Login Cart (0)

Ecosystems: Biomes, Food Chains, Photosynthesis, Animal & Meet John Muir

$9.99

Ecosystems Unit with 20 passages, organizers, vocabulary posters, comprehension and connection activities, and so much more! Your students will love learning all about ecosystems with this BEST SELLER!

An ecosystem can be huge like the Amazon Rainforest or as small as a puddle in your backyard. There are both living, and non-living things make up an ecosystem. 

This unit includes 20 kid-friendly informational articles perfect for Grades 3-5!

Articles are about the following science topics:

✔Types of Ecosystems (Micro, Meso, Biomes)

✔Biomes: Aquatic and Terrestrial

✔Abiotic and Biotic

✔Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores

✔Natural Cycles of Earth

✔The Balance of Nature

✔Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers

✔Photosynthesis

✔Animals Basic Needs

✔Food Webs & Chains

✔Great for Science Centers or Partner Work 

Plus Lots of Engaging Activities:

✔Tri-fold Organizers for INBs

✔Comprehension Questions

✔Five Facts Webs

✔Cloze Passages

✔Vocabulary Posters

✔Vocabulary Flip Flaps

✔Fact or Fiction Activities

✔Writing Prompt

✔Diagrams for Photosynthesis *Diagrams for Food Chains

✔Plus students will learn about a famous environmentalist: John Muir

There are 4 Main Activities:

Introduce the Unit with the Anticipatory Set with T/F questions to pique student’s interest and build background knowledge.

Vocabulary:

Introduce the vocabulary words with the real-life photo posters. You could post these posters around the classroom and have the students travel around to write the definitions under the flip flaps in their notebooks. These look fantastic on a bulletin board too!

Reading – Learning Stations:

As a class, read the first few passages all about ecosystems, types of ecosystems, and biomes. Then set up a learning station or science center for further learning about related topics. Have students read the passages, answer the questions, and complete the organizer/activity for each concept to reinforce learning. Read about a famous environmentalist named John Muir

For Herbivores, Carnivores, & Omnivores:

print and copy the following:

✔Reading Passages

✔Tri-fold Organizers (2 pages)

✔Five Facts Webs

✔Identify & Sort Photo Activities

✔Fact or Fiction Coloring Activities

Student Activities:

There are lots of activities included for partner work, fast-finishers, whole group discussion, homework, or for reviewing at the end of the unit:

✔Cloze Passages

✔Diagrams: Photosynthesis, Food Chains

✔Writing Prompt

Using my Five Step Method below makes learning about Ecosystems meaningful and fun for students. 

Part 1: Hook’em with “Fast Facts True or False” Anticipatory Guide. Students predict at the beginning of the unit the answers to guided questions and then check-n-correct their answers after learning the information or end of the unit. 

Part 2: Read-n-Visualize with high-interest informational Articles all about Ecosystems with real-life photographs written in kid-friendly language. Use these passages as a unit overview, study guides, centers (station) activities, group work, or even as notes for their binders or notebooks.

Part 3: Focus on Skills: to reinforce and enhance student learning with a variety of skill-based activities such as:

Fact vs. Opinion

Making Connections

Visualizing

Compare/Contrast

Vocabulary

Supporting Details and Main Idea

Part 4: Realistic Ecosystem Vocabulary Posters with real-life photographs to use on the document camera, interactive whiteboards, or perfect for bulletin board displays. You can either preserve these for another year or bind them together as a book for your classroom library.

Part 5: Show What You Know! Student quick check questions, writing prompts, engaging activities, and reflections to evaluate learning. Reflections are perfect for student portfolios and Parent Teacher Conferences.

This is a Digital Download. No Physical Product will be shipped. 

SEE IT ON TPT

LEGAL DETAILS:

  • These specific files are ©2018 Heart 2 Heart Teaching, LLC. All rights reserved.
    • For personal use, classroom use, and non-commercial use only. It is unlawful to distribute any part of this file for any reason (whether they are free or for purchase).
  • Clipart, graphics, photographs, found inside this product are copyrighted. They may not be extracted from this file without written permission from the original artist(s).
  • We'd love to see how you use these activities in your classroom--- Tag @heart2heartteaching on Instagram!

FAQ’S:

How will I receive my download?
Once purchased, you will first receive an order confirmation email. Right after that, you receive a separate email with a link that you will click to download the zipped file. You will receive one or more PDF files.

What if I can't find the email with the Printable in it?
If you're using Gmail as your mail service, be sure to check the "spam," "promotions," and "updates" folders/tabs! Your email will be sent via our automated system (omitting the potential for human error) so if you ordered the download and entered the correct email address, you can be sure it's in your email somewhere!

What's a ZIP file?

Many of our resources are in a compressed ZIP file. A ZIP file is a compressed folder with multiple files. A ZIP file takes up less storage space making it easier to download. ZIP files are able to be opened easily, just follow the steps below depending on your system. 

For Microsoft Windows:

  1. Right click  on the ZIP folder
  2. Choose Extract All from the menu
  3. Choose a place to save the file
  4. Click Extract

For Google Chrome:

  1. After it finishes downloading
  2. Click on the download box at bottom left of the browser page 
  3. Click Extract All at the top of the page

For Mac Users:

  1. Double click on the ZIP folder
  2. The file should automatically extract

    Other Options--try opening the ZIP file using one of these free websites:

    Where do I print my download?
    For BEST RESULTS, print the posters on the premium brochure and flyer paper from Office Depot. Using this paper gives the posters a vibrant look that really makes the colors pop! Or send the file to a print shop. But don't worry about that if you need these quickly! Just print on regular paper on the best quality setting on your printer.

    Having Printing Issues?  

    Many of our files are PDF’s are large units with a lot of graphics and photographs. Sometimes, it may look fine on your screen, but may not print out correctly. If you’re having trouble printing a PDF, please be sure that you're opening the PDF with the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader

    After downloading and installing Adobe Acrobat Reader:

    1. Open the PDF
    2. Click Print
    3. Select Shrink oversized pages
    4. Click Advanced
    5. Check the box: Print As Image
    6. Click Print