Lesson Plan

"Go Back Home" Don't Let It Loose : 5-8th Grade

Native Thistle
Grade Level:
Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
Subject:
Science
Lesson Duration:
60 Minutes
State Standards:
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards:
5th: SC.5.L.15, SC.5.L.17
6th: SC.6.L.14  7th: SC.7.L.15, SC.7.L.17
National Science Standards grades 5-8:
Life Science: NS.5-8.3
Personal and Social Perspectives: NS.5-8.3

Essential Question

How are exotic species harmful to native species?

Objective

The natural food chain within a habitat is finely tuned. For any species to survive within a habitat four components are needed: food, water, shelter, and space. Exotic species can take these components away from native species.

Background

Our "Don't let it Loose" unit is broken into seven lesson plans, each taking 45 minutes to 4 classroom periods to complete, and targeted primarily at middle school students. A class needn't complete every lesson in the unit, though some lessons do refer to one another. However, each lesson comes with its own set of objectives and resources.

Preparation

Incorporate the Everglades into your lesson planning. In partnership with teachers, we are proud to offer multidisciplinary, curriculum-based activities that bring relevant lessons from the field into the classroom. These materials can be used as pre-site lessons for any in-park field trip. Please click here to view a list of Everglades Curriculum Materials.

 

Procedure

To request hard copies or digital copies of the following activity guides, please email the Everglades Education Department or call (305) 242-7753.

 

Vocabulary

Food chain, exotic, native, habitat, competition, producer, consumer, herbivore, omnivore, carnivore

Contact Information

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Last updated: March 8, 2019