Ecosystems | Review Lesson
Students review what an ecosystem is by identifying living and nonliving things, describing how plants and animals depend on one another, and sorting examples of simple ecosystems. This lesson uses discussion, picture sorting, movement, and a short assessment to check understanding.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ecosystem | A place where living and nonliving things work together |
| organism | A living thing |
| habitat | The place where a plant or animal lives |
| environment | All the living and nonliving things around us |
| nonliving | Not alive, like water, air, rocks, or sunlight |
Show several picture cards and ask students to name each item and tell whether it is living or nonliving. Record answers on the board.
Students look, name the pictures, and give thumbs up for living or thumbs down for nonliving.
Review the definition of ecosystem and model using one simple example, such as a garden or pond. Point out the living and nonliving parts and explain how they work together.
Students repeat key vocabulary, answer questions, and help label the example.
Place picture cards in a pocket chart or on the floor. Guide students to sort items into living and nonliving groups, then into parts of an ecosystem.
Students work together to sort cards and explain their choices using sentence frames such as 'I think this is living because...'
Give each student or pair a card with a living or nonliving item. Call out a habitat or ecosystem, and have students move to stand with matching items that belong there.
Students move, compare cards, and justify why their item fits the ecosystem.
Provide a short worksheet or notebook task where students draw or label one ecosystem and circle the living and nonliving parts.
Students complete the work independently or with support as needed.
Ask rapid-fire review questions or play a true/false game to reinforce vocabulary and concepts.
Students respond chorally, by hand signals, or by holding up cards.
Use a short exit ticket, oral conference, or checklist to assess whether each student can identify ecosystem parts and explain one connection.
Students answer the assessment task independently or verbally.
Bring students back together and review the big idea: ecosystems include living and nonliving parts that work together. Ask each student to share one vocabulary word and one example of an ecosystem part.
Students complete a short teacher check using an exit ticket, oral response, or simple labeled drawing. The teacher checks for the ability to identify living and nonliving parts, name an ecosystem, and describe one relationship within it.