or too little sun is not good for the soil. Just enough sun and the soils is the right temperature for plants to grow.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE LOOSE PLANTS AND ANIMALS? When people take resources from ecosystems (e.g. trees for wood) it may cause some species to loose their habitats. If an animal’s habitat disappears, they might be in danger of extinction. Or if an animal’s food source is all gone, they cannot feed themselves.

WHAT RESOURCES DO YOU USE THAT IMPACT HABITATS? Paper- made form wood which would cause deforestation. Rare earths used in Apple products which would cause mining to happen. Rivers that could be dammed for manufacturing, etc.

WHAT CAN WE DO? Plant trees Plant gardens for other animals and ourselves Buy local food

WHAT CAN WE DO? Conserve our resources: Use water responsibly Reduce our paper use Recycle and upcycle our waste

THANK YOU!

CURRICULUM LINKS Grade 3 Science Grade 4 Science Grade 5 Science (102-12) describe ways in which plants are important to living things and the environment Grade 4 Science Food Chains: Predict how the removal of a plant or animal population affects the rest of the community and relate habitat loss to the endangerment of extinction of plants and animal (301-1, 301-2) Habitats and Populations: identify their own and their families’ impacts on habitats and describe how personal actions help conserve habitats (108-3, 108-6) Grade 5 Science Relate the transfer of energy from the sun to weather and discuss the sun’s impact on soils and water (206-5, 303-21)