Students investigate how plants, animals, and nonliving parts of ecosystems work together so living things can survive, using observations from Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest and classroom research. They build understanding of habitats, inherited traits, animal group behaviors, and how environmental changes affect which organisms can survive well, survive less well, or not at all. Working with peers, students create and revise a model or presentation that teaches others about a specific ecosystem and prepares them to share evidence-based claims at a public showcase.

Students will investigate how living and nonliving parts of ecosystems work together and explain how plants and animals depend on habitats for food, water, shelter, and protection. They will use observations from Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, simple data, and research notes to construct arguments about animal groups, inherited traits and variations, and which organisms can or cannot survive in certain habitats. Students will design, revise, and present an ecosystem model or teaching product that shows ecosystem relationships and proposes a solution for environmental change. Throughout the project, they will practice collaboration, discussion, reflection, and clear communication with peers and authentic audiences.

Throughout the project, students will create habitat sorting charts, simple food chains, organism trait comparison pages, field journals from Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, and quick reflection responses that capture observations, questions, and changing ideas about survival. In teams, they will also make draft plans and labeled sketches for an ecosystem model, using weekly teacher and peer feedback to revise how they show living and nonliving parts, inherited traits, animal groups, and habitat survival. By the end, each student or team will produce a teaching product such as a shoebox diorama, poster, or digital slideshow that explains a specific ecosystem and shows how organisms depend on one another and their environment. These final products will be presented during the school library Ecosystem Showcase for families, staff, district leaders, and community guests.

Create a Bernheim Trail Preview where students rotate through stations with photos, maps, animal tracks, leaves, feathers, and short audio clips from forests, wetlands, and grasslands to predict what lives in each habitat. In teams, they sort organism and nonliving element cards into ecosystem groups, then defend their choices with evidence about food, shelter, protection, and survival. End with a mystery challenge: students compare three animals and decide which habitat each would survive in best, less well, or not at all, introducing the project question about how living things depend on one another and their environment. Capture their initial ideas on a class chart that they will revisit after the Bernheim field experience and during model revisions.

Host an Ecosystem Showcase in the school library where students present their shoebox habitats, posters, or digital slideshows to families, district leaders, teachers, and community members. Each student explains how living and nonliving parts of the ecosystem work together, which organisms survive well or poorly in that habitat, and one solution to an environmental change problem, using evidence from Bernheim observations and class research. Add a simple “museum walk” with student-made labels, food chains, and trait comparisons so visitors can interact with the displays and ask questions. Invite Bernheim educators and school staff to give warm feedback, while students practice clear speaking, listening, and reflection during the event.