MS-LS2-3 lessons
Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
The Next Generation Science Standards code MS-LS2-3 asks students to: “Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.” These Fieldbook lesson teaches it hands-on, with everyday materials, a printable teacher guide and a student sheet.
How Plants Make Food: Photosynthesis and Respiration Grades 6–8
- 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.
NGSS is used as written in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming, so the code MS-LS2-3 matches there. Other states word and number their own versions: see curriculum alignment for your state's codes.
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