Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Ecology: Ecological Relationships

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The objective-setting stage is essential to guide the focus of students and the teacher during the lesson. In this section, the teacher clearly establishes what students should be able to do by the end of the lesson, ensuring that everyone involved is aligned with the learning expectations. The outlined objectives help structure activities and discussions in the classroom, ensuring that time is effectively used to apply students' prior knowledge and deepen understanding of ecological relationships.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to recognize and identify the main types of interactions that occur between living beings, distinguishing between harmonious and disharmonious relationships.

2. Develop the ability to identify and classify intra- and interspecific relationships, providing a deeper understanding of ecosystems.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage critical thinking and students' analytical abilities by applying prior knowledge in practical contexts.
2. Foster collaboration and debate among students during group activities, promoting an environment conducive to the exchange of ideas and mutual learning.

Introduction

Duration: (20 - 25 minutes)

The introduction is designed to engage students with the content they have previously studied, using problem situations that stimulate critical thinking and practical application of knowledge. Furthermore, the contextualization seeks to connect the theme with the real world, showing the relevance of ecological relationships in real situations and highlighting the importance of studying these interactions for conservation and environmental management.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine a rainforest where various species of trees compete for sunlight. How might these species interact to benefit or harm each other? Discuss possible scenarios of competition and cooperation.

2. Consider a lake with different types of fish, where some are predators of others. How might the introduction of a new fish species alter the balance of the ecosystem? Think about how different types of ecological relationships might manifest in this scenario.

Contextualization

Ecological relationships are crucial for the functioning of all ecosystems, from small aquariums to vast forests. By understanding how species interact, students can predict and even manipulate ecosystems for human benefit or environmental conservation. For example, in Yellowstone National Park in the United States, the reintroduction of wolves was crucial in reducing the overpopulation of elk, which was devastating the vegetation. This action illustrates how ecological balance depends on complex interactions between species.

Development

Duration: (75 - 80 minutes)

The Development stage is designed for students to apply and deepen their knowledge of ecological relationships in an interactive and collaborative manner. Through practical and playful activities, they will have the opportunity to explore complex scenarios in simulated ecosystems, developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. This approach not only reinforces learning but also promotes awareness of the importance of ecological conservation and environmental balance.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Ecosystem Party

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand and apply the concept of harmonious and disharmonious ecological relationships in a practical and creative context.

- Description: In this playful activity, students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people, and each group will represent a specific ecosystem, such as a forest, a lake, or a coastal area. Each group will receive cards that describe different species that are part of their ecosystem, as well as the resources available. The challenge will be to organize a 'party in the ecosystem' where different species interact in harmonious and disharmonious ways, using resources such as food, water, and space.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute the cards that describe the species and their resources to each group.

• Each group should plan and draw a map of their ecosystem on paper, showing how the species relate to one another.

• The groups should then perform a dramatization of the 'ecosystem party,' demonstrating the interactions between species.

• After the dramatization, each group explains the ecological relationships observed and how they can be beneficial or harmful to the ecosystem.

Activity 2 - Survival Game: Predator or Prey?

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand the dynamics of populations in an ecosystem and the survival strategies of predators and prey.

- Description: Students, organized into groups, will participate in a board game that simulates an ecosystem. Each group will choose to be a type of predator or prey and must make strategic decisions to ensure their survival. The game will include event cards that can simulate changes in the environment, such as climate changes or the introduction of new species, affecting populations.

- Instructions:

• Organize the classroom into tables with groups of up to 5 students.

• Explain the rules of the game, including how event cards can affect populations.

• Each group chooses to be a predator or prey and receives initial cards that determine their starting resource conditions.

• The groups play rounds, making strategic decisions and using resources such as food and shelter.

• At the end, they discuss how the different strategies affected the survival of each group and the balance of the ecosystem.

Activity 3 - The Great Ecological Debate

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop argumentation skills and understanding of human impacts on ecosystems.

- Description: This activity involves a structured debate among the groups, where each will defend a specific ecosystem and its ecological conservation strategies, highlighting harmonious and disharmonious relationships. Pre-research material will be provided for each group to prepare their arguments.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students, each representing a different ecosystem.

• Each group researches their ecosystem and prepares arguments for the debate.

• Conduct a debate where each group presents its arguments and answers questions from other groups.

• A moderator, who can be the teacher, keeps track of time and ensures the debate is constructive and informative.

• At the end, each group votes on the ecosystem they believe was best defended and explains their choice.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

This feedback stage is crucial for consolidating students' learning, allowing them to share and discuss their experiences and conclusions. Through group discussion, students can reinforce their understanding of ecological relationship concepts and their practical applications, as well as developing argumentation and synthesis skills. This moment also serves as an opportunity for the teacher to assess student understanding and clarify any remaining doubts.

Group Discussion

To initiate the group discussion, the teacher should gather all students and ask them to share the main discoveries and insights obtained during the activities. Each group will have the opportunity to present a brief summary of what they discussed and the conclusions they reached. Encourage students to explain how they applied the concepts of ecological relationships in practice and what challenges they faced and overcame. This is an opportunity for students to reflect on the importance of ecological interactions and how they apply in the real world.

Key Questions

1. What were the main types of interactions you observed in your simulated ecosystems and how do they compare with real-world examples?

2. How do ecological relationships alter population dynamics within an ecosystem?

3. In what way can understanding ecological relationships influence the management of natural ecosystems?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Conclusory stage aims to consolidate learning, ensuring that students are clear about the main concepts and their practical applications. It serves to reinforce the connection between theoretical content and practical activities carried out, as well as reiterating the importance of studying ecological relationships for understanding and conserving ecosystems. This moment also provides an opportunity for the teacher to evaluate the effectiveness of the activities and student understanding, laying the groundwork for future discussions and deeper explorations of the theme.

Summary

In the conclusion, the teacher should summarize and recapitulate the main content covered about ecological relationships, highlighting the types of interactions, such as harmonious and disharmonious, and intra- and interspecific. It is important to reinforce the practical examples used during the activities, such as the board game and dramatizations, to consolidate students' understanding.

Theory Connection

During the lesson, the connection between theory and practice was established through interactive activities that simulated ecosystems and relationships between species. This approach not only helped students visualize theoretical concepts in action but also to understand the practical importance of such interactions for conservation and environmental balance.

Closing

Furthermore, the teacher should highlight the relevance of ecological relationships in everyday life, showing how understanding these principles can influence how we interact with and impact ecosystems. Understanding these relationships is fundamental for the conservation of biodiversity and for the development of sustainable practices in different contexts.