Changes in Ecosystems
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Chemistry, Biology
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Scholastic
What it is
- In this StudyJam from Scholastic, students will learn about how changes to an ecosystem can result in a new one.
- Students will watch an animated video depicting a polluted lake experiencing an algal bloom, learn about succession, and take a quiz to test their knowledge.
Teaching tips
Positives
- Helpful definitions appear on the screen for unfamiliar terms.
- The video includes characters with positive can-do attitudes that may be inspiring for students.
Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with the terms pollution and ecosystem.
Differentiation & Implementation
- To make connections to climate change, teachers can discuss the connection between climate change and algal blooms. This article can help facilitate discussion.
- Students can think of actions that cause water pollution, and think of ways to reduce these actions.
- Inspired by the characters in the video, students can plan a waterway cleanup for a lake or river in their community. This collection of resources can help students test water health and plan a cleanup activity.
- Teachers can make connections to UN Sustainable Development Goal 6, clean water and sanitation, and Goal 14, Life Below Water, by highlighting the pollution and the change to the ecosystem in this video.
From the scientist review
This resource from Scholastic’s StudyJams helps students understand how ecosystems change over time, both naturally and through human impact. It features a short animated video, key vocabulary, and a self-check quiz to reinforce learning. While it does not include original data, this resource would be a great addition to classroom lessons on environmental change, adaptation, and ecosystem dynamics.
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