Name: ____________________

Date: _____________
Per: __________
Partners:

Standards:
a. MS-LS2-2 Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among
organisms across multiple ecosystems.
b. MS-LS2-3 Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy
among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
c. MS-LS2-5 Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and
ecosystem services.

Ecosystems Project
My ecosystem is _________________________________________
Answer the following questions:
1. Define your ecosystem.

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
2. What major abiotic factors affect your ecosystem?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. Which animals are found in your ecosystem?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. Which plants are found in your ecosystem?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

5. Where is the ecosystem you are researching located?

__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
6. Describe the food web that your endangered species belongs to:

__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Draw the food web here (use words only):

7. What unusual or interesting facts did you discover?

__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
8. How is this ecosystem important to the region that it is in?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Write all information in complete sentences. Sentences must be complete, capitalized
and punctuated corrected. Do not copy sentences. Write your OWN.
** Show Ms. Perry where your ecosystem is located on a map in Google Maps.**

You will give a presentation to share some of the information you learn.
You will also turn in a 1-2 page essay explaining your ecosystem and all of the
factors that make the ecosystem.
You will be given a rubric for both the project presentation and the essay.
You will turn in this completed information packet in one week 9/23/15.
You will turn in your essay via Google Drive.

Student Signature: ________________________ Date: ___________

Parent Signature: _________________________ Date: ___________
Ecosystem Ecosystems Project is due: _________________________________

Name: ____________________
Date: _____________
Per: _______

Ecosystems Project Checklist

Standards:
a. MS-LS2-2 Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among
organisms across multiple ecosystems.
b. MS-LS2-3 Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy
among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
c. MS-LS2-5 Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and
ecosystem services.
EQ: How are biotic and abiotic factors related in an ecosystem?
EQ: Do all species matter in an ecosystem?

Did you complete the following criteria?

Definition of your ecosystem
Factors that affect your ecosystem
Animals that live in your ecosystem (5)
Plants that live in your ecosystem (5)
Where is your ecosystem located (5-7)
What are the biotic/abiotic factors
Did you discover any interesting or unusual
facts about your ecosystem
Ecosystem Services Supporting,
Provisioning, Regulating, Cultural

Not Yet
0

Yes
1

Ecosystems Project Rubric

Standards:
d. MS-LS2-2 Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among
organisms across multiple ecosystems.
e. MS-LS2-3 Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy
among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
f. MS-LS2-5 Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and
ecosystem services.
Criteria: The
Student
Definition of
ecosystem

1
Below Basic
No Evidence

2
Basic
Vague: Part of
the definition is
written.
Vague: Name a
factor of the
ecosystem.

3
Proficient
The definition is
written clearly.

Factors that
affect the
ecosystem

No Evidence

Animals that
live in the
ecosystem

No Evidence

Vague: Names
only up to 3
animals.

Plants that live

in the
ecosystem

No Evidence

Vague: Names
only up to 3
plants.

Where is your
ecosystem
located

No Evidence

Vague: Names
one part of the
region.

5 animals are
shown in the
ecosystem with
superficial
discussion.
5 plants are shown
in the ecosystem
with superficial
discussion.
Clearly defines the
ecosystems region,
noting the exact
location.

What are the

biotic and
abiotic factors
that affect your
ecosystem?
Did you discover
any unusual
facts about
ecosystem

No Evidence

Vague: Names
1-2 biotic and 12 abiotic
factors.

Describes 3-5 biotic

and 3-5 abiotic
factors.

No Evidence

Vague: Wrote an
unusual fact
about the
ecosystem.

Grammar and
Sentence
Structure/Spelli
ng

No Evidence

Vague: Some
sentence
structure,
misspelled
words.

Wrote various facts

about the
ecosystems with
minimal relevance
and/or discussion.
The sentences are
written correctly,
along with the
correct spelling of
the words.

Ecosystem
Services
Supporting,
Provisioning,
Regulating,
Cultural

No Evidence

Vague: Students
say there are
eco- system
services, but do
not describe or
discuss.

Students describe 2
ecosystem services
and discusses
whether those
ecosystem services
are in danger

The factors are

written.

4
Advanced
Definition is defined
correctly and clearly,
linked to local issue.
The factors are written
along with how they
affect the ecosystem.
5 animals are
discussed along with
how they interact in
and affect the
ecosystem.
5 plants are discussed
along with how they
interact in and affect
the ecosystem.
Appropriately shows
the location of the
region and discusses
the relationship
between the
ecosystem and the
region.
Describes 5-7 biotic
and 5-7 abiotic factors
and explains how they
affect the ecosystem.
Appropriately states
the unusual facts
about the ecosystems
and the impact they
have on its habitat.
Appropriately
constructs the
sentences and the
words are spelled
correctly. They also
labeled the different
parts of speech used
within their written
report.
Students describe 4
ecosystem services
and discuss whether
those ecosystem
services are in danger
and whether anything
is being done about it.

Total Score

Resources
Cited

No Evidence

Cited 1-2
resources

Cited 3-4
resources

Cited 5-6
resources