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Session 12: Ecosystems 🌿

Overview

Grades: 5-6 | Duration: 45 minutes | Session: 12 of 17

Students investigate ecosystem dynamics and design engineering solutions that support or restore environmental balance.

Session 12: Ecosystems

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Understand ecosystem interconnections

  • Analyze human impacts on ecosystems

  • Design solutions that restore balance

  • Apply creation care principles

Session 12: Ecosystems

Materials Needed

  • 📊 Ecosystem diagrams

  • 📦 Terrarium/model supplies (optional)

  • 📓 Engineering journals

  • 💻 Research resources

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

St. Francis of Assisi — Patron saint of ecology! "Canticle of the Sun" celebrates all creation. Pope Francis named his environmental encyclical "Laudato Si'" after St. Francis's canticle.

Scripture

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." — Psalm 24:1

Opening Prayer

Dear God, you created an interconnected world of amazing balance. Help us understand ecosystems and our responsibility to protect them. Make us faithful stewards of your creation. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (7 minutes)

  1. Ecosystem Wonder:
  2. Everything is connected!
  3. Food webs, energy flow, nutrient cycles
  4. Remove one part, everything affected
  5. St. Francis & Ecology:
  6. Saw God in all creation
  7. "Brother Sun, Sister Moon"
  8. Called to care for "our common home"
  9. Human Impact:
  10. We are part of ecosystems
  11. Our choices affect everything
  12. Engineers can help restore balance

Main Activity: Ecosystem Engineering (28 minutes)

Part 1: Ecosystem Investigation (10 minutes)

Understand the System:

Choose an Ecosystem to Study:

  • Local ecosystem (your area)

  • Coral reef

  • Rainforest

  • Wetland

  • Prairie/grassland

  • Urban ecosystem

Map the Connections:

  • Producers (plants/algae)

  • Consumers (herbivores, carnivores)

  • Decomposers

  • Energy flow

  • Nutrient cycles

  • Water cycle role

Identify Threats:

  • What is harming this ecosystem?

  • Human-caused issues

  • Natural challenges

  • Cascade effects (one problem leads to others)

Part 2: Restoration Design (15 minutes)

Engineering for Ecosystem Health:

Problem Definition (3 min):

  • Specific ecosystem challenge

  • Root cause, not just symptom

  • "How might we restore/protect [specific issue]?"

Solution Design (10 min):

Categories of Solutions:

  • Habitat restoration — Rebuilding damaged areas

  • Species protection — Helping threatened organisms

  • Pollution reduction — Cleaning water, air, soil

  • Barrier systems — Protecting from invasive species

  • Monitoring technology — Sensors and tracking

  • Education/behavior — Changing human actions

Design Your Solution:

  • What exactly will it do?

  • How does it address root cause?

  • How does it work with nature, not against it?

  • What's the expected impact?

  • Sketch with explanation

Part 3: Solution Share (3 minutes)

  • Present ecosystem and solution

  • Discuss feasibility

  • Connect to local actions

Engineering Journal (5 minutes)

  1. Ecosystem studied: ___
  2. Draw ecosystem web (connections)
  3. Problem addressed: ___
  4. Solution design sketch and explanation
  5. Write: "Caring for ecosystems honors God because..."

Closing Circle (5 minutes)

  1. St. Francis Prayer — Read excerpt from Canticle of the Sun
  2. Personal Commitment — "One thing I'll do for creation care..."
  3. Closing Prayer — "Creator God, help us be good stewards of ecosystems. Like St. Francis, may we see your beauty in all creation. Guide our hands to protect and restore. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Understood ecosystem connections

  • Identified human impacts

  • Designed viable restoration solution

  • Connected to faith stewardship

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Focus on local/familiar ecosystem

  • Simplified mapping

  • Partner work

For Advanced Students

  • Complex system analysis

  • Research real restoration projects

  • Implementation planning

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Explore local ecosystem! Visit a park, stream, or natural area. Identify producers, consumers, decomposers. Research: What threatens ecosystems near you? What restoration projects exist? Read about St. Francis!

Teacher Notes

  • Spring timing perfect for outdoor observation

  • Connect to Laudato Si' themes

  • Local conservation organizations may partner

  • Consider terrarium creation as extended project

Previous: Session 11 — Mercy Engineering
Next: Session 13 — New Life Tech