Let's create continuous conversations about climate change education: Spreading the Sediment of Science!

Great Lakes Ecosystems Exploration

Provided by: PBS

Lesson Plans Grades 3-5, 6-8

Synopsis

This lesson explores ecosystems in Michigan along the Great Lakes, focusing on the importance of wetlands.
Students will learn about the different coastal ecosystems in Michigan, some of the species that reside in these ecosystems, and the life cycle of fish.

Subjects: Biology

Authors: Detroit PBS

Region: Michigan

Languages: English

Positives

The jigsaw reading activity gives each student a sense of responsibility as they are tasked with being the expert on their assigned reading.
Students will be able to summarize their learning in two simple assessment activities.

Prerequisites

The links to the Michigan Tech diagram, wetlands animations, and rivers and streams animations lead to the Michigan Tech homepage. Teachers should skip these steps.
Students may benefit from seeing Michigan's coastal regions on a map.

Differentiation & Implementation

This lesson about food waste has a worksheet in it that students can use to facilitate the Culminating Activity.
To make connections to public speaking practice, students can present their infographics to the class.
Students can create dioramas of the different coastal ecosystems they read about and bring them to their jigsaw groups.
Students and teachers can discuss how climate change is impacting these ecosystems and what solutions there are to protect them.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.