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Unit Summary

In this unit, students will be introduced to the importance of wetlands, coral reefs, and mangrove ecosystems. Key aspects will include the value of biodiversity in functional habitats, human impacts and solutions we can incorporate into our daily lives to Save Our Seas. 

Subject: Marine Science 

Unit of Study: Coastal Ecosystems - Wetlands, Coral Reefs, Mangroves

Grades: 3 - 5 

Next Generation Science Standards: 

  • LS1.C: Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms
  • PS3.D: Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday Life
  • LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
  • LS2.B: Cycles of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems
  • LS.2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience 
  • ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems
  • ESS3.D: Global Climate Change 

Learning Objectives: 

  • Students will be able to construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems
  • Students will be able to construct an argument supported by evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations
  • Students will be able to develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support growth and/or release energy as this matter moves through an organism

Unit Opener 

Google Form

Lesson 1 - Ecosystems

Google Slides

PowerPoint

Adobe PDF

Lesson 2 - Coastal Habitats

Google Slides

PowerPoint

Adobe PDF

Lesson 3 - Environmental Importance

Google Slides

PowerPoint

Adobe PDF

Lesson 4 - Changing Climate, Threats, Human Impact

Google Slides

PowerPoint

Adobe PDF

Lesson 5 - Marine Debris and Solutions

Google Slides

PowerPoint

Adobe PDF

Unit Exit Ticket 

Google Form

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