MS-LS-2.3: Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy…
Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
The Idaho Content Standards for Science (2022) outcome MS-LS-2.3 (Life Sciences) for Grades 6–8 says: “Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.” This Fieldbook unit teaches it hands-on, with everyday materials and a printable teacher guide and student sheet for every lesson. Official wording: Idaho Content Standards for Science (2022).
How Plants Make Food: Photosynthesis and Respiration Grades 6–8
Where does a tree's mass come from, what happens to the sugar a plant makes, and how does the Sun's energy run a whole ecosystem? Three no-materials lessons with a 400-year-old willow experiment, printed atom cards and a carbon-atom role-play.
- How does energy from the Sun move through a whole ecosystem? 50–60 min
Every student becomes a carbon atom and travels between four stations, air, plants, animals and decomposers, drawing printed cards that say what happens next. The class tallies the journeys, then follows energy through a food chain, and explains why carbon goes round and round while energy passes through once.
Printable practice for MS-LS-2.3
- How Plants Make Food: Photosynthesis and Respiration workbook included with the unit
1 word wall, 1 English-support page, 1 practice page, 1 reading, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.
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Compared with NGSS: MS-LS2-3.
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