Grades 6 - 8
An ecosystem is the largest organizational unit of life on Earth, defined by a physical environment and the organisms that make their living there. The revised FOSS Populations and Ecosystems course draws from the original course's rich, active-learning investigations to help students learn that every organism has a role to play in its ecosystem, and has structures and behaviors that allow it to survive. This course provides the first steps of ecological understanding for students, with the hope that their future steps will be considered and measured, with the interests of all life being served.
Instructionally, the course has been enhanced by the addition of embedded notebooking techniques, recommended homework assignments, and greater support for in-class readings and multimedia activities.