MS.LS2.3: 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 South Dakota Science Standards (2024) outcome MS.LS2.3 (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: South Dakota Science Standards (2024).
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.LS2.3
- 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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