Modeling Limiting Factors (STEM 4.0) Project Based STEM Activities for Middle Grades Science Project Based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities create a learning environment in which students investigate and engineer solutions to real-world problems, and construct evidence-based explanations of real-world phenomena within their science content. Students are also provided the opportunity to re-design models they have developed, based on peer feedback and reviews. Through these engineering practices within the content, students can gain a deeper understanding of science and are exposed to how STEM relates to their education and future career goals. Engagement or Watch the Discovery Education video to give students an Introduction: introduction the subject. Ask students to identify any local food webs they can think of. Standard SC.7.L.17.2: Compare and contrast the relationships among Alignment: organisms such as mutualism, predation, parasitism, competition, and commensalism. SC.7.L.17.1: Explain and illustrate the roles of and relationships among producers, consumers, and decomposers in the process of energy transfer in a food web. SC.7.L.17.3: Describe and investigate various limiting factors in the local ecosystem and their impact on native populations, including food, shelter, water, space, disease, parasitism, Set-Up predation, and nesting sites. LAFS.68.RST.2.4: Use illustrations from searching the internet and explanations using Microsoft Word of the roles Teacher and relationships among producers, consumers and decomposers in the process of energy transfer in a food web. Suggested 4 days or 2 blocks Student Timeframe: LAFS.68.RST.2.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they Standards: are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 6–8 texts and topics. Define A game developer is trying to create a game that will simulate or the interdependencies among organisms and between organisms and their environment. Need 1 Expected Create a simulation (game) that allows players to vary the the Step Task: quantity of various factors and demonstrate the effects of Problem those variations on local populations. Identify
Modeling Limiting Factors (STEM 4.0) Project Based STEM Activities for Middle Grades Science Project Based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities create a learning environment in which students investigate and engineer solutions to real-world problems, and construct evidence-based explanations of real-world phenomena within their science content. Students are also provided the opportunity to re-design models they have developed, based on peer feedback and reviews. Through these engineering practices within the content, students can gain a deeper understanding of science and are exposed to how STEM relates to their education and future career goals. Teacher Set-Up Engagement or Introduction: Watch the Discovery Education video to give students an introduction the subject. Ask students to identify any local food webs they can think of. Standard Alignment: SC.7.L.17.2: Compare and contrast the relationships among organisms such as mutualism, predation, parasitism, competition, and commensalism. SC.7.L.17.1: Explain and illustrate the roles of and relationships among producers, consumers, and decomposers in the process of energy transfer in a food web. SC.7.L.17.3: Describe and investigate various limiting factors in the local ecosystem and their impact on native populations, including food, shelter, water, space, disease, parasitism, predation, and nesting sites. LAFS.68.RST.2.4: Use illustrations from searching the internet and explanations using Microsoft Word of the roles and relationships among producers, consumers and decomposers in the process of energy transfer in a food web. Suggested Student Timeframe: 4 days or 2 blocks Standards: LAFS.68.RST.2.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 6–8 texts and topics. Step 1 Identify the Need or Problem Define A game developer is trying to create a game that will simulate the interdependencies among organisms and between organisms and their environment. Expected Task: Create a simulation (game) that allows players to vary the quantity of various factors and demonstrate the effects of those variations on local populations.