EcoVenture Class: Symbiotic Relationships 7 th -12 th Grade Teacher Guide Overview and Resource Materials For more information contact: School Programs On-site Manager 725 East 10600 South Sandy, UT 84094 (801) 355-FISH (3474) ext. 206 Fax: (801) 495-4449 fieldtrips@thelivingplanet.com Or visit our website http://www.thelivingplanet.com
What s below the surface? Why have an aquarium in the desert?......3 EcoVenture Class Overview... 4 Teacher s checklist......5 Location of The Living Planet Aquarium.......6 Layout map of The Living Planet Aquarium....7 Teacher Outline and Core Connections...8-9 Pre-visit resources...10-17 Post visit lesson materials...18-26 Thank you!...27 2
Why Have an Aquarium in a Desert? After all, where else in the world is water so valued and respected? It s a precious resource that defines how we live in Utah. Because we re not surrounded by oceans and immense water habitats, we have fewer opportunities to experience, understand and appreciate the water environments that cover more than 70 percent of our planet. The Living Planet Aquarium brings animals to people who might not have the chance to see them or their water-based ecosystems in a natural setting. Our children are the future custodians of the environment. Yet, the majority of today s young people don t have the opportunity to understand the ocean nor their own water-dependent environments. The Living Planet Aquarium provides a living classroom, educating us all about our interdependence on the living planet s fragile ecosystems. The Living Planet Aquarium is a world-class organization that enriches lives through education outreach, dynamic exhibits and programs. The Living Planet Aquarium provides an entertaining learning experience and hands-on educational opportunities to help individuals understand and appreciate the water environments encompassing our planet, leading to an enriched personal life. Having this aquarium provides us with countless opportunities to understand and respect this precious resource and the living habitats it supports, both in Utah and in our planet s oceans. 3
School Visit Overview Thank you for choosing The Living Planet Aquarium for a school visit. We look forward to your arrival! This section of the Teacher Guide provides an overview of your visit and a checklist of things to accomplish before, during and after your experience with us. Utah State Core Connections Our on-site programs are designed to be an exciting complement to what you are teaching in the classroom. Our education team examined the Intended Learning Outcomes and Core Standards for each grade and created our presentation and activities to reinforce the ILOs and Standards. You will find a list of related ILOs and Standards later on in this document. EcoVenture Classes Each EcoVenture Class lasts approximately 45 minutes. While the class is separate from your general aquarium visit, there is not an additional cost for the classes. To provide a quality and interactive experience for your students, we allow a maximum of 70 students per class. This means, we can present the same program several times back-to-back to accommodate larger groups. The EcoVenture Classes take place in our Earth Explorer classroom with one or two Education Presenters, depending on the class. There are also Education Presenters located throughout the aquarium to answer any questions you or your students may have. EcoVenture Start Times The contact teacher will receive an e-mail with a confirmation sheet. This confirmation sheet will list the school s arrival time and each group s EcoVenture Class start time. Please remind the chaperones to arrive promptly to the Earth Explorer classroom at their designated start time to allow the group to have the full classroom experience. "Give people facts and you feed their minds for an hour. Awaken curiosity and they feed their own minds for a lifetime." (Ian Russell) 4
School Visit Checklist The Living Planet Aquarium Pre-Visit Download from our website: This document (Teacher Guide) Student Research Document(s) for you to copy and bring with you on your visit (optional) Many of our documents are saved in PDF format. They require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, you can download the program for free at: http://www.adobe.com/products/reader/ Please Educate the students and chaperones on behavior expectations. Divide your students into smaller groups and assign each group a chaperone. Supply each adult chaperone with a Chaperone Guide. This guide includes the rules, tips to facilitate learning and an aquarium map. Day of Bring Student Research Documents if you would like your students to use them during their aquarium visit. Please bring your own pencils! Remind the students and chaperones of the behavior expectations. Remind the chaperones of their EcoVenture Class start time and location. All groups must pay in one lump sum. Bring payment if your school is not a sponsored Title 1 or Head Start school. If your visit is sponsored, you do not pay for your students, but please remember the chaperone-to-student ratio. Any additional adults will be asked to pay. Have FUN and enjoy learning at the Living Planet Aquarium! Post-Visit This document contains post-visit materials. Other materials may become available as separate downloads in the future, so check our website often. 5
Location of Living Planet Aquarium 725 East 10600 South, Sandy Utah 84094 Phone: (801) 495-4448 Directions: From 1-15, take exit 293 Head east on 10600 S. (approx. 1 mile) The Living Planet Aquarium is on the northeast corner of 10600 S. and 700 E. 6
Layout of Living Planet Aquarium 7
Teacher Outline Symbiotic Relationships Duration of School Visit EcoVenture Classes (35 students max) are scheduled in 45-minute increments unless otherwise noted on your confirmation sheet. However, each EcoVenture Class is approximately 45 minutes. Please allow your group 2 hours for a three-class visit, or 2 hours and 30 minutes for a four-class visit. Currently, our facility does not have space for school groups to eat lunch. If weather permits, we recommend bringing your group to Lone Peak Park at 10140 S 700 E, Sandy, UT 84094. This park is 5 blocks north of the aquarium on 700 East and offers covered picnic tables, grassy areas, and a playground. Background for Teachers All Living things interact with living and non-living things in order to survive. Interactions among organisms can be classified in three different ways: competition, predation, and symbiosis. Competition occurs when two organisms are using the same resource. Predation is the relationship where one organism consumes another. Symbiosis is a close interaction between two unlike species where at least one species benefits. These interactions are a crucial part of a functioning ecosystem. Intended Learning Outcomes/Measurable Objectives Students will learn about the different types of species interactions: competition, predation, and symbiosis. They will identify examples of each relationship and discuss the importance of species interactions to an ecosystem. Students will leave with a better understanding of the interconnectedness of life. 8
to the Connecting Core Standards Here s where your EcoVenture Class connects with the Utah State Core Curriculum. The main intent of science instruction in Utah is that students will value and use science as a process of obtaining knowledge based upon observable evidence. 7 th -12 th grade Integrated Science Intended Learning Outcomes 3. Demonstrate Understanding of Science Concepts and Principles a. Know and explain science information specified for their grade level. b. Distinguish between examples and non-examples of concepts that have been taught. 9 th -12 th Grade Biology Core Standard 1: Students will understand that living organisms interact with one another and their environment. Objective 3: Describe how interactions among organisms and their environment help shape ecosystems. a. Categorize relationships among living things according to predator-prey, competition, and symbiosis. c. Use data to interpret interactions among biotic and abiotic factors (e.g., ph, temperature, precipitation, populations, diversity) within an ecosystem. Science language students should use: predator-prey, symbiosis, competition, ecosystem, population, diversity, consumers, producers, competition, decomposers, food chain, biotic, abiotic, community 9 th -12 th Grade Earth Systems Core Standard 2: Students will understand that the features of Earth s evolving environment affect living systems, and that life on Earth is unique in the solar system. Objective 2: Analyze how ecosystems differ from each other due to abiotic and biotic factors. c. Predict how an ecosystem will change as a result of major changes in an abiotic and/or biotic factor. e. Analyze interactions within an ecosystem (e.g., water temperature and fish species, weathering and water ph). Objective 3: Examine Earth's diversity of life as it changes over time. c. Explain factors that contribute to the extinction of a species. e. Evaluate the biological, aesthetic, ethical, social, or economic arguments with regard to maintaining biodiversity. Science language students should use: abiotic, biodiversity, biotic, ecosystem, extinction, aesthetic, ethical, social, economic, species 9
Pre-Visit Resources The following pages offer pre-visit information you can use in the classroom before your visit to The Living Planet Aquarium. These resources correlate with material that will be covered in your EcoVenture Class or in post-visit materials. There may also be links to UEN s website for additional information. As a suggestion, if you have internet access for your class, you can visit our website to let the children investigate what we have to offer. Here is the link: http://www.thelivingplanet.com 10
Background Information Species Interactions All Living things interact with living and non-living things in order to survive. Interactions among organisms can be classified in three different ways: competition, predation, and symbiosis. Competition occurs when two organisms are using the same resource. Predation is the relationship where one organism consumes another. Symbiosis is a close interaction between two unlike species where at least one species benefits. These interactions are a crucial part of a functioning ecosystem. Symbiotic Relationships Many organisms rely on symbiotic relationships for survival. Symbiosis is a close interaction between two unlike species where at least one species benefits. The other organism will either be harmed, unaffected, or receive a benefit. When describing these relationships, scientists use +, 0 and - as symbols to indicate the outcome of each relationship. Mutualism (+, +) is a relationship where both species benefit. Commensalism (+, 0) is where one species benefits and the other is not affected. Parasitism (+, -) is where one species benefits and the other is harmed. These relationships are an important part of functioning ecosystems. Some well known examples of Symbiosis are mosquitoes and humans (parasitism), barnacles and whales (commensalism), and humans and pets (mutualism). Biomes A biome is defined as a large group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar types of communities. An example of a biome would be a group of coral reefs off the coast of Florida. An ecosystem would be a specific coral reef within that system and would include all biotic and abiotic factors. Coevolution Many species will evolve based on the interaction with another species. This is known as coevolution. An example of this is flowers and pollinators. Flowers need pollinators to reproduce. Since pollinators are attracted to flowers with specific shapes, colors and scents, flowers with the most extreme of these characteristics are more likely to reproduce. The pollinators play a huge part in determining changes in flower populations. 11
Words to Know: Use the following list of definitions to complete the cross word puzzle. Biome: a large group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar types of communities Ecosystem: a biological community of living and non-living things interacting together Biotic factor: living things that help shape an ecosystem Abiotic factor: non-living things that help shape an ecosystem Biodiversity: biological diversity; the numbers and variety of different plants, animals and other organisms Community: multiple populations of species that interact with each other within an ecosystem Population: a group of organisms of the same species living in the same place Species: organisms within a population able to reproduce and create more offspring Food Chain: model that shows a single path for energy flow through an ecosystem Producer: an organism that makes its own food (e.g. plants, algae) Consumer: an organism that obtains food by feeding on other organisms or organic matter Decomposer: an organism that breaks down organic materials (dead plants, animals, waste, etc.) for food Predation: interaction where one organism feeds on another organism Predator: organism that hunts and consumes another organism (prey) Prey: organism that is consumed in a predator-prey relationship Competition: interaction where multiple individuals (same species or different) compete for the same resource (food, shelter, water, mates, etc.) Symbiosis: close association between two or more unlike species Mutualism: symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit Parasitism: symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits at the expense of another organism Commensalism: symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other organism is neither helped nor harmed Aesthetic: pleasing to the senses, appreciative of the beauty of something Ethical: accepted standards of conduct; moral approval Social: welfare of human beings within a society Economic: worth of a good or service; ability to generate income 12
Symbiotic Relationships Across 1. Organisms within a population able to reproduce and create more offspring 4. A biological community of living and non-living things interacting together 5. A group of organisms of the same species living in the same place 6. An organism that makes its own food (e.g. plants, algae) 8. Symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits at the expense of another organism 9. Close association between two or more unlike species 10. Symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit 11. Interaction where one organism feeds on another organism Down 2. Symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other organism is neither helped nor harmed 3. Interaction where multiple individuals (same species or different) compete for the same resource (food, shelter, water, mates, etc.) 7. An organism that obtains food by feeding on other organisms or organic matter 13
Time Frame: 1 class period that runs 45 minutes Group Size: Groups of 4 or 5 students Good Buddies Symbiosis Game Activity is from Project WILD. Summary: This lesson helps students understand the three types of symbiotic relationships. Students will learn the difference between each relationship and then identify examples of each by playing a card game. Curriculum Connection: Science - Biology Standard 1 Objective 3 Students will understand that living organisms interact with one another and their environment. Describe how interactions among organisms and their environment help shape ecosystems. Materials: Good Buddies Symbiosis Organism Cards and Chart (one for each group) List of Symbiosis Examples (one for each group) Answer Key for Symbiosis Chart (one for each group) Background for Teachers: See page 11 of the teacher guide for background information. Intended Learning Outcomes: Make observations. Develop and use categories to classify observations. Identify variables and describe relationships between them. Know science terminology appropriate to grade level. Understand science concepts and principles. Distinguish between examples and non-examples of each concept. Use the language and concepts of science as a means of thinking and communicating. Construct a diagram to describe data. Instructional Procedures: 1. Have the students respond to the following statement in their science journals or on a sheet of paper: Picture an ecosystem in your mind. Describe some ways that species interact within that ecosystem. Give the students four or five minutes, then discuss their answers. Accept all answers but make sure 14
they are familiar with basic species interactions (predation, feeding, finding shelter/building a home, competition, etc.). 2. Introduce the topic of symbiosis and explain the different types: parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism. Write the definitions of each on the board for the activity. Parasitism: one species benefits and the other is harmed Commensalism: one species benefits and the other is not affected Mutualism: both species benefit 3. Divide students into groups of 4 or 5. Give each group a set of cards, a symbiosis chart with rules, a list of symbiotic relationships and an answer sheet. The cards, chart, and answer sheet are found in the Good Buddies Symbiosis Game attachment at the bottom of this lesson. The list of symbiotic relationships is found on the next page. 4. Go over the game rules with the class before letting them play: 1 The dealer passes out 5 cards to each player. The players may look at their cards. 2 The person to the dealer s left starts the game by asking another player (only one) for a specific card - one that would be a good buddy to a card in his hand. 3 If a person does not make a match, he must draw one card from the pile and his turn is over. 4 If the person makes a match, she/he must say the type of symbiosis that exists between the two organisms before laying down the set of cards and his turn is over. If she/he cannot give the correct answer, she/he must hold on to the set and try again on his next turn. She/he will not get another try to match a different card until the next turn. 5 Players can ask for a card only once during each hand whether or not they make a match. 6 Play continues until one player is out of cards or there are no more cards in the draw pile. The person with the most correct matches laid down during the game is the winner! 5. At the end of the game, go over the answers and have the students fill them in on the chart. 15
Examples of Symbiotic Relationships Barnacles create home sites by attaching themselves to whales. This relationship neither harms nor benefits the whales. Mistletoe extracts water and nutrients from a spruce tree. The spruce tree is harmed. Remoras attach themselves to a shark s body. They then travel with the shark and feed on the leftover food scraps from the shark s meals. The relationship neither harms nor benefits the shark. Yucca flowers are pollinated by yucca moths. The moths lay their eggs in the flowers where the larvae hatch and eat some of the developing seeds. Both species benefit. As bison walk through grass, insects become active and are seen and eaten by cowbirds. The relationship neither harms nor benefits the bison. A sparrow will build its nest under the nest of an osprey. The smaller birds get protection because other predators will not mess with the osprey. The osprey are not helped nor harmed by the sparrow. Honey guide birds alert and direct badgers to bee hives. The badgers then expose the hives and feed on the honey first. Next the honey guide birds eat. Both species benefit. The stork uses it saw-like bill to cut up the dead animals it eats. As a result, the dead animal carcass is accessible to some bees for food and egg laying. The relationship neither harms nor benefits the stork. Ticks will feed on a deer s blood and harm the deer. Hermit crabs live in shells made and then abandoned by snails. This relationship neither helps nor harms the snails. Heartworms develop inside a dog s heart. The worms cause health problems and may result in death. A wasp lays its eggs on a caterpillar. When the wasp eggs hatch, the larva will eat the caterpillar and kill it. Ostriches and gazelles feed next to each other. They both watch for predators and alert each other to danger. Because the visual abilities of the two species are different, they can identify threats that the other animal would not see as readily. Oxpeckers feed on the ticks found on a rhinoceros. The oxpeckers get a meal and the rhinoceros is helped by the removal of the ticks. A cuckoo may lay its eggs in a warbler s nest. The cuckoo s young will knock the warbler s eggs out of a nest and the warbler will raise the cuckoo s young. Orchids grow inside a bromeliad plant. The orchid obtains water and nutrients from the bromeliad, but does not help or harm it. A flea feeds on a mouse s blood and harms the mouse. Wrasse fish feed on the parasites found on the black sea bass s body. The wrasse fish get a meal and the black sea bass is helped by the removal of the parasites. 16
Attachments Good Buddies Symbiosis Game (cards, chart, and answer key) Author: Project WILD 17
Now, you re off to the Living Planet Aquarium Remember to use your checklist to help you on this day. You should take some time to share copies of the Chaperone Guide with each adult leader as well as the aquarium layout map. Remember that teachers are free and you get one additional adult free for every 10 students. Any adults above this 1:10 ratio will need to pay a fee upon arrival. All entrance fees must be paid in one lump sum. 18
Post Visit Resources Symbiotic Relationships The following lesson materials are intended to help you extend learning from your field trip back into the classroom. Ecosystem Research Project Life Skills: Thinking & Reasoning Communication Social & Civic Responsibility Curriculum Connection: Science Biology Standard 1 Students will understand that living organisms interact with one another and their environment. Time Frame: 5 class periods that run 45 minutes each. Group Size: Pairs Summary: Students will describe community interactions and symbiotic relationships by researching an ecosystem within a biome. Materials: computers with Internet access library poster board (1 for each pair or group) pencil/pen markers/crayons Background For Teachers: See page 11 of the teacher guide for background information. Intended Learning Outcomes: Make observations. Develop and use categories to classify observations. Identify variables and describe relationships between them. Know science terminology appropriate to grade level. Understand science concepts and principles. 19
Distinguish between examples and non-examples of each concept. Use the language and concepts of science as a means of thinking and communicating. Construct a diagram to describe data. Use reference sources to obtain information (library databases, handbooks, encyclopedias, etc.). Instructional Procedures: 1. To introduce the lesson, let students describe various biomes and/or ecosystems. Some biomes in Utah are wetlands, deserts, and forests. 2. Students will need to define the following terms: ecosystem, biome, producer, consumer, decomposer, latitude, altitude, precipitation, predator, prey, competition, symbiosis, mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism. They can do this by building a crossword, looking them up as they go, or through class discussion/lecture. 3. Students will work in pairs or groups, choose a biome, and research an ecosystem within that biome using the Internet and other tools. Here are some common biomes: Land Biomes: tundra, boreal forest, temperate forest, temperate woodland and shrubland, temperate grassland, desert, tropical savanna, tropical seasonal forest, tropical rain forest, mountains, polar regions Aquatic Biomes: rivers/streams, lakes/ponds, wetlands, estuaries Marine Biomes: intertidal zone, open ocean, coastal ocean, coral reefs Students must find enough information to accurately present: 2 producers 2 consumers 2 decomposers 3 predator/prey interactions 2 competition examples 3 symbiotic relationships (mutualism, parasitism, commensalism try to find one of each) In addition, they should find the latitude altitude precipitation (may be seasonal) temperature for their biome They should include sources for all of their information. 20
Students should also answer the question, "How would the removal of a species affect the ecosystem based on community interactions?" Students may get discouraged at this point because the research isn't as easy as they are used to. If they are creative, hardworking, and patient they will be successful. 4. Students will display the information they researched on a poster board. Tell them to be creative with the poster. Some students may want to draw their ecosystem on the whole board and describe interactions throughout. Others may want to outline each interaction and glue on or draw pictures for each. Let them know that creativity and organization will be part of the criteria for their grade. Students should include a short report that explains each component and includes references. 5. Students will present to the class. Make sure that each student fully participates in the presentation. You can have them write down exactly what their responsibilities were for the presentation and use that in their assessment. Web Sites The World s Biomes Biomes of the World Author: Original author: STACI ENGLAND. Adapted by Amy Ehrhart November 2012. Created Date : Jan 31 2000 08:47 AM 21
Symbiotic Strategies This activity is from PBS Nature. On this page you will find an overview of the activity. The following link will take you to the original page with detailed instructions and materials: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/lessons/symbiotic-strategies/lesson-overview/1494/ Time Frame: Five class periods that run 45 minutes each Summary: In this exercise, students will participate in three activities that focus on symbiosis and ecological relationships. They will investigate how organisms in close proximity exhibit competition, predation or a symbiotic relationship. Students will make predictions and watch video segments from NATURE and an online interactive to identify examples of relationships. The last portion of the activity involves a discussion about how ecosystems can become out of balance. Students will watch a video with an example of this and come up with ideas for restoring the ecosystem. Curriculum Connection: Science Biology Standard 1 Students will understand that living organisms interact with one another and their environment. Science - Earth Systems Standard 2 Objective 3 Examine Earth's diversity of life as it changes over time. Materials: Access to the internet Worksheets and rubrics to go with videos Links and videos set up on a classroom computer and displayed for the class to see Background For Teachers: See page 11 of the teacher guide for background information. Be sure to read and review all of the worksheets, answer sheets, information on the web link and videos before facilitating the assignment. Intended Learning Outcomes: Make observations. Develop and use categories to classify observations. Identify variables and describe relationships between them. Know science terminology appropriate to grade level. Understand science concepts and principles. 22
Distinguish between examples and non-examples of each concept. Use the language and concepts of science as a means of thinking and communicating. Construct a diagram to describe data. Use reference sources to obtain information (library databases, handbooks, encyclopedias, etc.). Attachments: Symbiotic Strategies Activity Bibliography: Lesson plan author: PBS Nature 23
Web Sites for Fun All links are suggested resources only. The Living Planet Aquarium does not specifically endorse any of the following sites or organizations. If a link does not work you can try copying and pasting the URL into your web browser. Ecology Global Network http://www.ecology.com/ Planet Ocean (Grades 5-8) http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/planetocean/index.html Discover what it takes for amazing ocean animals to survive this underwater world. Ocean Conservancy http://www.oceanconservancy.org/who-we-are/ MarineBio.Org http://www.marinebio.org/ From the makers of the Blue Planet series of videos http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/ Wide array of resources not only on the ocean but on all areas of science Steve Spangler Science http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/ This site has a large number of hands-on science experiments and materials for students and teachers. There are videos, tutorials and products that can be purchased for activities and science fair projects. 24
Books to Include All books are suggested resources only. The Living Planet Aquarium does not specifically endorse any of the following books or authors. The World is Blue Sylvia Earle Silent Spring Rachel Carson The Future of Life Edward O. Wilson The Diversity of Life Edward O. Wilson 1001 little ways to save the planet Esme Floyd Going Blue: A teen guide to saving our oceans, lakes, rivers, & wetlands Cathryn Berger Kaye and Philippe Cousteau 25
References The following resources were used in the development of these materials and or field trip presentations and were not among those cited in the text body. PBS Nature: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/lessons/symbiotic-strategies/lesson-overview/1494/ Miami Biology Department: http://www.bio.miami.edu/ecosummer/lectures/lec_coevolution.html Project Wild: http://sciencespot.net/media/goodbuddies.pdf Discovery Education: http://www.discoveryeducation.com/ 26
Thank you for bringing your class. We look forward to serving you again! 27