Creatures evolved in ecosystems. In this activity, students will demonstrate the interdependence of various creatures in a pond ecosystem. They do this by creating a web made of yarn.
Everything is connected.
Age level: 7 to adult.
Time: One hour
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Students will demonstrate how all creatures depend on others creatures for survival. .
Students engage their minds and hands in this activity.
Per Class:
- Ball of yarn
Per student:
- Creature Cards: print and cut out the following on cardstock to make cards (see below)
CREATURE CARDS
Goldfish
Water Striders – (Gerris remigis) –
Azola Fern –
Anaebena Cyanobacteria – Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria
Free-living Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria
Parrot Feather Bunch (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
Cattails
Duck
Water Lily
Iris
Canna Lily
Irish Moss
Petunia
Papyrus
String Algae
Clump Seaweed
Bacterial Scavenger
Frog
Bacterial scavenger
| Mugo Pine
Impatiens Plant
Deer
Squirrel
Portulaca
Painted Lady Butterfly
Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
Water forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides)
Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia)
Nitrifying Bacteria
Denitrifying Bacteria
Mushroom
Lichen
|
- Give each student a Creature Card
- Give ball of yarn to first student
- Have them unwind yarn as they give ball of yarn to another student with a Creature card that their creature depends upon.
Biology by Neil Campbell, Jane B. Reese, and Lawrence G. Mitchell. This outstanding biology textbook for college students is permeated with great information about evolution.
National Standards Addressed (NRC):
- K-12: Unifying Concepts & Processes Standard:Evidence, models, and explanation
- 5-8: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IN LIVING SYSTEMS: Evidence, models, and explanation
- 9-12: This activity directly addresses diversity of life