MS-LS2.C-1

Changes in Ecosystems Over Time (Mid)

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Game Info for Teachers

COMBINED RATING

3.8 Stars

TEACHERS (13)

3.8

STUDENTS (9444)

3.7

LENGTH

15 Minutes

GRADES

CAPABILITIES

iPad Support

Spanish Language Support

Text-to-Speech Support

Saves Progress

Description

The Changes in Ecosystem is interactive gameplay in EcoSystems. The gameplay will walk through the scientific vocabulary associated with Ecosystem Changes. Educate on ecological succession, the carbon, nitrogen and global warming concepts through impressive visuals.

Vocabulary Words

ecosystem

marine ecosystem

artificial reefs

biodiversity

aquatic ecosystem

micro algae

producers

photosynthesis

primary ecological succession

secondary ecological succession

carbon cycle

combustion

nitrogen cycle

nitrogen fixation

biosphere

fossil fuels

climate change

deforestation

pioneer

intermediate stage

climax stage

Instructions

Play through this interactive game to learn about Changes in Ecosystems Over Time. Suitable for Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8.

Main Concepts

Some changes to abiotic factors in an ecosystem are caused by human activities, such as climate change, deforestation, and pollution.

Short- and long-term environmental changes to an ecosystem can affect the populations within the ecosystem.

Runoff can carry harmful chemicals from human activities into the oceans.

Overfishing in the last 100 years has caused a decline in many populations of fish in the ocean.

If weeds were left to grow in a garden, they would eventually become the dominant species in the microhabitat.

Ecological succession is the change in the composition of different species in an environment over time.

Artificial reefs are manmade structures that can provide new habitat for fish populations.

An increase or decrease in the population of a species in an ecosystem will likely affect all other organisms in the ecosystem.

Some changes to abiotic factors in an ecosystem are caused by natural forces, such as natural hazards.

Organisms in an ecosystem are dependent on their environmental interactions for survival.

Ecosystems are dynamic in nature and their characteristics can vary over time.

Air, water, and land pollution are examples of ways that human activities affect Earth systems.

A wide variety of human activities directly and indirectly affect Earth's ecosystems and the organisms within them.

An ecosystem consists of a group of living things and the environment in which they live.

Secondary succession occurs after an event that damages an established ecosystem.

Living things in an ecosystem require food, shelter, water, space, nutrient-rich soil, and other resources for survival.

Primary succession occurs in an environment that is lifeless but capable of supporting life.

Availability of resources in an ecosystem affects the growth and survival of organisms or populations.

Examples of biotic factors are: producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Discussion Questions

Before the Game

What is an ecosystem? What types of ecosystems can you name? What is primary succession?

After the Game

What are some ways you learned in the game that we use to protect our ecosystems? What are the stages of primary succession? What is the difference between primary and secondary succession? What are the steps of the carbon cycle? How have humans effected the changes that occur in many ecosystems?