4FN7 – Science – Changes in Ecosystems

How do FreeNode lessons work?

FreeNodes are instructor-led schooling lessons with a unique approach, granting you the freedom to independently teach using a personalized lesson plan. This autonomy enables you to tailor your lessons to suit students’ individual needs, learning styles, and interests.

To use a FreeNode, read the provided class outline & follow the formatting provided for each class. Make sure to touch on the Theocratic Connection in each class. Follow the outline closely so it is aligned with our main at-home curriculum.

How Do I Use the FreeNode?

Read this lesson plan before class to familiarize yourself with the ideas and concepts you’ll be teaching the students. You may print this page out if you need to use it as a reference point during live classes.

This lesson is a guide, but feel free to expand on the content or decrease/increase what you teach depending on the learning levels of the students in your class or the amount of time you have to cover the material.

Can I show videos in FN classes?

Yes, feel free to include additional material to supplement the class lesson material. Videos, Physical Objects, Games, Activities, etc. are okay to share in live classes.

Videos should have no advertisements or logos and should be viewed by you before showing them to the students to ensure no offensive or questionable content is included.

The video should make up only 1-3 minutes of the live class and should not take the place of instructor-led instruction. Videos should be supplementary only.

How do bookmarks work?

Bookmarks help you keep track of lessons you’re going to teach in future live classes. The bookmarks you see are for all your bookmarked lessons across all grades.

You can bookmark a lesson by visiting the lesson you want to bookmark and clicking the “bookmark” button in the bookmark section.

You can remove a single bookmark by visiting a lesson you’ve bookmarked and clicking the “bookmark” button again to unbookmark it.

You can clear all of your bookmarks by clicking the “clear all bookmarks” button. Be careful, this will erase all of your bookmarks.

Class Lesson Plan

Objectives:

Students will understand that ecosystems can change due to natural events and human activity.
Students will identify different ways animals survive in changing ecosystems: adaptation, migration, and the impact of endangerment or extinction.
Students will recognize the role Jehovah gave humans in protecting and restoring ecosystems.

Materials:

Whiteboard/Chalkboard and markers/chalk
Visual aids (pictures or videos of changing ecosystems)
Interactive online resources (optional)

Introduction (5 minutes):

Explain that ecosystems are dynamic and can change over time due to various factors, such as natural events and human actions.
Emphasize the importance of understanding how ecosystems change and how it affects the organisms living within them.

Theocratic Connections:

The Bible teaches the concept of stewardship, where humans are entrusted with caring for Jehovah’s creations. Genesis 2:15 says, “Jehovah God took the man and settled him in the garden of Eʹden to cultivate it and to take care of it.” Discuss how changes in ecosystems, such as deforestation, pollution, or habitat destruction, can result from human activities and lack of responsible stewardship.

While discussing changes in ecosystems, emphasize the theme of restoration and hope found in the Bible. Isaiah 35:1-2 speaks of how “The wilderness and the parched land will exult, And the desert plain will be joyful and blossom as the saffron.” Use this scripture to explore Jehovah’s promise of restoration and healing of ecosystems when humans take positive actions to revitalize the environment in the New World.

Activity 1 – Survival through Adaptation (10 minutes):

Define “adaptation” as the ability Jehovah gave animals to adjust to changes in their environment to survive.
Show examples of animals with specific adaptations that help them survive in various ecosystems.
Discuss how adaptations can be physical or behavioral changes that improve an animal’s chances of survival.

Activity 2 – Survival through Migration (10 minutes):

Explain “migration” as the movement of animals from one habitat to another in response to seasonal changes or changing conditions.
Provide examples of animals that migrate and discuss the benefits of migration for their survival.
Discuss how migration helps animals find suitable habitats and access resources during different seasons.

Activity 3 – Impact on Endangerment or Extinction (5 minutes):

Introduce the concept of “endangerment” and “extinction” and how these occur when animals cannot adapt or migrate to cope with changes.
Discuss how human activities, such as habitat destruction and pollution, can lead to endangerment or extinction of certain species.

Activity 4 – Humans as Protectors and Restorers (3 minutes):

Discuss the positive role of humans in protecting and restoring ecosystems.
Highlight conservation efforts, such as creating protected areas, reducing pollution, and promoting sustainable practices.

Conclusion (2 minutes):

Review the main points about changes in ecosystems and the different survival strategies of animals.
Discuss the responsibility humans have in maintaining the balance of ecosystems and protecting the environment.

Assessment:

Informally assess student participation during class discussions and activities.