BUILD YOUR OWN ECOSYSTEM!

We have talked and read about the ecosystem.  Now it is time to build your own!

 

COLLECT THE FOLLOWING MATERIALS:

• Gravel or small rocks or use may use Honey smacks cereal, coca pebbles cereal, or Rice Krispies, cookie crisp cereal
• Soil/dirt or you may use crumble up chocolate cookie crumbles
• A jar or bottle (with a large enough top to put your hand into.  *A.C. Moore, Michael’s sells jars/bottles for $0.99 up to $2.00) * suggestion or clear plastic container from the Dollar Tree
• A lid for your jar or bottle to seal it (you can seal it with scotch tape if you think air can get into the jar/bottle
• A few plants from the school garden or a garden or use may use parsley, green jimmies(sprinkles) to represent grass, green sour punch straws to represent plants
• Small animals from the garden (worms, snails, slugs, etc.) or print out your creatures or gummy insects
• Wood, garden rocks, or branches to make it look like a real ecosystem.  You may also use pretzel sticks for wood or branches

 

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

1. Put a large handful of gravel or small rocks in the bottom of your jar.
2. Add a large handful of soil.
3. Plant the plants into the soil.  Try to choose plants that fit into your jar.  If it’s a small jar, only use small plants.  If you put too many plants in, they will not survive!
4. If you think your ecosystems needs water, add a bit of water.  Don’t over water your ecosystem though!  (you may use blue sour punch straws, blue jimmies/sprinkles to represent water)
5. This is the fun bit….. choose some small animals. You want these animals to survive. BE CREATIVE!!!!
6. Close your ecosystem.  Put the lid on or use tape to seal it.  Make sure you use an index card to put your full name, date, and homeroom, and name of ecosystem.  BE CREATIVE!!!!!

 

               ON A SHEET OF 8 x 11, record the following things:

 

• Size of your container (you may want to draw a picture of your ecosystem)
• Number and type of plants and animals you used
• Where did you get your soil from?
• What is happening in your system?  Record if your plants animals are growing.  Have all of your plants and animals survived?
• Write a story about ecosystem.  BE CREATIVE!!!!!

 

On Wednesday, May 16^th, 2018 you will PRESENT BUILD YOUR OWN ECOSYSTEM and TURN IT IN ON TIME.

 

A FEW PROJECT WILL BE SELECTED FOR RAPCS DISPLAY.  Have fun building your own ecosystem!

 

 

 

 

Build Your Own Ecosystem! Rubric

Requirements	Possible Points	Points Received
Examples of Abiotic Factors in your ecosystem*	20
Examples of Biotic Factors in your ecosystem*	20
Examples of a food chain in your ecosystem*	20
Informational piece of writing including at least 10 facts and the above requirements – Short story (*)	20
Labeling of the parts required above. You may use toothpicks with post-its to help you label the parts.	5
Presentation of your ecosystem	10
Turned in on time	5

 

Total Score: _________________

 

Comments: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________­­______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cell Project
Learning Target: Students will create a model of a cell, labeling each part, and designing a key with the definition/function of each part.

Your assignment is to create a fantastic, colorful, and accurate model of a cell. It may be a poster, 3D model, edible, or any creative way you want that exhibits knowledge of cytological anatomy (the parts of a cell and their jobs). The cell may be either a plant or an animal. If you decide to make an edible cell, it will not be shared at school. You may work with partners if you receive teacher permission.

This website gives you great ideas on how to create a cell model:
http://www.kathimitchell.com/cells.html

This powerpoint has images of fantastic projects:
https://compcolts.wikispaces.com/file/view/Incredible+Cell+Project+Ideas.pptx

Animal cells must have the following organelles:
1. cytoplasm
2. nucleus
3. vacuole
4. mitochondria
5. cell membrane

Plant cells must have the following organelles:

1. cytoplasm
2. nucleus
3. vacuole
4. mitochondria
5. cell membrane
6. chloroplast
7. cell wall

Don’t forget to include a key with your creation. Define or explain the function of each cell part on your key.  Your grade is based on cell accuracy, completeness, creativity, neatness, and effort.

 

Cells Vocabulary List & Definitions

cytoplasm	Jelly-like substance that makes up the matrix of the cell body.
mitochondrion	Shaped like a bean, this cell organelle helps take food and manufacture energy from it.
nucleolus	A structure inside the nucleus where RNA is transcribed.
nucleus	the main brain of the cell that contains most of the cell's DNA.
organ	a body structure that works to perform a specialized function. Examples include the lung or heart.
tissue	a large series of cells that work together to form a specific function.
vacuole	storage areas of the cell known for storing mostly water and/or food.
cell membrane	The enclosure of the cell that provides the body for all the organelles.
cell wall	Mostly made of cellulose, this is the tough and rigid outer layer of plant cells.
chlorophyll	the green (in color) pigment found in chloroplasts where photosynthesis takes place.
chloroplast	an egg shaped body that appears green from all the chlorophyll they contain. This organelle is where photosynthesis takes place.
chromosome	Thin, intertwined pieces of DNA found in the cell's nucleus.

 

 

Animal Cells Vocabulary List

cell membrane - the thin layer of protein and fat that surrounds the cell. 

cytoplasm - the jellylike material outside the cell nucleus in which the organelles are located.

cytoskeleton- a microscopic network of protein filaments and tubules in the cytoplasm.

Golgi body - (also called the Golgi apparatus or Golgi complex) a flattened, layered, sac-like organelle that looks like a stack of pancakes and is located near the nucleus. It is actually a stack of vesicles bound to the membrane.
lysosome - (also called cell vesicles) round organelles surrounded by a membrane and containing digestive enzymes. 
mitochondrion - spherical to rod-shaped organelles with a double membrane. The inner membrane is infolded many times, forming a series of projections (called cristae). They provide energy to the cells.
nucleolus - an organelle within the nucleus - it is where ribosomal RNA is produced. Some cells have more than one nucleolus.
nucleus - spherical body containing many organelles, including the nucleolus. It is enclosed in a double membrane and communicates with the surrounding cytosol.

ribosome - small organelles composed of RNA-rich cytoplasmic granules that are sites of protein synthesis. 

rough endoplasmic reticulum - (rough ER) a vast system of interconnected, membranous, infolded and convoluted sacks that are located in the cell's cytoplasm (the ER is continuous with the outer nuclear membrane). Rough ER is covered with ribosomes that give it a rough appearance. 

smooth endoplasmic reticulum - (smooth ER) a vast system of interconnected, membranous, infolded and convoluted tubes that are located in the cell's cytoplasm (the ER is continuous with the outer nuclear membrane). The space within the ER is called the ER lumen. It appears smooth by electron microscopy.

vacuole - fluid-filled, membrane-surrounded cavities inside the cell